The Sky Bet Sunday Series is set to return in 2022, with coverage set to be provided by the Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and ITV, providing free-to-air broadcasting.
Outlining a collective objective of presenting ‘compelling and competitive racing’ targeting a new audience of Sunday viewers, the triple partnership aims to build on constructive 2021 results for the series.
Six of the RMG’s partner racecourses will participate in the series – Hamilton Park, York and Pontefract, who will join Musselburgh, Haydock Park and Sandown Park – having acted as hosts for the first three fixtures of the inaugural series this year.
Additional objectives of the series include features on the grassroots elements of the sport such as pony racing and uncovering ‘less told stories’ of race preparation and showcasing horses, trainers and jockeys who ‘don’t often get the limelight’.
“Sky Bet are excited to continue our partnership with the Sunday Series next year,” said Steve Birch, Sky Bet CEO.“We have seen great customer demand for good quality racing on a Sunday evening, and are delighted to expand the series to six meetings in 2022.
“The Series was a great collaborative industry effort in 2021, and we are really looking forward to working closely again with RMG, ITV, the racecourses, and Horsemen to put on another great show for racing.”
Set to take place on a late afternoon slot on Sundays throughout the summer of 2022, a total of £1.2 million prize money will be an offer for the series, which is open to all trainers with eligible horses.
So far, the schedule released by race organisers shows fixtures at Hamilton Park on 8 May, York on 22 May, Musselburgh on 5 June, Pontefract on 19 June, Haydock Park on 7 August and 21 August at Sandown Park.
Mark Trinder, Director of Commercial Sales and Partnerships at ITV, remarked: “After a successful first year we at ITV are very pleased to again collaborate with RMG and Sky Bet on this innovative race day format for 2022. Adding to our already exclusive and extensive coverage, ITV is truly the ‘Home of Racing’.”
For RMG, the announcement represents another major development for the horse racing media outlet, building on a number of partnerships the firm has signed with a range of British, Irish and international racecourses to provider coverage of the Randox Grand National, Cheltenham Festival and fixtures from Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse.