Henry Birtles to Distribute International TV Rights for Breeders’ Cup

The  Breeders’ Cup, rx Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious global racing event, purchase today announced that it has reached an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Henry Birtles Associates, (HBA)  one of horse racing’s leading media consultancies, to distribute international television rights to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The 2014 Breeders’ Cup, which annually attracts the top Thoroughbred horses from around the globe, will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on October 31-November 1. This year’s event will consist of 13 Championship races held over two days, with purses and awards totaling $26 million. Over the years, the Breeders’ Cup has attracted horses from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Germany, Peru, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. as well as the United States.

‘We are very excited about the opportunities ahead as a result of our agreement with Henry Birtles Associates,” said Peter Rotondo, Breeders’ Cup Vice President, Media & Entertainment.  “Distributing the Breeders’ Cup and Thoroughbred racing to the largest possible audience requires special knowledge and expertise in the global television market place, coupled with a genuine enthusiasm for the sport itself.  HBA possess all of these attributes.”

“What is important is the partnership element of this arrangement where both organizations will work side by side to get the best out of Breeders’ Cup for international TV purposes, and where the passion that defines racing comes across to a new audience and succeeds in winning new fans for this great sport,” said Henry Birtles, Managing Director, HBA.