- Six new Racing League summer evening horse racing events confirmed by BHA
- Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Newcastle and Royal Windsor racecourses to host race meetings
- All 36 races to be broadcast live on Sky Sports
- Opening Racing League meeting at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday 29 July 2021
- Racing League reaffirms commitment to British racing by guaranteeing £1.8m prize money, with each of the 36 races worth £50,000
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) today confirmed the dates and venues of the new, ground-breaking flat horse racing initiative – the Racing League. The highly anticipated summer racing team competition – which will guarantee £1.8m in prize money – will kick-off at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday 29 July 2021.
The new team-based league format will bring a dynamic new energy, increased levels of innovation, interactive fan engagement and accessibility to British horse racing, as well as a major boost of investment to racehorse owners, demonstrating the Racing League’s commitment to the promotion and growth of the sport.
As well as being the Racing League’s 2021 curtain raiser, Newcastle will also host the final leg of the six-event series, with Doncaster and Royal Windsor set to hold one meeting each, while a further two events will be contested at Lingfield Park.
Racing in striking bespoke team colours, 12 teams – each consisting of 2-4 trainers working together, three jockeys, stable staff and a squad of 30 horses – will compete across 36 handicap races (rated 0-90 and run over distances between 5F – 1½M), each worth £50,000, with all six meetings broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The 2021 Racing League Fixture List
- Thursday 29 July – Newcastle
- Thursday 5 August – Doncaster
- Thursday 12 August – Lingfield Park
- Thursday 19 August – Royal Windsor
- Thursday 26 August – Lingfield Park
- Thursday 2 September – Newcastle
Jockey Martin Dwyer said:
“The Racing League has done a great job securing fixtures at Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Newcastle and Royal Windsor. The team element of the competition really excites me and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Trainer Brian Meehan commented:
“At a time of extraordinary uncertainty in the sporting world, it’s fantastic news for British horse racing that the Racing League is able to unveil the dates and venues for 2021. The prize money alone is great news for owners, and I’m looking forward to competing in the Racing League and hopefully being part of the winning team.”
Matthew Imi, Chief Executive of Sky Sports Racing, added:
“In recent years Sky Sports has been instrumental in helping mainstream sports grow their fan bases exponentially, appealing to a broad audience of sports enthusiasts and innovating in the process. We are confident that we can achieve something similar with horse racing, so partnering with an exciting new initiative like the Racing League makes absolute sense. If the Racing League and Sky Sports Racing’s coverage encourages the person who goes racing once a year to go again, then I would consider that a success.”
Mark Spincer, Managing Director of ARC Racing Division, said:
“We are very pleased to have been able to work with the teams at the Racing League, BHA and Sky Sports Racing to arrange the fixtures at our racecourses for 2021, and help facilitate this innovative new competition for our sport.”
To find out more about the Racing League, visit www.racingleague.uk
To download hi res Racing League images, click HERE
—ENDS—
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Tim Welland
media@championshiphorseracing.com
+44 (0)7775 764 778
NOTES TO EDITORS
Racing League
Championship Horse Racing (CHR) – the team behind the Racing League – has a fundamental aim to engage and introduce a wider global audience to horse racing through an innovative, interactive, and accessible team- and points-based format.
Over the course of six weeks during the British summer, the Racing League will make horse racing compelling viewing for sports fans, who loves the drama, raw emotion and entertainment that team competitions create. CHR is determined for the Racing League to become an integral part of the British summer sporting calendar.