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.
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.
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.
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
