The Jockey Club, the group that oversees the running of 15 of the UK’s leading racecourses, is seeking a new headline partner for its showpiece Cheltenham Gold Cup race.
The Sprint Cup Festival at Haydock Park, which features the Group 1 Sprint Cup, also requires a new title sponsor. Rights are available for the two events from next year.
The Jockey Club’s deal with bookmaker Betfred, its previous partner, has come to an end after British Racing, the governing body of the sport in the country, introduced an Authorised Betting Partners initiative.
The initiative has been supported by the Jockey Club, which has agreed to only enter into partnerships with British Racing-authorised betting firms.
Paul Fisher, group managing director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “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 to do everything necessary to secure sustainable funding for the future we want for the sport.”
Next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup will take place on March 18, with the Sprint Cup Festival being staged from September 1-3.