Cheltenham Gold Cup and Haydock Sprint Cup Festival Seeking new Headline Partners

Jockey Club Racecourses has announced partnership rights for the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Sprint Cup Festival at Haydock Park, featuring the Group 1 Sprint Cup, are now available from 2016.

Contract renewal with previous partner, Betfred, has not been possible following British Racing’s recently announced Authorised Betting Partners initiative.

Jockey Club Racecourses has chosen to support the initiative by agreeing new commercial deals only with betting firms who are considered Authorised Betting Partners – achieved by having an equitable funding agreement in place with British Racing – or who agree to include a clause in new contracts requiring that status in the future once the initiative is up and running in 2016.

Paul Fisher, Group Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “The Cheltenham Gold Cup just seems to get bigger every year and with the best Jumps horses racing today and the new facilities at Cheltenham we are looking forward to an amazing Festival in March. 

“I would like to thank Betfred for their support of both races in recent years and we have very much enjoyed working with Fred’s team in the process, as we will continue to do where we have existing commercial relationships throughout our business, including many sponsorships running until 2018. Betfred have been clear both the Gold Cup and Sprint Cup partnerships have performed very well for them.

“As supporters of the Authorised Betting Partners initiative we recognised there may be some effect on current partnership arrangements, but it is essential for British Racing‎ is to do everything necessary to secure sustainable funding for the future we want for the sport. That will be to the benefit of all working in British Racing and also the betting industry for whom racing is a vital seven-days-a-week product.”