Horse racing was badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, in much the same way as other spectator sports. Thoroughbred horse racing was suspended for 76 days in 2020, and even though horse racing was one of the first sports to reappear on the sporting calendar, strict regulations were put in place to prevent the spread of Covid.
Many horse racing fans are hoping things will be back to normal by next year. Whether that’s the case remains to be seen, as at least one new Covid variant is now doing the rounds, but optimism levels are high and there are some fantastic races to look forward to in 2022.
Let’s look at some of the most exciting fixtures on the horse racing calendar in 2022.
Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival is the first big fixture on the horse racing calendar next year. The festival takes place over four days and around 500 horses compete to win the big prizes in 28 races. There is more than £6 million at stake, which is a reflection of how popular this event is. In terms of prestige, it’s second only to the Grand National!
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the big finale of the Cheltenham Festival and there have been some epic races over the years. Last year’s winner was Minella Indo, ridden by Jack Kennedy, with champion jockey, Rachael Blackmore, narrowly beaten into second place, so fans will be eager to see if Blackmore can settle the score this year.
Other race highlights include the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Champion Hurdle.
One of the main reasons the Cheltenham Festival is so popular is that it represents four days of intense competition between English and Irish thoroughbreds. Many of the biggest winners over the years have been Irish trained, so there is always a huge Irish contingent in Cheltenham during the festival, cheering on their favourite horses.
Study the form if you want to place a bet on Cheltenham. There are free bet offers from Bet365.
Aintree Grand National Festival
The Grand National, one of the UK’s most iconic races, takes place in April. The race is a handicap steeplechase, which covers two laps of a fearsome course. The prize purse for this race is a whopping £1 million, so it is highly rated among jockeys, trainers, and owners. Some of the jumps are famous in their own right; these include Becher’s Brook, The Chair, and Valentines’ Brook.
Only one horse has won the Grand National three times: Red Rum. He’s also the only horse to win the race in two consecutive years. Red Rum passed away in 1995, aged 30, and in recognition of his amazing abilities, he was buried at the winning post.
Last year’s winner was an Irish chaser called Minella Times, with Balko Des Flos in second place, and Any Second Now in third place. Who will pass the winning post first in 2022? We can’t wait to find out!
Epsom Derby Festival
The Epsom Derby Festival takes place in June next year, with the famous Epsom Derby run on the first Saturday of the month. This race is the second race in the Triple Crown Series, but these days, few horses attempt to compete and win all three races.
The Derby, as it is known, is a long and illustrious history, dating back to the 1800s. In the early years, the Epsom Derby coincided with a huge fair, which attracted massive crowds from London and the surrounding locale. Today, the event is less about fairground rides and more about horse racing.
Lester Piggot, one of Britain’s most famous jockeys, won the Derby nine times, with this last win in 1983, on Teenoso. Last year’s winner was Adayar ridden by Adam Kirby and trained by Charlie Appleby.
Royal Ascot
We would be remiss in not mentioning Royal Ascot, which is as famous for its fashion as it is the racing. The world’s finest racehorses compete at Royal Ascot every year, with Her Majesty the Queen in attendance, as well as Saudi Princes and other royalty.
Other notable racing events to look forward to next year include the July Festival at Newmarket, the King George Weekend, and St Leger Day.
