Three Online Betting Companies Sign Horseracing Sponsorships

Online betting sites Betfair, Blue Square, and Ladbrokes have all announced that they have signed individual sponsorship deals for various horseracing events.

Betting exchange Betfair has signed a deal to sponsor Sandown Park's "The Brigadier Gerard Stakes Horseracing Event ", which is to be held on May 31st. The race will feature two Group Three races with £185,000 in prize money to be won during the the Henry II Stakes and The Brigadier Gerard Stakes races.

Commenting on the deal, Sandown Park Managing Director David Mackinnon said “We are delighted that Betfair has agreed to sponsor The Brigadier Gerard Stakes meeting, our most prestigious evening meeting of the season and, indeed, in the country in terms of quality and prize money."

Tony Calvin, Betfair's Head of Media also commented, saying “Betfair is proud to be sponsoring the best evening meeting of the year in terms of quality racing once again having supported the meeting from 2003 to 2008."

Online sportsbook Blue Square, which is owned by Rank Interactive also signed a deal to sponsor the Winter Derby at Lingfield Park Racecourse in March. The Group 3 flat horse race features £100,000 in prize money and becomes the third horseracing sponsorship in Blue Square's portfolio, joining the Blue Square Winter Carnival and the Blue Square Sprint Series.

Blue Square PR and Sponsorship manager Richard Jacques said “The past week has underlined the importance of the all-weather tracks to British horseracing. We have invested heavily in all-weather racing over the past couple of years and the Blue Square Winter Derby is an excellent addition to our sponsorship portfolio."

Ladbrokes has agreed to a three year extension of its sponsorship of the St. Leger, which will take place in September and host £550,000 in prize money. Ladbrokes has sponsored the race at Doncaster Racecourse for 7 years, and will have 10 years of continuous sponsorship at the end of the new agreement.

Mark Spincer, Doncaster Racecourse Managing Director said “We have a fantastic partnership with Ladbrokes and are extremely grateful for its long-term support at Doncaster Racecourse. This latest announcement shows its dedication to the St Leger Stakes and the St Leger Festival in which it has played a major part in enhancing and promoting over the past decade.”

Ladbrokes Media Affairs Director Mike Dillon said “We have worked closely with Arena Leisure and Doncaster to rebuild the reputation of this great race. The Ladbrokes St Leger now attracts top-quality horses and the race-going public has returned in their thousands."

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