Towcester will switch to the Sunday afternoon slot for SIS live coverage into the betting shops with Henlow taking the evening fixture, starting next weekend.

Promoter Kevin Boothby said: “We have known for a while that the Towcester lighting needs upgrading and for the last race on Sunday night it simply wasn’t good enough. As I explained last week, the replacement lighting is due to be flown from America this week. It is scheduled to leave on Wednesday, but it will still have to be fitted; every bulb is being replaced.

“So we are allowing for at least two or three weeks before we switch back.”

The plan to introduce Saturday night racing has been delayed from an original start date in September.

Boothby said: “Given latest developments with Covid, I am nervous about starting a Saturday and then having to stop because we aren’t allowed crowds in. It would be financially impossible to race without crowds and it wouldn’t be fair on trainers who would be left in limbo without races for their dogs.

“I don’t think it would be right to start in October with the Derby on, so everything is geared for November, assuming there isn’t another outbreak. We will have Towcester TV ready to go by then on a subscription service.”