Horse racing – Page 5 – FairOdds Network

June 5, 2023

Churchill Downs suspends racing amid safety concerns

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has suspended all racing activity at its Churchill Downs Racetrack in Kentucky due to concerns over the safety of horses.

Racing will be halted on 7 June and remain suspended through the remainder of the Spring Meet until 3 July. The remainder of the meet will be relocated to Ellis Park from 10 June.

The suspension comes amid an unusual number of horse injuries over the previous month, resulting in 12 equine fatalities.

An internal review and investigations by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) failed to identify a single factor for this increase.

Read the full story on iGB North America

June 5, 2023

BHA slams “reckless” protests at Epsom Derby

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has blasted the behaviour of protestors at the 2023 Epsom Derby, describing their actions as “reckless and dangerous”.

More than 30 individuals were arrested at the meeting on 3 June, with protest group Animal Rising having staged a series of protests over the event.

One protestor was able to gain access to the track but failed to stop the race, one of the key events on the UK racing calendar, after being tackled by police.

Last month, the Jockey Club, operator of Epsom Downs Racecourse, secured a High Court injunction to prevent protestors disrupting the Derby Festival. This came after protestors delayed the start of the Grand National in April.

The injunction banned people from entering or throwing objects on the track, entering the parade ring and any other action that could disrupt proceedings. Those who breached the injunction were subject to proceedings for contempt of court.

After several individuals still went ahead with protests, B..

May 30, 2023

SiS extends German Tote content deal

Sports Information Services (SIS) has enhanced its international content offering by striking a new long-term deal with the German Tote.

SiS said the extension with Germany’s leading horse racing betting broker provides it with continued access to premium content from across retail and online channels.

Major German races, including Hamburg’s famous Deutsches Derby, will be made available to SiS’ partners worldwide.

Conall McSorley, SiS’ head of international horse racing, said: “We have established a strong relationship with the German Tote and we are delighted to extend our partnership over the long-term.

“Our racing portfolio is of the highest quality and we believe that our customers will enjoy the top-quality action we can continue to provide them with from Germany.”

The extension with German Tote adds to SiS’ content from over 170 racecourses and tracks from five continents, including meetings from Europe, Africa, Latin America and the US.

Riko Luiking, managing director at..

May 19, 2023

SIS and MST partner to bring Italian Gallop Derby to UK & Ireland

Sports Information Services (SIS) has agreed to a partnership with Media System Technologies (MST), which will see it broadcast the 140th Italian Gallop Derby to operators in the UK and Ireland.

This will be the first time that operators in both regions will be able to accept fixed-odds wagers on the event.

Bettors will be able to wager on the Italian Gallop Derby’s nine races, including three group contests – the Italian Gallop Derby, the President of the Republic Grand Prix and the Carlo D’Alessio Grand Prix.

“The Italian Derby is one of the premier contests in Europe, and we are delighted to bring the 140th renewal to bettors in the UK and Ireland and around the world through our partnership with Media System Technologies,” said Conall McSorley, head of international horse racing at SIS. “With a rich history, the race resonates with racing fans in Italy and globally.

“We are sure that the increased global audience will enjoy the high-quality action from Italy’s most valuable rac..

May 19, 2023

Novibet pens deal with Irish Guineas Festival

Novibet has signed a deal to become the official betting partner of the 2023 Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival at The Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.

The GameTech operator will be the named sponsor of six races across three days including the Novibet Emerald Mile and the Novibet Guineas Festival Premier Handicap.

“We are delighted to be named as the Official Betting Partner of this year’s Irish Guineas Festival in what is the biggest horse racing sponsorship we’ve been involved with so far,” said Novibet’s Ireland country manager Karl Riley.

“The Irish Guineas is a meeting which is one of the biggest in Irish flat racing and we are very excited to be increasing our presence in this area.”

The deal follows the business’ recent news that it is to sponsor Brazilian football team Fortaleza Esporte Clube.

Racing and sponsorship manager at the Curragh, Evan Arkwright, added: “We are very excited that Novibet has selected the Curragh to launch their biggest horse racing partnership to da..

May 17, 2023

Caesars to launch in Kentucky after Keeneland and Red Mile racetracks deal

Caesars Sportsbook has partnered with Keeneland and Red Mile racetracks ahead of the launch of sports betting in Kentucky.

As part of the agreements, the sports betting platform will gain market access for mobile sports betting in the state. The agreements will also kick off plans to open brick-and-mortar retail sports betting locations in Central Kentucky, which will be subject to approvals from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Kentucky’s governor, Andy Beshear, signed sports betting into law last month.

Read the full story on iGB North America

May 17, 2023

HBLB expects levy income to surpass forecasts in 2022-23

Britain’s Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has forecast £99.0m (€113.7m/$123.1m) in levy income for the 12 months to 31 March 2023, following provisional submissions from most levy-paying bookmakers.

The figure would surpass initial expectations of between £90.0m and £95.0m, which was based on events in the early to middle part of the year. It would also be 2.1% higher than £97.0m in the previous year.

HBLB said the increased forecast comes amid a continuing decline in turnover, which was being partially mitigated by margins. Actual margins were markedly above average in both February and March, during which turnover fell year-on-year.

“The board will be making decisions on prize money for the September to December period at its meeting next month and this likely outturn provides additional clarity in coming to those decisions,” HBLB chairman Paul Darling said.

“Although overall yield looks to be similar to or slightly up on last year, total turnover and race-by-race turnover ar..

May 5, 2023

Betfred to sponsor St Leger Festival

Betfred, the Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Doncaster Racecourse have entered into a new partnership in regards to the St Leger Festival, which will see Betfred become the title sponsor.

This year’s edition of the Betfred St Leger Festival will take place on 14-17 September.

The sponsors will also have branding tied to other races, including the May Hill Stakes, the Doncaster Cup and Champagne Stakes.

“To have the Betfred name attached to the St Leger Festival is not just a sponsorship but a privilege,” said Fred Done, CEO of Betfred. “I am proud to be associated with the world’s oldest classic which is obviously synonymous with great horses like Triple Crown winner Nijinsky, Dunfermline for the Queen and Oh So Sharp for Sir Henry Cecil.”

Martin Cruddace, CEO of ARC, said the company was pleased to have Betfred involved in sponsoring the St Leger Festival.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Betfred as the headline sponsors of the St Leger Festival and of the Betfred St Leger ..

May 5, 2023

PointsBet launches horse racing product

Australian-based operator PointsBet has announced the launch of its horse racing product PointsBet Racing.

PointsBet Racing – which is now live in 25 states – was created in partnership with 1/ST Technology, a subsidiary of thoroughbred racing company The Stronach Group.

The app will feature many famous tracks around the world, including content from each branch of the Triple Crown American horse racing championship.

The operator said that over 180 tracks total would be included on the app, from venues in the US, UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.

The platform will have in-built live streaming and replay capabilities, single user account sign-on and “deep link” integration across the business’ digital products. Also included will be statistical and factor compilation, new user education tools as well “seamless” deposit and withdrawal services.

PointsBet Racing

The product is a result of an October 2022 agreement between 1/ST Technology and the business, who then announc..

May 4, 2023

New York greenlights $455m racing Belmont development

On 2 May, New York State lawmakers approved the FY2024 budget, which included funding for a $455m (£362.0m/€412.2m) loan to renovate and upgrade the Belmont Park race track.

Non-for-profit racetrack operator the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is charged with developing the project to build the new thoroughbred racing facility at Belmont Park.

The NYRA said that the “significant” construction development would have no cost to tax payers, due to being funded through loans that the operator is obliged to pay back to the state government.

Belmont Park’s existing grandstand and clubhouse are to be replaced with a new building, designed to “reflect the evolution” of racing and wagering since the site was last redeveloped in 1968.

In keeping with the declining popularity of racing in New York, the new construction is to be smaller, with the current 1.25 million square foot facility set to be replaced with a 275,000 square foot structure.

According to the NYRA, the new building is to..

May 3, 2023

RMG to pay British racecourses £117.6m in rights proceeds

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) has announced it will pay £117.6m (€133.3m/$147.0m) to British racecourses from the sale of their media and data rights in 2022.

Payments were derived from a range of RMG businesses including via betting shops, online bookmaker streams, the Racing TV pay TV channel, international betting, non-betting distribution, the mainstream TV agreement with ITV and data sales.

The payment total represents a 6.9% increase from £110.0m paid out in the previous year.

“The RMG model has once again proved to be resilient and reliable – in the face of significant challenges – producing record results, and performing ahead of expectations,” RMG chairman Roger Lewis said.

“The results are a testimony and tribute to the vision and dedication of those racecourses who came together and stuck together to create, grow and develop the RMG business.”

Lewis will step down from the RMG board this year and will be replaced by former Flutter UK and Ireland chief executive Conor Gra..

April 26, 2023

UK Tote Group brings in new senior leadership

UK and Irish pool operator UK Tote Group has hired two new CCOs to support its growth strategy and expand its international and domestic networks.

Jon Knapman joins Tote Group as chief commercial officer of the group’s international B2B business. With its recent expansion into US, South African and Hong Kong markets, the international business has seen substantial growth.

Dave Hammond becomes the chief commercial officer (UK) of the operator’s domestic operation. Hammond brings 25 years of experience in the industry from numerous senior operational roles in companies such as Inspired Gaming, Paddy Power, Betfair and DraftKings.

“As we continue to execute our growth strategy for the business and, following three years of significant expansion within international markets with many more opportunities on the horizon, we now have two extremely strong leaders focussed on driving the commercial performance of our international and UK businesses,” UK Tote Group chief executive Alex Fros..

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Tag: Horse racing