Bentley has become the Official Luxury Car Partner of The Jockey Club in a premium partnership announced today.

Founded in 1750, The Jockey Club acts as a champion of British Racing, reinvesting all its profits back into the nation’s second biggest spectator sport. Governed by Royal Charter with Her Majesty The Queen as its Patron, The Jockey Club operates 15 of the leading racecourses in the UK, including those at Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Newmarket and Aintree.

Bentley is seeking to attract fans and supporters of British Racing through the new partnership, offering authentic experiences of Bentley models and opportunities for its customers to receive exclusive access to Jockey Club hospitality.

Through the partnership Bentley’s Bentayga SUV model will be seen prominently at crown jewel events at the heart of British national culture and, as such, enjoyed by millions of people each year.

As part of becoming an Official Partner of The Jockey Club, Bentley is now the Official Luxury Car Partner of The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby Festival staged at Epsom Downs in 2016. The Cheltenham Festival is Britain’s most attended four-day sporting event, with 250,000 visitors, the equivalent of jump racing’s Olympics. The Investec Derby Festival features the world’s most famous and richest race, and historically has been attended by The Queen each year in a personal capacity.

Kevin Rose, Bentley board member for sales and marketing, commented:

“Bentley and The Jockey Club share an illustrious heritage and are both committed to offering unparalleled luxury experiences in the context of supreme performance. A day at the races is enjoyed by an audience of around 6 million people a year in the UK, and we are thrilled to be able to participate in the passion and excitement that the sport generates.”

Simon Bazalgette, Group Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Bentley into The Jockey Club’s world as an official partner. There is clear symmetry between our two brands and we believe this will be of interest to both British Racing’s premium customers and Bentley’s. In helping to showcase the prestige of British Racing we are helping to fulfil our mission as champions of the nation’s second-biggest spectator sport and its role in our national life.”

The partnership also provides Bentley with opportunities to reach The Jockey Club’s customers, for instance through its new and exclusive Cheltenham Club. Bentley customers will also be able to enjoy premium experiences at the races and in Newmarket or inside the historic Jockey Club Rooms private members’ clubhouse on The Jockey Club’s racehorse gallops and at The National Stud.

The annual contribution of horse racing to the UK economy is calculated at £3.45 billion, and the industry supports around 100,000 jobs.