Championship Horse Racing has announced the introduction of a series of races in summer to take place across eight racecourses in Britain and Ireland.
The competition would be between branded teams competing in 48 races, each worth more than STG100,000 ($A177,000).
The eight racecourses set to stage ‘The Series’ include Epsom, Goodwood, Newbury, Newmarket (July Course) and Leopardstown. Ayr, Haydock and Sandown are the other tracks set to take part.
The fixtures are proposed for eight consecutive Thursday evenings between July 25 and September 12 next year. The meetings will be additional to to the British fixture list and require approval from the British Horseracing Authority.
“Agreeing the likely racecourse schedule is a key milestone for CHR. Over the next few months we’ll be announcing the teams and the media partners who will broadcast The Series across the world,” Jeremy Wray, chief executive of Championship Horse Racing, said.
Each team to take part in The Series would comprise a racing manager, four jockeys and a squad of 30 horses.
Not everyone is on board with the idea which needs to be approved by the British Horseracing Authority.
Major investor, Melbourne Cup-winning owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, posted his reaction on Twitter.
“Surely before the BHA sanction a ridiculous idea like ‘the team competition’ they’d take the advice of owners and trainers in racing?” he said.
John Dance, whose filly Laurens was one of the stars of the Flat season, also has to be convinced about its appeal from an owner’s point of view.
“Prize money aside, it feels from an owner’s perspective that it’s like being a football club – you buy all the players, pay their wages and then watch them play for someone else,” he said.
“Other than the chance to win some prize money, I don’t know if there are any other incentives for owners.
“Whether you’re in a syndicate or own your own horses, do you want to see them run in someone else’s colours?
“From an owner’s perspective, I’m not convinced it’s going to work.”
