BETFAIR are the new sponsors of Newbury’s flagship meeting in February and it will now become known as “Betfair Super Saturday” in a minimum three year deal.
The meeting now features Europe’s richest handicap hurdle, following the increase to £152,500 for 2012. The race, formerly the totesport Trophy, will be run as The Betfair Hurdle, one of the most eagerly-anticipated betting races of the season, and is a great Newbury tradition having been run at the West Berkshire course since 1964.
Supporting features include the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase, run over three miles formerly sponsored by AON and a significant Cheltenham Gold Cup trial. This has been renamed ‘The Betfair Denman Chase’ in honour of the recently-retired Denman, who won the race in 2008.
The move will be seen as a fitting tribute to the much-loved staying chaser who became a Newbury favourite with his astonishing demolitions of high-class fields under top-weight in the Hennessy Gold Cups of 2007 and 2009.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Newbury's Managing Director, Stephen Higgins, said: “We already have a good working relationship with the Betfair team whose progressive and enterprising business style mirrors our own ambitions of enhancing the experience of racing at Newbury.
“This important development, however, takes their sponsorship of racing here to an entirely new level, and we look forward to a long and fruitful association with them.”
Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: “Race sponsorship is an all-important aspect of our brand promotion, and we are delighted to be able to add the Betfair name to such an important and exciting day's racing.
“This sponsorship is in addition to our three year, £3m commitment to grass roots racing. And we look forward to not only sponsoring Europe’s richest handicap hurdle, but also recognising a true legend in Denman, who we hope will be parading on the day, as well as hosting some genuine Cheltenham trials.”
AON, the multi-national insurance corporation, is to switch its sponsorship of racing at Newbury to the Greenham Stakes, which was first run in 1906 and is an established early season classic trial.
Jump racing at Newbury continues with the New Year's Eve Raceday.
