Northern Racing agrees ground-breaking pitch positions agreement

Northern Racing has agreed a ground-breaking 40-year agreement on pitch positions with on-course bookmakers in a first for the sport.

The agreement is the product of discussions since the Gambling Act was introduced in 2007. The commercial deal on positions in betting rings in September 2012, bronchi and last until 2052, ed with an option of a further 10-year extension.

The continuation of auctioning and private sales of positions has also been incorporated into the deal.

The Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers (FRB) now intends to recommend the agreement to its colleagues.

Group managing director of Northern Racing, price Tony Kelly, said: “We are delighted to be the first major racecourse Group to have reached a commercial agreement with the FRB in what is a first for the racing industry.

“A long-term arrangement recognises the role that on-course bookmakers play at our venues.  It provides certainty for the bookmakers, and demonstrates what can be achieved when representatives of the horse racing and betting industries work together for their respective mutual benefit.”

Barry Johnson of the FRB added: “This agreement is the result of many months of hard work and we hope that our members will find it acceptable.  We are eager for it to stimulate deals at other RCA courses, since the future for on-course bookmakers is still uncertain for the majority.

“We thank Northern Racing for the good spirit in which the talks took place, and hope for more of the same elsewhere because there remains much to do before the 2012 deadline.”