British horseracing commercial group the Jockey Club has entered into a partnership with betting exchange Smarkets.
The deal names Smarkets as the sole sponsor of 35 leading Jockey Club fixtures across 11 of the group’s 15 racecourses throughout 2018.
Smarkets-sponsored races will include the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park in August. Smarkets will sponsor a total of 240 races and the partnership begins with this Saturday’s fixture at Wincanton.
Smarkets’ sponsorship of 35 racedays in 2018 represents more than one tenth of the 348 fixtures that Jockey Club racecourses will stage this year.
The deal marks Smarkets’ first move into the horseracing sponsorship sector.
Smarkets chief executive Jason Trost said: “The breadth of Jockey Club racedays that Smarkets will be sponsoring this year is a clear indication of our commitment to the sport, which is one of the most popular on our platform. We’ve seen great volume and liquidity increases in the last couple of years and want to build on this even more in 2018.
“Racing fans both attending our meets or watching at home will be able to experience our advanced technology first-hand and see for themselves the greater value and returns Smarkets offers on winning bets compared to all our competitors. We continue to set the bar with clear pricing and a fixed commission of just two per cent on profits, meaning we often have the best odds in the world.”