THE Racing League in Britain has been discontinued this summer due to lack of sponsorship but in the USA a similar project has just been launched and Godolphin is among its backers.

The Horse Racing League is due to start next February at Santa Anita before moving on to Gulfstream Park and Keeneland. It aims to attract a new audience to racing by creating a team championship similar to Formula 1.

One of the key people behind the project is Greg Maffei, who is credited with helping transform Formula 1 racing into one of the world’s most popular sports during his time as CEO of Liberty Media.

“Formula 1 demonstrated what can happen when you bring fans to a historic sport in a modern way through storytelling and social media,” Maffei said.

“Horse racing has all the thrilling elements: exciting competition, heritage, drama, glamour and star power. The HRL brings the excitement of teams to follow, dramatic rivalries, high-stakes betting, and a championship that builds race by race.”

The HRL will have 10 teams competing in a points-driven season. The league is in discussions to expand to three additional tracks by 2029.

Points are awarded based on finishing position in each race and accumulate throughout the season to determine the winning team.

There will be 10 horses in every HRL race and more than $10 million in purses and end-of-season prizes. Godolphin, North America’s top racehorse owner on six occasions, is reported to have invested $6 million in the project.

Other confirmed participants include WinStar, who raced Triple Crown winner Justify and currently stand leading stallions Constitution and Life Is Good.

Prominent owners Gary Barber, Vinnie Viola and Chris Pucill are also coming together to form a team.

According to the organisers, the league’s full slate of teams will be announced in the coming months.

HRL will host a live draft event in November where each team will select eight horses to form their rosters. “The draft is designed to create competitive parity across the league while delivering a marquee off-season moment for fans, media and partners,” say organisers.

“We’re excited to see a new concept come to life in our sport, and we know this is the right leadership group to make it a success,” said Everett Dobson, chair of The Jockey Club.

“We have a common goal to attract new fans and give longtime enthusiasts more exciting experiences. It’s a win for everyone in the industry, from the tracks to the horsemen who make race day happen.”