Horseracing

Betway has agreed a deal to sponsor three races at this year’s highly-anticipated week-long Galway Races Summer Festival, which kicks off on 30 July. The online bookmaker will sponsor the first three races on the sixth day of the prestigious meeting, known as Super Saturday, in what will be the firm’s first horse racing sponsorship in Ireland. The three races …

Zac Purton sealed the Hong Kong jockeys’ title on Sunday, on a day that saw turnover rise to £186.4 million (HK$1.938 million), the highest ever for an 11-race card, while commingling for the day set a record at £32.2 million (HK$335 million). Turnover for the 2017-18 season of £11.9 billion (HK$124.2 billion) represents a 5.8% increase year-on-year, while the total …

William Hill has announced a new five year betting shop deal with the Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR), which will see the bookmaker commence retail operations at JCR’s portfolio of racecourses. The agreement will see deployment across all 15 JCR tracks, with provisions of a high street betting shop experience to stretch to a minimum of 31 on-course facilities. Succeeding current …

Additional verification procedures for all races in Great Britain have been announced by the British Horseracing Association (BHA), aimed at bringing greater accuracy for punters and bookmakers by minimising the risk of human error in the results process. Trailed extensively since March of this year, the process involves an additional line of verification is in place before the ‘weighed in’ …

Kambi has completed a deal with Swedish horse racing operator AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) for the provision of its multi-channel Sportsbook and services. The agreement follows a competitive tender process, with Kambi’s strong track record in regulated markets, cutting-edge technology and powerful operator empowerment capabilities helping secure its selection. The multi-year deal comes as Sweden prepares to adopt a new regulatory …

The first ever Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, devised by the Diversity in Racing Steering Group (DiRSG), seeks to place diversity and inclusion at British racing’s heart. Containing a series of recommendations regarding eight core areas, it is hoped a plethora of long and short term core benefits will be felt, better reflecting the diversity of wider society “in terms …

The Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Vermantia have announced the official launch of the European Racing Channel, which both parties describe as “the most complete offering of its kind worldwide”. Available via both satellite and streaming services, the new channel is set to feature a daily schedule compromising of at least 40,000 live premier thoroughbred and greyhound races per year. …

Royal Ascot arrived last week amidst its usual fanfare, as people flocked in their droves to the Berkshire racecourse for what Oddschecker describes as “a fairly standard affair” on the face of it, with the trend of the previous two year continuing with seven winning favourites. From a margin perspective it is detailed bookies enjoyed a successful week, with Friday’s …

Racing equine welfare group, The European Horse Network (EHN) has called for the EU Parliament to ‘preserve equine policy’ within the future structure of Europe’s ‘Common Agricultural Policy’ (CAP). Led by French MEP Jean Arthuis, EHN representatives expressed concerns about the proposals put forward by the ‘Future of the Common Agricultural Policy’ which would see equine welfare removed from the …

The biggest and richest racing day of the year at Market Rasen Racecourse has a new backer. Online bookmaker 188BET will become the sponsor of Summer Plate Ladies’ Day in association with Lincs FM, which this year falls on Saturday 21st July. The summer meeting regularly attracts over 8500 visitors, features the showpiece £50,000-listed steeplechase – the most valuable race …