A dozen world-famous jockeys have reportedly teamed up to launch a game-changing horse racing league. Set to include many beloved names, the new league is expected to launch later this year.
A Star-Studded Lineup
According to reports, the new league will be comprised of well-known jockeys, each of which will have their own teams. The teams will compete across multiple meetings every year, collecting points and climbing the leaderboard.
Rumors further tease that the twelve jockeys’ teams will participate in up to 10 fixtures every year, each of which will include 6 races.
Early reports say that the brand-new league will feature twelve horse racing staples, which will include the following:
- Christophe Lemaire
- Flavien Prat
- Frankie Dettori
- Irad Ortiz Junior
- James McDonald
- Joao Moreira
- Mickael Barzalona
- Ryan Moore
- William Buick
- Vincent Ho
- Yutaka Take
- Zac Purton
According to people familiar with the matter, these world-famous jockeys will own equity in both their teams and the league.
The League Will Change Horse Racing
Reports suggest that one of the masterminds behind the rumored horse racing league is John Ferguson, an ex-CEO of Godolphin, a global thoroughbred breeding organization and, coincidentally, the organization behind the recent Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty. Ferguson is also a board member of the British Horse Racing Authority.
The second co-founder is believed to be Lachlan Fitt, a former C-suite member of Entain Australia who is likewise very familiar with the racing sector. Fitt exited the company earlier this year, saying that he will pursue his love for racing.
The Racing Post obtained a comment from Fitt, in which he lamented the current lack of a “globally coordinated platform.” He argued that this is the reason why the sector is lagging behind other major sports in terms of popularity.
I am delighted to see this amazing group of jockeys come together and while it is early days, we’re very pleased with the response we’ve had from potential host venues and commercial partners.
Lachlan Fitt
Speaking of potential partners, reports have suggested that famous racing tracks, such as Ascot, Chantilly, Curragh, Leopardstown, Longchamp, and York, might serve as hubs for the competition. Further reports suggest that, in addition to creating a coordinated platform for racing, the new league will adopt a format that appeals to younger audiences. Comments from jockeys said to be involved in the project suggest that the new league will be a game-changer, redefining how racing is experienced.