Betfred signs deal with Turf TV

Customers at Betfred stores are now able to watch  live horse racing from virtually every racecourse in Britain after the bookmaker signed an agreement with Turf TV for coverage to be broadcast in all of the companies 800 shops. The deal includes courses such as Newmarket, Aintree Newbury and Cheltenham.

The deal will initially see Betfred sign a five year deal with Turf TV, speaking of the agreement the boss of Betfred, Fred Done said “I’m very happy that an agreement has been reached with Turf TV.  My customers will be delighted that they can now look forward to watching every race, every day, in all my shops.”

William Hill to sponsor the Winter Festival

UK based bookmaker William Hill has revealed that they are to be the new sponsors of the Winter Festival at Kempton Park racecourse with a four year deal which will include sponsorship of the of King George VI Chase.

The event will now be know as the William Hill Winter Festival and William Hill will feature on all the naming rights to the 2 day event as well as sponsorship of the most famous events in the National Hunt calendar, including the Christmas Hurdle, Desert Orchid Chase, and Feltham Chase. The deal is thought to be in region of £5 million and will last until 2012.

Kempton Park’s Managing Director Amy Starkey, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement on a four-year sponsorship for Kempton Park’s flagship jumps meeting of the year. The William Hill Winter Festival will further strengthen the racecourse, and we will now work with Hills to enhance what is a superb advertisement for our sport.”

Sportech launch claim for £40m VAT repayment

The company that took over running and rebranding of the Football Pools, Sportech PLC yesterday launched a claim with the UK Customs Office (HMRC) for overpaid VAT (Value Added Tax) payments in relation to the “Spot The Ball” game which was ran from 1979 through to 1996.

The claim is in the region of £40 million but could be higher, if successful the amount would be paid back to Sportech PLC by HMRC along with interest.  Sportech are claiming that the VAT was paid in error and is therefore repayable.

The process will not be immediate and if successful in their claim it could take Sportech PLC several years to get the money refunded from HMRC.

Bookmakers issue job loss warning to UK government

Representives from the leading UK bookmakers William Hill and Ladbrokes have issued a warning to the Chancellor that any attempt to increase taxes and regulations in the April budget will lead to job losses and shop closures amid fears that the government is considering a raise of gross profits tax from 15pc to 17pc.

An industry insider said “Analysis by London Economics indicates that an increase in GPT from 15pc to 17pc would result in the closure of 845 betting shops and see the loss of 3,190 full time jobs,”. The gaming industry currently employs 40,000 people and operates over 8500 shops.

They have also indicated that an increase in taxes would see UK based operators relocate certain aspects of their business to offshore locations such as the Isle of Man and Gibraltar where taxes are set at around the 1pc mark.

The UK gaming industry currently contributes at least £1 billion in national and local taxes. This is on top of levies paid to the horse and greyhound industries which are thought to be in the region of £130 million per year.

Victor Chandler push petition against BBC horseracing proposal

Just ten years ago the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was covering 79 days of horseracing annually, by 2009 this figure has been reduced to just 27 and in 2010 the BBC plans to show just 14 days.  If public support for more days is highlighted then the BBC would have to honour its obligations as a public service broadcaster.

By reducing the terrestrial television exposure of hose racing it will only expedite the end of the horse racing industry which could jeopardise over 20,000 jobs and the tax contributing by the industry of an estimated £280 million per year.

Victor Chandler said of the proposals “BBC TV is looking to drastically cut the amount of racing it covers from 2010. This is a terrible thing for Horse Racing and I am kindly asking all my customers to please sign the petition.”

Click here to go to the Victor Chandler website and sign the petition.

William Hill sponsor key events at Kempton Park

The UK bookmakers William Hill have today announced a new sponsorship deal at Kempton Park Racecourse. The new deal will see William Hill sponsor the williamhill.com Lanzarote Hurdle in January and the Williamhill.com Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday 21st of February, which will form part of the gala Racing Post Chase day card

Hills will also sponsor the Williamhill.com Roseberry Stakes and williamhill.com Masaka Stakes on the 28th March which will team up with the £150,000 William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster the same day ensuring that Hills feature prominently during the flat season.

The managing director of Kempton Park Racecourse Amy Starkey said: “I am thrilled with this enhanced association for the racecourse with William Hill. We are looking forward to an excellent year in 2009, and this gets us off to a flying start.”

Betfair announce Ascot sponsorship deal

The Internet Betting Exchange Betfair has outlined a new five year sponsorship deal that will see it sponsoring key races at Ascot including the Queen Elizabeth and King George VI stakes, this new deal will make Betfair the second largest sponsor in the racing industry, the state owned Tote still holds first place.  The deal will see the three day event in July branded as “Betfair Weekend”.

The First Commercial Chase will now become the Betfair Ascot Chase. The sponsorship will see the value of the race raise to an impressive £1 million and will help the event that has suffered from a lack of sponsorship for the previous two seasons.

Betfair’s director of horse racing Stephen Burn, said “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ascot on this ground-breaking agreement, especially as it will take us up to and beyond the course’s historic tercentenary in 2011. Betfair’s first market was the Oaks in 2000, when 36 people had a bet. It is extraordinary that less than 10 years later we are involved in a deal like this.”

Melbourne Cup controversy set to conclude

Aston House Stud the owners of last months Melbourne cup runner up Bauer; could find themselves without the price fund of £367,841 as local horse racing officials begin to conclude their recent investigation into whether or not Bauer had received electric shockwave treatment that is banned in Australia.

If the findings agree with recent evidence then he will be stripped of his second place ranking and the six figure sum that goes with it.

The treatment was supplied under a vet’s advice and while the practice is legal in England up to the day before race day is banned under Australian law seven days before an event, the treatment took place on the Thursday with the Melbourne Cup race taking place on the Tuesday leaving a space of five days.

The horses trainer Luca Cumani said “We had a slight issue with the horse and he (the vet] recommended the treatment,” said Cumani. “We were told it was okay and we have to rely on the vet’s advice,” he went on to add “This treatment is widely available in every racing country and it is only banned in England on race day so I wasn’t aware there would be an issue. The vet did not alert me to it being a problem and as he was appointed by Racing Victoria to look after our horses, I thought everything was fine.”

Channel 4 to trial live odds broadcasting

The UK broadcaster Channel 4 is looking for a partner for its plan to launch a 60 second live television advert to update viewers with the latest odds before the start of major horse races as part of its Channel 4 Racing programme shown on most Saturdays.

Mike Parker, Head of Strategic Sales for Channel told Media Week “The interest level has been high as this is a sector where clients are looking for big points of differentiation and to promote their service as the best provider of live odds 4”

The Channel is believed to be in talks with several UK based gambling groups and advertising agencies before it makes its final decision. Channel 4 is will be rolling out this facility from early next year on a six to twelve month trial basis with the time coming out of existing advertising breaks.

Costly promotion for Sportingbet

Sportingbet is today counting the cost on one of its main promotions as they had to pay out to numerous punters who had bet on the favourite Kauto Star to win the Betfair Lancashire Chase at the weekend.

The offer from Sportingbet was to refund all fallers at Haydock and Ascot on Saturday however during the featured race at Haydock the punters favourite Kauto Star and his jockey Sam Thomas parted company at the last fence.

Sportingbet’s UK Promotion manager said “Kauto is probably the most popular horse in training, and at such short a price it was definitely one we didn’t want to be refunding. To be fair to Sam Thomas and the horse it more of a slip than a fall” he went on to add “It won’t stop us offering attractive promotions in the future”

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