Racing League has finalised an agreement with ITV Racing for the 2022 competition to be broadcast live on ITV4 for the first time.
With six Thursday evening fixtures to be broadcast by ITV Racing alongside long-term partner Sky Sports Racing, the competition has stated that it is going to offer over £2 million in prize money.
Chief Executive of Racing League, Jeremy Wray, commented: “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.
“Sky Sports Racing have, of course, been a hugely important partner in establishing the Racing League, and we look forward to also continuing our association with them and their team over the course of this year.”
Originally launched in 2021, this year’s tournament will commence on 4 August at Doncaster racetrack and will feature seven regional teams representing Ireland, Scotland, Yorkshire, the North, the East, Wales and the West and London and the South.
The 2022 fixtures will include meetings at Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal Windsor and Southwell racecourses. The final two meetings of the 2022 competition will be held at Southwell and Newcastle under lights.
All licenced racehorse trainers in the UK and Ireland have been invited to register their interest in representing one of seven regional teams, to compete in this year’s competition, and teams representing Ireland, Scotland, Yorkshire, The North, The East, Wales and The West and London and The South will be eligible to run two horses in each race across the six fixtures.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, added: “ITV Racing are delighted to be able to bring free to air coverage of the Racing League to a terrestrial audience. We look forward to working with the team and the participating racecourses across the late summer to help widen the appeal of the competition in its second year.”
ITV Racing has been commissioned to serve as the terrestrial broadcaster in a bid to expand maximum coverage among the public, as the final teams are to be announced later this month.
