Betfair is the new headline partner of Sandown Park’s Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase and the London National (Handicap Chase) after using its status as a founding Authorised Betting Partner of British Racing to reach agreement to expand its sponsorship portfolio with Jockey Club Racecourses, the UK’s leading racecourse group.
This is the first new commercial partnership for Jockey Club Racecourses with a betting operator since recently announcing it will enter into new agreements only with Authorised Betting Partners – those who are making a fair contribution to British Racing through appropriate funding agreements with the sport. Betfair, one of the UK’s leading sports betting and gaming firms, is a major commercial supporter of British Racing.
Betfair and Jockey Club Racecourses have agreed an initial two-year partnership deal to secure naming, branding and marketing rights around the 2 mile £150,000 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase and 3 mile 5 furlong £40,000 Betfair London National, which will both be staged on Saturday 5th December 2015.
Since being upgraded to a Grade 1 contest in 1994, The Tingle Creek Chase has become an established flagship event in the 2m chase division with winners including Flagship Uberalles, Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy. Paul Nicholls has dominated the race in recent years and this year aims for a remarkable 10th victory as a trainer.
The news was announced on the back of Betfair’s most high profile sponsorship with Jockey Club Racecourses, the Betfair Chase, which the firm has sponsored since its inception at Haydock Park in 2005. In its short history the 3m chase has established itself as one of the Grade 1 highlights of the Jumps calendar, won five times by the great chaser Kauto Star and now twice by Colin Tizzard’s Cue Card after he stamped his authority on yesterday’s renewal and moved a step closer to winning the £1 million Chase Triple Crown being offered by Jockey Club Racecourses.
Simon Bazalgette, Group Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said:
“Betfair is a major supporter of British Racing and The Jockey Club is delighted to expand our relationship together on account of their status as a founding Authorised Betting Partner of our sport. This is further endorsement of that initiative so soon after its introduction.
“Through its long-term commercial arrangements with British Racing, Betfair has recognised the importance of the sport receiving fair returns and the resulting benefits this, as well as opportunities such as race sponsorship, provides to their business.
“The Tingle Creek has been won by some of the greatest champions our sport has ever seen and we are very proud to stage it at Sandown Park, now bearing the name of a key partner of British Racing.”
Mark Brooker, Chief Operating Officer of Betfair, said:
“As a long-standing commercial partner of Racing we are proud and excited to announce our sponsorship of the Tingle Creek, a race that is synonymous with excellence.
”The Tingle Creek’s place in the calendar complements our existing marquee races such as the Betfair Chase and Betfair Super Saturday, so it is a welcome addition to our National Hunt sponsorship portfolio.
”Racing is part of our company DNA and we have always sought to work with our racing partners in a structured and mutually beneficial manner, this sponsorship has come as a result of working together in that spirit.”
Phil White, General Manager, Sandown Park, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Betfair as our new partner for the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase and the Betfair London National. We’re proud to stage one of the best two-mile chases in the Jumping calendar here at Sandown Park and this year’s renewal is once again shaping up to be one of the highlights of the season for Jumps fans.”
Gates to Sandown Park on Betfair Tingle Creek Day open at 10.30am with the first race taking place at 12.15pm. Tickets cost from just £27 for adults (18 and over), if booked in advance or £30 on the day and kids get in free. Tickets can be bought online at www.sandown.co.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 0344 579 3012.
