The Racing League team competition delayed until next summer

The Racing League, an ambitious British horseracing team competition scheduled throughout the summer months, has been delayed until 2021, following the delayed start of racing due to coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative involves 12 teams, made up of trainers and jockeys, with selected horses to compete in a series of 0-90 handicaps worth £50,000 across consecutive Thursdays. Jockeys will carry whips but would only be permitted to use them for corrective and safety purposes.

But the plans have been put on hold following the suspension of racing in Britain – which will not start until at least June 1 – and the Racing League is expected to make its debut in next year's summer programme.

Racing League's chief executive Jeremy Wray said: “Although disappointed, we're making the decision now to postpone the Racing League until 2021.

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"We've committed £1.8 million in prize-money to the British Horseracing Authority [BHA], and will use the time we now have to work with horsemen, our partners and stakeholders to make the competition a really positive addition to the Flat racing calendar next year.”

The competition is set to be staged at Arena Racing Company (Arc) tracks and broadcast on Sky Sports Racing.

Arc's chief executive Martin Cruddace added: “Given the current period of uncertainty that everyone across British racing and the wider business world faces, it's of course the sensible decision to postpone the introduction of the Racing League until next summer."

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