HISTORIC SUNDAY EVENING RACING TO LAUNCH ON ITV

A PILOT of televised Sunday teatime racing with better quality action will be tested in July and August to gauge the appetite among punters, racegoers and viewers.

It will be the first evening racing ever staged in Britain on a Sunday.

The Sunday Series will consist of three meetings at Musselburgh (July 25), Haydock (August 8) and Sandown (August 22), with £600,000 of prize money up for grabs.

Meetings will consist of seven races, with all coverage broadcast on ITV4. It will run from 3.45pm until 7pm, including 25-minute intervals between races.

The series is being backed by Sky Bet and is supported by the tracks, the BHA and media rights holders

RMG. Senior figures among the training fraternity have also been consulted.

Britain’s Sunday racing programme has largely been moribund, but it is hoped the increased interest in the sport during lockdown can be built upon. Initiatives for stable staff working late on a Sunday are also being worked on.

Steve Birch, Sky Bet CEO, said: ‘Sky Bet are excited to support the racing industry in this new venture showcasing high quality racing.

‘We want to work more closely with the racing industry to grow this great sport, and this collaboration is a step in the right direction.’