Horseracing

This year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket and the Derby Day at Epsom Downs will be classified as World Pool events, according to an announcement by a coalition of horse racing leaders. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote Group, The Jockey Club and its media rights partner, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), confirmed this morning [8 March] that the …

Online gambling operator Betfair has severed its connections with Gordon Elliott, after an image of the renowned Irish racing trainer sitting on a dead horse circulated on Twitter. The picture of the trainer sat on the horse, which allegedly died of a heart attack, is reported to be some years old, and first surfaced on social media on Saturday. Despite …

The Jockey Club has confirmed that the Randox Grand National will maintain its schedule of 8-10 April despite the UK betting sector’s appeal for a change of dates to support the reopening of England’s betting shops on 12 April. Led by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), UK operators had urged the Jockey Club – owner of Aintree Racecourse – …

Racing TV has unveiled a new virtual studio, based at Ealing Studios in West London, to ‘take horseracing TV coverage to the next level’ with the aim of ‘revolutionising how viewers enjoy the sport’. Timeline TV, which has served as Racecourse Media Group’s technical managed services provider since 2012, has collaborated with the firm on the creation of the studios, …

Online betting operator BetVictor has secured a multi-fixture sponsorship agreement with Newbury Racecourse for the remainder of 2021, including the Gold Cup. The collaboration will see the firm sponsor sponsorship of 41 races across 13 reacedays throughout the year, beginning with the BetVictor March Opening Weekend on 5 and 6 March, featuring the Betvictor ‘Greatwood’ Gold Cup. In addition, the …

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has backed the proposal to delay the Grand National until after 12 April to allow betting shops to take advantage of the event. Under the government’s current roadmap out of the UK’s ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, betting shops are due to reopen on 12 April, whilst the iconic horse race will take place on 10 …

Ascot Racecourse has strengthened its board through the appointment of Felicity Barnard as Commercial Director. Barnard brings considerable experience to the role, having served as CEO at Tie Break Tens for four years, where she launched the new short format of tennis globally. Other notable roles throughout her 15 year career include working for Arsenal FC’s London and Singapore offices …

British National Hunt jockey Bryony Frost has been named as Horseracing.co.uk’s first ever brand ambassador. The 25-year-old English jockey will contribute to the relaunch of the Horseracing.co.uk website, sharing insights and race knowledge, whilst collaborating with the editorial team on the creation of digital content. Frost, who was nominated for BT Sport’s 2019 Action Woman of the Year accolade, became …

This year’s edition of the Cheltenham Festival will garner increased coverage on ITV Racing, whilst organisers have also found a new sponsor in WellChild. Racecourse Media Group – the rights holder to the week-long festival – usually allows its mainstream partner ITV to broadcast five races, as the final two are an important part of the contract with subscriber-based Racing …

Conservative MP Laurence Robertson has expressed concern to the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) about the potential ‘devastating impact’ of enhanced affordability checks on UK racing. The new affordability checks are currently being discussed in a consultation which will close tonight [9 February]. If introduced, the new regulations could enforce affordability checks once a customer has experienced a net monthly loss …