Thursday 27th July marks the beginning of the latest edition of one of the most innovative racing initiatives of recent years, as the Racing League kicks into gear once more. Making its debut in 2021, this distinctive competition aimed to fill a gap in the racing market with its unusual team-based format.
Spread over six-midweek evening meetings – beginning in July and running through to September – the competition sees seven regional sides do battle for points. Not to mention an impressive £2 million in total prize money, in the race to be crowned the 2023 Racing League Champions.
Wales & The West edged a thrilling battle with London & The South in 2022, but how will things pan out this year? Here we take a closer look at this exciting initiative, including information on how it all works, the star names involved, and what you can expect from a Racing League Fixture. For those looking to tune into the action, all six fixtures will be screened live on both ITV and Sky Sports.
How It Works
Each of the six Race Days will feature a total of seven handicap contests run over a mixture of distances ranging from 5f to 1m7f. Six of the seven races will be £50,000 handicaps restricted to runners aged three and older, with the seventh race being a £25,000 handicap for juveniles.
All seven races will feature a maximum of 14 runners, made up of two horses from each of the seven teams involved. The only exception is the meeting at Wolverhampton, which will have a maximum field of 13 for each race. Points are then awarded according to the finishing positions of each runner as follows:
- 1st Place – 25 Points
- 2nd Place – 18 Points
- 3rd Place – 15 Points
- 4th Place – 12 Points
- 5th Place – 10 Points
- 6th Place – 8 Points
- 7th Place – 6 Points
- 8th Place – 3 Points
- 9th Place – 2 Points
- 10th Place – 1 Point
- 11th – 14th Place – Zero Points
Each team manager may also use two “Jokers” over the course of the competition. The use of a Joker must be declared before the start of the race, and any points earned by the team during the race will be doubled.
The team with the most points at the end of the sixth Race Day will be crowned Racing League Champions, earning £50,000 in prize money and £5,000 for each of the seven jockeys. In addition, the rider who amasses the most points over the course of the league will earn a very handsome £20,000.
The Teams
Below you can see some basic info on the teams involved in 2023 and how they got on last year.
Ireland
- Team Colours – Green of course!
- Manager – Kevin Blake
- Jockeys – Adam Farragher, Ben Curtis, Billy Loughnane, Daniel Muscutt, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Gavin Ryan, Joanna Mason
- 2022 Finishing Position – 7th
London & The South
- Team Colours – Purple
- Manager – Matt Chapman
- Jockeys – Charlie Bishop, Jason Watson, Kieran Shoemark, Marco Ghiani, Nicola Currie, Rossa Ryan, Sean Levey
- 2022 Finishing Position – 2nd
Scotland
- Team Colours – Blue
- Manager – Linda Perratt
- Jockeys – Andrew Mullen, David Probert, Hayley Turner, Oisin Murphy, Pat Cosgrave, Paul Mulrennan, Rowan Scott
- 2022 Finishing Position – 5th
The East
- Team Colours – Yellow
- Manager – Frankie Dettori
- Jockeys – Frankie Dettori, Jack Mitchell, Callum Shepherd, Kaiya Fraser, Laura Pearson, Luke Morris, Ray Dawson
- 2022 Finishing Position – 3rd
The North
- Team Colours – Black
- Manager – Mick Quinn
- Jockeys – Cam Hardie, Connor Beasley, Frederick Larson, Harrison Shaw, Oisin Orr, Paula Muir, Pierre-Louis Jamin
- 2022 Finishing Position – 4th
Wales & The West
- Team Colours – Red
- Manager – Jamie Osborne
- Jockeys – Adam Kirby, David Egan, Rhys Clutterbuck, Ross Coakley, Saffie Osborne, Tom Queally, Trevor Whelan
- 2022 Finishing Position – 1st
Yorkshire
- Team Colours – White/Grey
- Manager – Leonna Mayor
- Jockeys – Alistair Rawlinson, Clifford Lee, David Allan, Jonny Peate, Josephine Gordon, PJ McDonald, Tom Eaves
- 2022 Finishing Position – 6th
The Fixtures
- Race Week 1 – Thursday 27th July – Yarmouth
- Race Week 2 – Thursday 10th August – Chepstow
- Race Week 3 – Thursday 17th August – Windsor
- Race Week 4 – Thursday 31st August – Newcastle
- Race Week 5 – Thursday 7th September – Wolverhampton
- Race Week 6 – Wednesday 13th September – Southwell
A Great Night Out
Running under the slogan “Racing Reimagined” the Racing League aims to provide something a little different from your standard night out at the races. In addition to the distinctive team-based format, racegoers can expect a range of additional entertainment, including:
- Live Music
- Racing School – Try out the equicizer, a mechanical horse racing simulator
- Kids Treasure Hunt
- Face Painting
- Prize Giveaways
- Meet the Teams
Tickets are priced in the region of £15, with all children aged 17 and under going free with a paying adult.
Free to Play Racing League Game
New for 2023, the Racing League has launched a free-to-play interactive game to accompany the competition. Simply register online to take part, and put yourself in with a chance of winning a range of prizes, including:
- Premium Viewing Experience
- Racing League Team Hub Passes
- Team Merchandise
- Meet Team Members
- Free Drinks
In addition to the above, anyone who registers to play the game will be eligible for a special two-for-one ticket deal for any Racing League fixture – bringing the price down to a bargain £7.50 per person at most fixtures. For those seeking a race day with a difference, and great value, the fun-packed Racing League is well worth a look.
