SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
BoyleSports has become the official stable partner of Irish racehorse trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon.
The multi-year collaboration sees the bookmaker gain exclusive access to follow the horse racing hero on his journey to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as well as several other feature races throughout the 2024/2025 calendar.
Sharon McHugh, Head of Communications & Sponsorship, BoyleSports, commented: “In Shark Hanlon we are teaming up with one of horse racing’s great characters and it is a privilege to reward customers with exclusive access as one of his stable stars gets ready for the biggest stage.”
Hanlon’s horse Hewick will surpass €1m in prize money if victorious in the Festival’s blue riband event.
Meanwhile, the deal, which comes just two weeks before the annual festival, means BoyleSports and its customers will receive ‘exclusive updates from the yard of one of Ireland’s most recognisable trainers’.
Meanwhile, the company also explained that it will be “getting behind Hewick’s journey towards racing immortality in March and beyond”.
McHugh continued: “Hewick’s rags to riches story has set him apart as the people’s horse so we won’t be alone in cheering him on the road to Cheltenham glory, and hopefully there is another chapter to be written in his incredible story.”
Notably, this year marks the 100th year of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and if Hewick wins, BoyleSports has pledged to donate €100,000 to charity.
The bookmaker will split the money between both the Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ) and the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) in the UK to help both organisations continue the ‘vital work’ they do for racing.
Hanlon said: “Hewick is in great form and we can’t wait for our tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. BoyleSports, a family-owned brand, is a great match for a stable like ours and we’re delighted to have them on board as the excitement builds towards what we hope will be a memorable Cheltenham Festival and beyond!”
In recent weeks, Vlad Kaltenieks, CEO of BoyleSports, spoke to SBC News about the operator’s strategic vision to enhance fan engagement in horse racing, potential challenges or opportunities arising from the new Irish regulatory Bill and the overall importance of the sport in the country.
He said: “Horse racing is hugely important to us and is a key focus for us in both Ireland and the UK. Beyond our relationship with HRI and its four courses; Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary, we also support many other regional racecourses throughout Ireland including Ballinrobe, Wexford, Killarney, Gowran Park to name a few. In the UK, we also sponsor the Grand Sefton and the Becher Chase at Aintree.”
