'Excellent next step' for Racing League as ITV4 coverage announced

All six Racing League fixtures will be broadcast on terrestrial television for the first time this year after ITV Racing agreed to show the team competition on ITV4.

The polarising event – in which teams of horses, trainers and jockeys compete for points in a league format – had its inaugural run last year, with Arena Racing Company signing a deal to license it for the next five years following its conclusion.

Having drawn criticism during its first year – including claims of exclusivity and confusion over the team format and team sponsors – the Racing League has been tweaked for this year, with teams being based by region and increased efforts made to open up participation.

Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport, said: “We look forward to working with the team and the participating racecourses across the summer to help widen the appeal of the competition in its second year.”

The Racing League, which offers £2 million in prize-money and bonuses to competitors, was broadcast to an average audience of 62,000 on Sky Sports Racing last year, with a move to include ITV, as had been planned when the competition was first announced in 2018, viewed as crucial by racing and betting figures to progress the event.

Jeremy Wray, chief executive of the Racing League, said: “We are delighted to confirm this broadcast agreement with ITV Racing to bring the Racing League live to terrestrial television, which we see as an excellent next step for the competition.”

The first of the six Thursday evening fixtures takes place at Doncaster on August 4 – a later start than in 2021 – with Newcastle, Windsor, Lingfield and, for the first time, Southwell participating.

Southwell executive director Mark Clayton said: “We're delighted that ITV4 will be here in September for the Racing League. It underlines how Southwell is really on an upward curve and shows that all the investment is worthwhile.”

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