THE Racing League could be coming to a racecourse near you from July 16.
The BHA has given the green light to the team competition which will see jockeys carry a whip but only used for safety purposes.
The competition will be running from mid-July at four racecourses – Windsor, Newcastle, Lingfield and Doncaster – on Thursday evenings for six weeks.
Each race will be a 0-90 handicap – from sprints to twelve furlongs – with £50,00 grand up for grabs.
A total of 12 teams will take part with the jockeys set to wear the silks of these teams rather than the colours of the owners.
Trainer Jamie Osborne backed the initiative and said: “Spectator-wise, horseracing is a sporting giant in the UK, and I personally think it deserves to be acknowledged on the same level as sports such as rugby, cricket and football.
“The way to do that is to implement ways of opening it up to new and untapped audiences, so I wholeheartedly support what everyone at the Racing League is aiming to achieve.”
Fellow trainer Andrew Balding added: “I look forward to being involved in the inaugural Racing League and welcome the innovation it brings to our sport.”
Jeremy Wray, CEO, Championship Horse Racing and ex-Swindon Town Chairman, said: “The aim of the Racing League, which has been over two-and-a half years in the making, is to give horse racing in the UK a financial boost, and increase fan engagement with the sport like never before.”
