2022 UK Racing Calendar - Biggest Fixtures & Meetings Of The Year

Around September time every year the British Horseracing Authority produce the fixture list for the following year.

Comprising of 1,482 fixtures, the 2022 fixture list was developed by the industry's Fixtures and Funding Group and contains all of the mainstream festivals and feature meetings, plus any new auxiliary dates.

From one year to the next, the flagship/showcase meetings generally stay in their usual designated spots and the rest of the horse racing year revolves around the “official racing programme” – whether that be on the Flat or over the Jumps.

Listed below are all the major meetings and festivals that you can expect to see take place throughout the 2022 calendar year.

Cheltenham Festival (15th – 18th March 2022)

One of the highlights of the jump racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival is visited by over 250,000 people annually and always ranks as one of the top 10 most attended sporting events in the UK each year.

A true test of athletic ability, The Festival showcases jump racing’s greatest and sees the crowning of champions and the making of legends.

The Festival takes place each year in mid-March at Cheltenham over the course of four days and approximately brings £100m annually into the local economy.

Check out all our antepost Cheltenham odds on this link.

Scottish Grand National (2nd April 2022)

Crowds of more than 20,000 descend on Ayr for one of the most exciting spectacles in racing with 28 staying chasers battling it out at the Scottish track for the Scottish National itself.

Some great horses have won the race over the years and people come from all over the UK and Ireland to attend the meeting.

Grand National Festival (7th – 9th April 2022)

Since its inaugural running in 1839, the Grand National has become the most famous and valuable Chase in the world. Every year a 40-strong field tackles 30 fences over a 4 mile distance.

Held on the Saturday of a three-day meeting, the National attracts a massive global audience and many people place their once a year flutter on it. You can find all latest Grand National odds here.

All-Weather Champs Finals Day (15th April 2022)

The All-Weather Championships consists of over 900 Flat races, in six different categories, running from October to Good Friday, at Kempton Park, Lingfield Park, Southwell, Newcastle and Wolverhampton racecourses.

The series culminates with a season finale which in 2022 will be run at Newcastle for the very first time.

Horse Racing


Guineas Festival (29th April – 1st May 2022)

All the top owners, trainers and jockeys compete for the first two Classics of the British Flat racing season at Newmarket.

The famous Heath witnesses the emergence of two bright new stars in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas races.

Dante Festival (11th – 13th May 2022)

Many star horses have risen to prominence on the Knavesmire at York over three quality packed days.

The main attraction is the Dante Stakes, run over 1m2f on the second day of the Festival. Winners of this and the Musidora Stakes are likely to be among the favourites for their respective Classics.

The leading stayers take centre stage in the Yorkshire Cup on the Friday.

Derby Festival (3rd – 4th June 2022)

First run in 1780, the Derby is the Blue Riband of the turf and is probably the most coveted prize in horse racing.

As well as the Derby at Epsom, there is the Oaks – the fillies’ equivalent on the opening day of the meeting. The fixture also features the Coronation Cup, for older horses over the Derby/Oaks course.

Royal Ascot (14th – 18th 2022)

The five-day Royal Ascot meeting is the jewel in the crown of the English Flat summer season. Top-class racing meets high fashion in a fixture fit for a Queen.

The meeting is attended daily by members of the Royal family, a tradition that stretches back to the early 1700’s.

A total of 15 Group races are contested with the standard of the horseracing being outstanding. For sheer quality, Royal Ascot is unmatched anywhere in the world.

As soon as they are available you can peruse our 888sport Royal Ascot odds by clicking here.

Horse Racing Fixture 2022


Glorious Goodwood (26th – 30th July 2022)

Glorious Goodwood has retained a quintessential British charm since the course was first laid out in 1801.

Its five-day Festival is a highly competitive affair set across a full range of distances, from the Goodwood Cup for the stayers to the Stewards' Cup for the sprinters.

The Panama hat is one of the enduring symbols of a summer's day at Glorious Goodwood.

Ebor Festival (17th – 20th August 2022)

The highlight of the three-day programme is the Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes. The mile-and-a-quarter race has been won by some greats over the years.

The Nunthorpe Stakes, the Yorkshire Oaks and Britain’s richest handicap – the Ebor make this one of the most popular fixtures of the year with spectators.

St Leger Festival (7th – 10th September 2022)

The St Leger is the world’s oldest Classic with the fifth and final contest bringing together the best of each sex.

The Leger It is run over 1m 6f and 132 yards, which certainly test a horse’s staying power and determination.

British Champions Day (15th October 2022)

British Champions Day is the culmination of the European Flat racing season and the British Champions Series.

There are five British Champions Series categories, presenting a great opportunity for the well seasoned stars to shine at the Ascot finale.

Fixtures and meetings horse


The Open Meeting (Mid-November 2022)

The Cheltenham Open meeting has expanded in recent years to become a three-day fixture and is traditionally seen as the start of the winter Jumps season.

Most of the races at this fixture are very popular with the horse racing betting public.

Betfair Chase (Late November 2022)

As the first Grade One chase of the campaign, the Betfair Chase is a race that not only attracts a decent local crowd, but also potential Cheltenham Gold Cup candidates.

King George VI Chase (26th December 2022)

At the centrepiece of an action-packed programme of Christmas racing, the King George VI Chase is one of the most historic races in the Jumps calendar.

Many tipsters use this race to showcase their best NAP of the day.

Welsh Grand National (Late December 2022)

At a distance of 3m 5f, the Welsh National is an exciting and unpredictable jumps race.

The track’s severe undulations put a heavy emphasis on stamina and it requires a really resolute horse to win this contest.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 3rd November 2021

November 3, 2021
Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

Steve Mullington
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    • Body

    Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

    He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

    Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

    He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations. 

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    Highest Paid MLB Players - Who Are Baseball's Top Earners?

    • Mike Trout is the highest paid MLB player in 2021
    • Starting pitchers dominate the list of highest paid baseball players
    • Several of the players on the biggest money spent time on the injured list in 2021

    MLB’s stars earn massive money throughout their careers. America’s Pastime remains a big business.

    Those who embark on baseball betting will be familiar with the gruelling 162-game schedule, which is followed by a month of postseason action for the World Series teams.

    Biggest MLB Contracts (2022)

    The nature of team control and the timing of free agency means the highest paid MLB players are not always the most impactful names in baseball betting tips.

    MVP contenders are often on league minimum or arbitration salaries, while the lengthy deals handed out to free agents means they can often become overpaid underperformers in the back end of the contract.

    Four of the 10 highest paid players in 2021 spent considerable time on the injured list. None of these 10 were in the MVP race down the stretch, and only three made an online betting appearance in the playoffs.

    Manny Machado - $32 million

    Manny Machado’s free agency was a topic of excitement for years.

    Alongside Bryce Harper, Machado hit the open market in his mid-twenties. That’s much earlier than most All-Star calibre players, and Machado took full advantage.

    The 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres saw Machado receive £32 million in 2021.

    His solid 122 wRC+ for the year lines up with his career averages, and the Padres got elite defence at the hot corner as expected.

    San Diego fell short in 2021, though, and the pressure is on Machado and co to contend next season.

    David Price - $32 million

    The seven-year contract with the Boston Red Sox earned David Price a place on this list, even if he was wearing Dodger blue in 2021.

    Price pitched just 73.2 innings this season after opting out of the 2020 campaign.

    Boston paid $16 million of his salary each season after including him in the Mookie Betts trade.

    With just one year left on his deal, it’s unclear how many Major League games Price will appear in.

    Justin Verlander - $33 million

    The durability of Justin Verlander has been remarkable throughout his career.

    That was until he required Tommy John surgery in 2020, which ruled him out of the 2021 season.

    Verlander MLB contract


    With the player-friendly nature of baseball contracts – at least when compared to the NFL – Verlander still received his full salary for the season.

    The former Triple Crown winner is a free agent to be heading into his age-39 season. Planning on returning, Verlander is likely heading for a one-year deal coming off elbow surgery.

    Max Scherzer - $34.6 million

    Another all-time great in the twilight of his career, Max Scherzer will join his former teammate Verlander on the free agent market this winter.

    Scherzer is coming off another epic campaign with a 166 ERA+, but the season ended in frustrating fashion with shaky starts down the stretch and fatigue forcing him to pull out of the Dodgers’ final game of the season.

    The former National is expected to re-sign with the Dodgers – will he gets his hands on the World Series trophy again?

    Stephen Strasburg - $35 million

    Stephen Strasburg is also a former teammate of Scherzer. The 2009 first overall pick went into free agency after winning the World Series MVP and a title with the Nationals.

    A massive seven-year, $245 million contract was the result. Strasburg has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, requiring Tommy John in his early-twenties, and his health has abandoned him again.

    The hard-throwing right-hander made just seven starts across 2020 and 2021. With five more seasons on this deal, Strasburg will be on this list for years to come.

    Zack Greinke - $35 million

    Greinke signed his big-money deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks following a 1.66 ERA season with the Dodgers in 2015. He was then traded to the Astros in 2019.

    Greinke is the active leader in career innings pitched, and all those pitches seem to have started to take their toll.

    He went on the injured list towards the end of the 2021 season and has been a non-factor for the Astros in their run to the Fall Classic.

    Like his fellow veteran starters, Greinke is heading to the open market in his late-thirties.

    With a declining strikeout rate and an ERA over four since the start of 2020, it remains to be seen how strong the market is for the former Cy Young winner.

    Nolan Arenado - $35 million

    The eight-year, $260 million deal Nolan Arenado signed with the Rockies was historic. It was a sigh of relief for the Coors Field fan base as they avoided their star man walk in free agency.

    Dysfunction in Denver meant Arenado spent just two years of the contract in MLB’s best hitters park.

    Arenado contract MLB 2022


    He was traded to the Cardinals in the 2020-21 offseason, and he will receive $35 million through 2024, when his base salary drops for the final years of his contract.

    After a down year in the shortened 2020 campaign, the All-Star third baseman was back to his usual self at the plate in 2021 with a 122 OPS+.

    Gerrit Cole - $36 million

    Coming off consecutive top five finishes in the American League Cy Young, Gerrit Cole was a man in demand when he hit free agency after the 2019 season.

    Cole, a boyhood Yankees fan, ultimately signed a deal with the most successful in World Series history worth $324 million over nine seasons.

    The 2021 season was Cole’s worst since he left the Pirates. A big winter lies ahead for New York, and they are relying on another Cy Young calibre year from their ace.

    Jacob deGrom - $36 million 

    Jacob deGrom was unhittable in the first half of 2021. The Mets ace posted a 1.24 FIP in 15 starts and looked in line to win MVP and Cy Young, but injuries derailed his campaign.

    The contract with the Mets is worth just over $137 million through 2024, though deGrom has an opt out after 2022.

    DeGrom MLB contracts salary


    His injury status will likely decide whether he opts out, and the same goes for the team option in his age-36 season.

    When healthy, deGrom is the best pitcher in the sport. The Mets are unfortunately accustomed to injury-riddled pitchers, though, and they’ll hope deGrom bounces back next season.

    Mike Trout - $37.2 million

    Mike Trout is second to only Albert Pujols in bWAR among active players, and he’s 75th all-time by the same metric.

    The Angels were never going to let him walk. The Halos handed the three-time MVP the biggest contract in MLB history worth $426.5 million over 12 years.

    Trout is simply the best player in the sport. He knows the strikezone better than anyone, including those on the highest MLB umpire salary.

    He hits for power and average, he can run and remains a solid centre fielder as he approaches his thirties.

    Injuries are becoming a worry for the Angels, though. Trout hasn’t played more than 140 games since 2016. MLB is better off when its best players are playing – let’s hope Trout can put in a full season in 2022.

    *Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 2nd November 2021

    November 2, 2021
    888Business
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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    Joe Root Net Worth – How Much Is England Captain Worth?

    • Joe Root is the England Test captain and a World Cup winner

    • Root is one of England’s greatest ever batsmen and is going to finish his career as the owner of numerous records

    • Read below for more on Root’s career to date, his earnings, and his life away from the field

    Starting his England career in 2012, Joe Root has been a big name for anyone who bets on cricket for almost a decade.

    The Yorkshire man has achieved pretty much everything in the sport over that span, including a starring role in England’s 2019 World Cup win.

    An in-form Root is the focal point of cricket betting tips. He’s put the Test team on his back in 2021 and has been an invaluable anchor amid England’s big hitters in the limited overs formats.

    There’s no question that Root is one of England’s top five batsmen of the last 30 years. Some would argue he’s the best the country has produced since the Second World War.

    How Much Is Joe Root Paid?

    Cricket salaries are complicated. Central contracts vary in annual value, and there are match fees added on top.

    According to Sportekz, Joe Root receives £925,000 as his base salary from the ECB. It has been reported that Root pipped Virat Kohli for the highest salary among Test captains in 2020.

    Of course, there are endorsement deals on top of this. The highest profile of which is with New Balance, who he signed with in 2015.

    Joe Root Estimated Wealth

    Joe Root’s net worth is around £2.5 million according to various projections.

    Root has not landed the mega IPL contracts like some of his England teammates, but he will have amassed plenty through almost a decade of central contracts with the ECB.

    From Ashes wins and historic knocks to being part of the England which won the World Cup following a barely believable Super Over,

    Root has a massive profile in England and beyond. There’s been room for sponsorship and endorsement deals over the last few years, some of which can be spotted on his social media channels.

    Is Joe Root Married?

    Yes. Joe Root is married to Carrie Cotterell. The couple tied the knot in December 2018 after getting engaged in March 2016.

    The wedding took place in Sheffield with Joe Root’s brother Billy as his best man. It was relatively understated by celebrity standards, though Root’s England teammate Stuart Broad was among the guests.

    Joe Root Children

    Joe Root has two children. Alfred William is the eldest, born in January 2017, while Root and Cotterell welcomed Isabella in July 2020.

    Root missed the first Test of England’s series with the West Indies in 2020 to be with Carrie for the birth of Isabella.

    Ben Stokes stood in as England captain for that match, and England’s Headingley hero appreciated the captaincy advice from his close friend.

    Stokes said, "I haven't been given much advice, although there's been a lot of opinions flying around. The best message I've received was when I got my photos done yesterday, with the blazer. Rooty just left a message on the hanger which said 'do it your way'."

    Circumstances dictated it was a long wait for Root to play in front of Carrie, Alfred and Isabella. The England skipper delivered a masterful century the first time all three were in the ground to support him.

    Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, "You see Carrie there my wife, it is the first time my kids have been able to come and watch, both of them together so it was quite special in that respect.

    "Alfred is now four so he'll be able to remember this which was really quite a special one for me.

    "I've been told by a few people to really enjoy and celebrate moments like that because they don't come around very often and I try to make sure the last couple of times really did."

    Joe Root Brother

    Joe Root’s younger brother is Billy, who is also a professional cricketer. Currently playing for Glamorgan, Billy is primarily a batsman just like Joe, although Billy is a left-hander.

    With a first class average a shade under 32, Billy has enjoyed his most success in List A cricket. He played for Nottinghamshire before joining Glamorgan but a lack of opportunities at Trent Bridge forced a move.

    Billy has played well at Glamorgan, and got to face his older brother in a first class match for the first time early in the 2021 County Championship campaign. Appropriately, Billy recorded his sixth first class century while facing Joe.

    Joe Root Captain

    Joe Root became England’s 80th captain when he succeeded Alastair Cook in 2017.

    His first match in charge was made all the more special when he became just the sixth England player to score a century on debut with a majestic 190 against South Africa at Lord’s.

    England cricket captains are always on the end of criticism. Root has faced plenty throughout his time in charge of the team, but many of England’s issues are out of his control.

    The flip side of that debate, though, is that Root has won the most Test matches of any skipper. He benefits in that category from a crowded international schedule, and he’s also second all-time in number of Tests as England captain.

    The winning percentage of over 48% is perhaps the fairest metric, even though that is also impacted by the speed of the game in the 21st century.

    Of post-war captains to lead the teams in at least 10 Tests, only Mike Brearley and Peter May won more frequently. The best captains are a factor in their own right in betting tips.

    While Root may never be considered in that manner, he has guided England through a challenging era where the red-ball team has at times been neglected and England have been forced to deal with a gruelling schedule.

    There have been suggestions that Root should relinquish captaincy for the sake of his batting. His form in 2021 – when he has scored over 500 more Test runs than anyone else – has rightly crushed that theory.

    He’s improved as a captain with time, and provided stability to a team which has desperately needed it over the last few years.

    *Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 2nd November 2021

    November 2, 2021
    888Business
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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