Regional teams and more prize-money on offer as Racing League returns in 2022

Trainers have been encouraged to express their interest in participating in the 2022 Racing League after the six fixtures for the series were confirmed.

Hailed in some quarters as racing's version of Twenty20 cricket, the concept of a team event was first unveiled in 2018 and became a reality last year when six Thursday evening meetings hosted 36 handicaps, each worth £50,000 – an injection of prize-money that was described as a "welcome boost" by the BHA.

However, there were claims the competition – which featured 12 sponsored teams made up of between two and four trainers, three jockeys and registered horses – was not inclusive, while some of the fields did not fill. The lack of appearances from some high-profile riders was questioned, as were calendar clashes with traditional meetings.

The Racing League action unfolding at NewcastleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Prize-money for next year is set to increase to more than £2 million, while seven regional teams will be introduced consisting of yards from Ireland, Scotland, Yorkshire, the north, the east, Wales and the west and London and the south.

The series starts at Doncaster on August 4 and ends at Newcastle on September 15, and Jeremy Wray, chief executive of the Racing League, said: "We are delighted to announce the fixtures and prize-money for the 2022 competition.

"Following constructive feedback from all corners of the industry we are excited to introduce new features, most notably the new regional format, which was widely recommended. We hope that this will help build more opportunities for supporters to get behind and follow their teams.

"With over £2 million in prize-money available we expect there to be significant interest from trainers looking to take part, and we are very much looking forward to hearing from them over the coming weeks."

Licensed trainers in Britain and Ireland can register their interest by contacting trainers@racingleague.uk by December 31.

Racing League fixtures

August 4 Doncaster
August 11 Lingfield
August 25 Newcastle
September 1 Windsor
September 8 Southwell
September 15 Newcastle

Read more:

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