Officials from the Australian Jockey Club, Sydney Turf Club and Racing NSW met yesterday to thrash out a template for the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

While some 2009 dates have been set, the STC and AJC are yet to agree on whether the Autumn Carnival program should be fixed or continue to move each year according to when Easter falls.

The STC is keen for its flagship Golden Slipper program to be staged on the first Saturday in April every year, while the AJC wants to retain its long-held Easter timeslot.

There is no conflict in 2009 because Easter falls on the second weekend of April, meaning that Golden Slipper day would be held on April 4, a week before the Derby.

But Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys acknowledges that the picture gets complicated in 2010 when Easter falls on the first weekend in April.

''For 2009, we've got a resolution. We stress, however, that the 2009 dates are no precedent for the 2010 date ...

''The AJC has traditionally had the Easter Saturday and, if we were to go with the same dates in 2010, Easter Saturday falls in the first week of April which would be Golden Slipper day.''

V'Landys will give the Sydney race clubs another two months to resolve their differences. If they cannot, Racing NSW will step in and make a determination. AAP