2006 FIXTURE LIST - KEY STATS Flat meetings: 845 Jump meetings: 546 Evening meetings: 229 Sunday meetings: 48 Non-racing days: 7

The course, near Chelmsford in Essex, is one of three new artificial tracks to open next season.

The others are at Kempton and Newbury, which already stage turf races.

There will be 1,391 race meetings in 2006, an increase of 42 on this year, with one third of the Flat fixtures taking place on all-weather tracks.

All-weather racing, which began in 1989, has mushroomed in recent seasons, with 2006 seeing almost double the number of fixtures (280) that were staged in 2002 (141).

Work will begin on Newbury's new �4.5m all-weather course in October.

The Berkshire course will stage two all-weather meetings to complement its 18 Flat turf and 11 jumping fixtures.

Kempton, which held its last-ever Flat turf meeting in May, will re-open next March and will host 49 all-weather meetings and five jump fixtures.

Many traditionalists see all-weather racing as poor quality fare whose sole purpose is to provide more betting opportunities for punters.

Racing should be proud of what has been achieved for next year BHB racing director Ruth Quinn

Some also believe there should be fewer fixtures, saying that the quality of the fields is diluted by the quantity of races on offer.

However, the standard of all-weather has improved, with this season seeing the first Group race held on an artificial surface.

A new feature of next year's fixture list are the "twilight" (late afternoon) meetings, run at Flat courses in October, November and December.

Racing's fixture list is compiled by the British Horseracing Board (BHB), whose racing director Ruth Quinn said that the number of meetings is set to increase further in coming years.

"We are looking to expand because the horse population continues to grow and there is a strong demand for more fixtures among owners, racecourses and the betting industry," said Quinn.