Sportingbet Australia to Sponsor Horse Racing’s W.S. Cox Plate

December 20, 2011

Bookmaking giant Sportingbet Australia have agreed a multi-million dollar sponsorship with the W.S. Cox Plate, an Australian Thoroughbred Horse Race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club for the next five years.

Club chairman Bob Scarborough described the relationship with the corporate bookmaker as a massive coup for the club.

“It’s an exciting partnership that will greatly benefit both organisations and, importantly, will ensure that the W.S. Cox Plate remains as the Australian weight-for-age championship,” Scarborough said.

Tatts ended its sponsorship of the Cox Plate with the running of this year’s race, won by Pinker Pinker.

It’s the second major metropolitan club sponsorship Sportingbet Australia has secured in the past week.

Sportingbet has secured the naming rights for Sandown from the Melbourne Racing Club from January 1.

Sportingbet Australia has sponsored Moonee Valley’s premier sprint, the Manikato Stakes, and is heavily involved in its night racing season.

Sportingbet Australia’s involvement with the two clubs is further evidence of its commitment to plough money back into the industry.

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said: “I have always said Sportingbet would contribute well over the product fee we pay to RVL and this is another example of how committed we are to ensuring racing in Victoria continues to grow.”