The inaugural Racing League competition will not take place this summer after being delayed until 2021.
The 12-team event was due to take place from July 16 and continue across six consecutive Thursdays, with the meetings due to take place at Doncaster, Lingfield, Newcastle and Royal Windsor.
But with the coronavirus pandemic forcing British racing to take an enforced break, and with no firm date yet for its return, organisers feel it is best to push the tournament back until next year.
All 36 races – with £1.8m in prize money up for grabs – were set to be aired live on Sky Sports Racing and the competition was to be hosted by Arena Racing Company racetracks.
But Arc chief executive Martin Cruddace feels the decision had to be made, telling the Racing Post: “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.”
Meanwhile, Racing League's chief executive Jeremy Wray added: “We've committed £1.8million 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.”
