The Big Horse Racing Events of 2022

We're at the brink of bringing another historic year to a close, and this year has been like no other before for the sport of kings. With the world in the grip of the pandemic, racing got underway without spectators in attendance at the tracks across the country. For the first time, the Cheltenham Festival went ahead behind closed doors, and if that wasn't historic enough, Rachel Blackmore became the first-ever female winner of the Champion Hurdle.

The 32-year-old then backed that up with a second and just as memorable performance at Aintree, marking her name in the record books by winning the Grand National. Royal Ascot welcomed back race-goers in smaller numbers than usual with a horse we backed for the Kings Stands Stakes, Oxted, taking victory, as things began to stride towards normality. Before Glorious Goodwood lifted spirits as Alcohol Free, trained by Andrew Balding, won the Sussex Stakes with fans back in full force.

That's just a snapshot of what we experienced in 2021, and it's just whetted the appetite for an even bigger racing season in 2022. So, let's take a look at some of those fixtures so you can get them in your calendar and not miss a moment of the action.

Cheltenham Festival – 15th-15th March

Image: Carine06 from UK, Handicap chase (13178807944), CC BY-SA 2.0

The festival gets underway on the 15th March in 2022. We're expecting to see people finally flocking back to the venue, as it's one of the highest attended events on the U.K. sporting calendar, with over 250,000 people expected. It's one of the toughest tests on the jump racing calendar and sees some of the greatest competitors from all around the world head to Gloucestershire for four days of fantastic racing.

Grand National – 7th – 9th April

Image: Roger May, Aintree Racecourse in 2006, CC BY-SA 2.0

First run in 1839 as the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, Aintree's showcase event in 2022 will be the 165th running of the race and Time To Get Up is amongst the early favourites to stop Minella Times ridden by Rachel Blackmore, making it back to back wins. The Grand National is now one of the most valuable chases in the world, with Reuters reporting that over £100million was wagered on the outcome of the race in 2021.

Guineas Festival – 29th April – 1st May

Image: Alarnsen, The Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket, UK, CC BY-SA 4.0

Newmarket is the venue for the opening classic of the 2022 season and annually there is much anticipation on who will be crowned the winners of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas races. In fact, the 2000 Guineas is the first big event that many punters are already watching keenly. There are already some race odds from Coral for punters to take a look at, with Native Trail the current favourite, although a lot can change in four months. That was highlighted by Battleground, who was many people's early tip for victory in 2021, who found himself left floundering by the eventual winner, Poetic Flare, who also won the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2021.

St. Leger Festival - 8th – 11th September

Image: www.badobadop.co.uk, Doncaster Racecourse 2, CC BY-SA 3.0

The feature race at the St Leger is the world's oldest classic horse race, the St. Leger Stakes, and the last day of the British flat racing season. Some legendary horses have won the race over the decades with Nijinsky being the last of those to win the triple crown consisting of the, 2000 Guineas, The Epsom Derby, and the St Leger Stakes. Only, Nashwan, See the Stars, and Camelot have all come close since but failed at the final hurdle.

These are just some of the best fixtures that the U.K. has to offer but don't forget there's the Kentucky Derby in the U.S. and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France too, it all adds up to 2022 being a huge year for racing.

For all the latest sports news, from horse racing to rugby, be sure to visit our sports section regularly.