Tag Archive for: Betfred

Betfred offering Triple Crown bonus after taking over Guineas sponsorship

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Betfred will offer a £2million bonus to any horse who can land the Triple Crown after taking on the sponsorship of all three legs; the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger.

The bookmaker, founded and owned by Fred Done, was already the sponsor of the Derby and the Leger, and finished the Classic portfolio when Qipco ceased to put their name to the Guineas earlier in the week.

No horse has landed the Triple Crown since the Vincent O’Brien-trained Nijinsky under Lester Piggott in 1970, with Camelot coming closest in recent years when taking the Guineas and the Derby in 2012 before narrowly missing out on the final prize in the Leger.

City Of Troy, trained like Camelot by Aidan O’Brien, was thought to hold a chance of succeeding where Camelot failed this season but his bid fell at the first hurdle when he could not land a blow in the Guineas – although he did bounce back to take the Derby.

Betfred boss Done said of the incentive: “Nobody has ever sponsored all five British Classics and I am so proud to be the first. I am honoured as a bookmaker to be supporting the sport that I love.

City Of Troy fluffed his lines in the 2000 Guineas but was brilliant in the Derby
City Of Troy fluffed his lines in the 2000 Guineas but was brilliant in the Derby (Adam Davy/PA)

“I want to put the British Classics back where they belong, at the forefront of global horseracing.

“It (Triple Crown) hasn’t been done since Nijinsky back in 1970, and although Camelot came very close in 2012, it seems about time we were celebrating another Triple Crown winner.”

Amy Starkey, managing director of Jockey Club Racecourses which owns Newmarket, added: “We love working with Fred and all his team so we are absolutely thrilled that Betfred have become the new sponsors of the two iconic Classics staged on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas.

“The offer of this huge bonus for the Triple Crown is another superb initiative and we’re already really excited about how we can promote these iconic British Classic races in 2025.”

Horse Racing – 2012 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival – Ladbrokes St Leger Day – Doncaster Racecourse
Camelot after missing out on the 2012 St Leger (John Giles/PA)

O’Brien, who trains from the same Ballydoyle yard that produced Nijinsky, said: “It’s a great incentive that Betfred have put up a £2million bonus for any horse that wins the Triple Crown.

“We all at Ballydoyle and Coolmore greatly appreciate all their sponsorship throughout the season and this bonus will make the Classic races even more exciting.

“It takes a very unique horse to go through all the Triple Crown races – they have got to have quality, class, speed, stamina and mental strength.”

Betfred extends and expands Derby sponsorship

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Betfred’s sponsorship of the Derby will run until at least 2026.

This year’s big Epsom meeting will be staged as the Betfred Derby Festival for the first time, with Fred Done’s company backing a further race on each of the two days, to take their total to six.

Betfred’s original three-year deal with the Jockey Club has been extended by a further 12 months.

Amy Starkey, managing director at Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Our relationship with Betfred spans many years and many major races, and we are delighted to be strengthening our partnership at Epsom Downs still further following a brilliant first running of the Betfred Derby in 2023.

“Betfred’s support of British racing over many years is clear for all to see and we can’t wait to get cracking with Fred and his team as we look to promote the greatest Flat race in the world in 2024 and beyond.”

Done added: “Following on from a memorable two days at Epsom last year, we are delighted to further develop our support of the Betfred Derby Festival and we very much look forward to working with Amy and her team to keep the fixture at the forefront of world racing.”

Betfred unveiled as new St Leger sponsor

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Betfred has been named the sponsor of a third British Classic after sealing a new multi-year deal to back the St Leger at Doncaster.

The bookmaker was last month unveiled as the new backer of both the Derby and Oaks at Epsom, with Fred Done’s firm adding the world’s oldest Classic to its portfolio in a partnership announced on Thursday.

The four-day Betfred St Leger Festival will run from September 14-17 inclusive, with the title sponsor supporting a number of the key races across the meeting including the May Hill Stakes, Doncaster Cup, Champagne Stakes and Park Stakes.

David Egan wearing the famous St Leger cap after winning the race last year
David Egan wearing the famous St Leger cap after winning the race last year (Tim Goode/PA)

Doncaster was granted city status as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 which will be commemorated with the renamed Betfred City of Doncaster Handicap, run on the final day of the fixture.

Having first been run in 1776, the St Leger is the final leg of the Triple Crown, with no horse since the great Nijinsky in 1970 following up 2000 Guineas and Derby wins with victory on Town Moor.

Done, said: “To have the Betfred name attached to the St Leger Festival is not just a sponsorship but a privilege. I am proud to be associated with the world’s oldest Classic which is obviously synonymous with great horses like Triple Crown winner Nijinsky, Dunfermline for the Queen and Oh So Sharp for Sir Henry Cecil.”

Nijinsky was the last Triple Crown winner in 1970
Nijinsky was the last Triple Crown winner in 1970 (PA)

Martin Cruddace, chief executive of Doncaster’s owner Arena Racing Company, added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Betfred as the headline sponsors of the St Leger Festival and of the Betfred St Leger itself.

“Fred Done and his team have long been keen supporters of British racing, and the inclusion of this historic race meeting into their sponsorship portfolio is another indication of their commitment to the sport.

“The whole sport is extremely fortunate to benefit from working in partnership with Fred and his team and we very much look forward to a fantastic Betfred St Leger Festival in September.”

Betfred unveiled as new Derby and Oaks sponsor

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Betfred has been announced as the new sponsor of the Derby and the Oaks at Epsom.

The bookmaker has been a longstanding supporter of British racing, with their previous sponsorships including the Cheltenham Gold Cup between 2012 and 2015, the Group One Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Ebor at York.

In a three-year deal, Betfred will also support two other races across the two days of the Derby meeting, which this year takes place on June 2 and 3.

Fred Done, founder of Betfred
Fred Done, founder of Betfred (Richard Sellers/PA)

Fred Done, founder of Betfred, said: “I am immensely proud to sponsor the Derby and the Oaks. For me, the Derby remains the greatest Flat race in the world.

“When you look at some of the horses and characters that have won this great race – Sea-Bird, Mill Reef, Nijinsky, Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori – it has an amazing history and I am delighted to become a part of it for at least the next three years.”

Nevin Truesdale, chief executive of The Jockey Club, said: “We’re delighted that Betfred have agreed to be the sponsor of the Derby and the Oaks.

“Betfred’s support of British racing over many years has been superb and we’re proud to be working with Fred Done and his team on its next chapter, to promote these two iconic races on the first weekend in June.”