Frankie Dettori, the renowned Italian jockey, is gearing up for an exciting new chapter in the Racing League as he steps into the role of the competition’s inaugural player-manager. Last season, Dettori was a key player for the triumphant Wales and The West team, delivering thrilling victories at Lingfield and Newcastle. This year, however, he’s switching gears and joining The East squad as they gear up for the multi-team event’s return at Yarmouth on Thursday.
In addition to donning The East’s yellow silks as a jockey, the 52-year-old Dettori is also embracing managerial responsibilities for the region. His aim is to secure the Racing League trophy for the second consecutive year. “Taking on the manager role is a significant responsibility,” Dettori acknowledged. “Even though I may not ride in all the races, I still have the duty of managing and doing my best for my team.”
Dettori’s successful run last year has him eager to defend his title. “The competition last year was enjoyable, and there was a positive atmosphere. Our team didn’t start off strong, but as the competition progressed, we gained momentum, and Saffie (Osborne)’s triple win on the final day clinched it for us,” he recalled.
Dettori is keen to immediately impact The East’s home turf as the competition heads to Yarmouth for the first time. He believes the competitive spirit and the unpredictability of the six-week event are what makes it so thrilling for both participants and spectators. “All my team members will be striving to win. It’s an honour to represent the East side, especially coming from Newmarket. The best part about the Racing League is its unpredictability,” Dettori added. “Last year, the races were closely contested, and most of them had close finishes, making them very competitive. It provides everyone with an opportunity, and I believe people really enjoyed it last year. Now in its third year, people can tune in on a Thursday night for something they can follow.”
Frankie Dettori: The East’s New Manager – What is the Racing League?
The Racing League is back for its second season, kicking off at Doncaster and wrapping up at Newcastle on September 15. The format has been revamped this year, so here’s a rundown of what to expect from the 2022 Racing League.
The Racing League, which debuted in 2022, has undergone a transformation. The previous 12 sponsored teams have been replaced by seven regional teams: Scotland, the North, Ireland, Yorkshire, Wales and the West, the East, and London and the South. These teams will compete in 42 races across six meetings held every Thursday evening. Each race will feature a maximum of 14 horses, with two from each team.
The league operates on a points system, with 100 points up for grabs in each race. The first-place finisher will earn 25 points, with points distributed down to the tenth position, which earns a single point. Six of the seven weekly races are handicap races for horses aged three and above and rated 0-90. The remaining race is open to two-year-old horses rated 0-85. The prize money for the three-year-old races is set at £50,000 per race, while the two-year-old races have a prize pot of £25,000. The total prize money for the league has been increased by £200,000, bringing the total to £2 million.
After some issues with participation last year, jockey selections were made through a draft. Frankie Dettori is among the many high-profile names set to participate. Dettori will be joined by David Egan and last year’s Derby-winning jockey Adam Kirby for Wales and the West. Other notable names include Tom Marquand for Ireland, Sean Levey for London and the South, and Hayley Turner for the East.
The team managers also include some notable participants. Among the managers are ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman for London and the South, trainer Jamie Osborne for Wales and the West, and former footballer and trainer Mick Quinn for the North.
The league will take place every Thursday night, starting on August 4 and running through to September 15. You can catch each race live on Sky Sports Racing and ITV4. The league will be hosted across five UK racecourses: Doncaster, Lingfield, Newcastle, Windsor, and Southwell.
The Racing League Teams in Full
Below you can see the full team list from the seven teams competing;
Wales and the West
Team manager: Jamie Osborne
Adam Kirby
David Egan
Callum Shepherd
Neil Callan
Clifford Lee
Ireland
Team manager: Kevin Blake
Tom Marquand
Jason Watson
Tyler Herd
Dylan Browne McMonagle
Gavin Ryan
Billy Lee
The North
Team manager: Mick Quinn
Jamie Spencer
Paul Hanagan
Ben Robinson
Conor Beasley
Harrison Shaw
Pat Cosgrave
Lewis Edmunds
London and the South
Team manager: Matt Chapman
Nicola Currie
Sean Levey
Marco Ghiani
Daniel Muscutt
Laura Pearson
Eoin Walsh
Louis Steward
The East
Team manager: Frankie Dettori
Jack Mitchell
Hayley Turner
Luke Morris
Kieran Shoemark
Cameron Noble
Ray Dawson
Grace McEntee
Yorkshire
Team manager: Leonna Mayor
Cam Hardie
David Allan
Paul Mulrennan
Oisin McSweeney
Joanna Mason
Dougie Costello
William Carver
Scotland
Team manager: Linda Perratt
Kevin Stott
Ryan Sexton
Andrew Mullen
Ben Curtis
Graham Lee
James Sullivan
Rowan Scott
