Business Bulletin 16 April 2017
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Row breaks out over Arc prize-money
It has been just like old times in British racing in the last week with Arena Racing Company being criticised by owners and trainers over low prize-money.
Arc used to be the bete noire of the Horsemen’s Group in the days of prize-money tariffs but their reputation has improved dramatically in recent years.
However, the racecourse group came under fire from trainers such as Richard Hannon and William Haggas over prize-money levels at Windsor on Monday and Southwell on Easter Sunday.
Hannon said he would restrict the number of runners from his stable at Windsor in future.
“I’m getting very bored of going there and seeing the place full, the bars are heaving, they’re charging £85 for a bottle of champagne and we’re running nice horses for just £2,000,” he said.
Haggas praised Arc for the work they had done with the All-Weather Championships.
However he added: “The Southwell card on Easter Sunday on the other hand is a disgrace.
“To stage seven races, that may well end up being eight, for just over £30,000 is laughable. It shouldn’t be allowed and we won’t be supporting it.”
Reacting to the news, Horsemen’s Group chairman Philip Freedman said he thought the complaints were not about races being run to the very bottom of agreed levels but about entire fixtures at which every race was run for the minimum.
He added: “I wouldn’t have thought choosing to run entire cards at minimum values would be in the commercial interests of courses, especially when the new media rights deal comes in and they have to attract a certain number of runners.”
In response Susannah Gill, director of external affairs at Arc, said: “The races at Southwell on Easter Sunday are all being run at the minimum values set by the BHA and agreed by the Horsemen’s Group.
“Arc has significantly increased its executive contribution in recent years in order to invest in prize-money across its racecourses, as illustrated by Good Friday’s fixtures where prize-money of £1,425,000 is on offer at Lingfield, Newcastle and Bath.
“Arc fully supports the emerging consensus that any additional funds received from reform of the levy in the years ahead should be targeted at the grassroots of the sport.”
Wait goes on for levy reforms
Those eagerly-awaited levy reforms have yet to be enacted as the sport and government wait for European approval for the plans on state aid grounds.
The delay meant the new system was not in place in time for the Grand National which is likely to have cost the sport more than a million pounds on its own.
The law regarding the levy was changed at the end of last month when the House of Lords approved the government’s plans to close the loophole that allowed bookmakers based offshore to avoid contributing from their profits on British horseracing.
However, the reforms cannot come into effect until approval is received from the European Commission.
It is hoped that approval will come some time in the coming week.
Racing’s TV ratings under scrutiny
Television coverage of racing came under the spotlight last week after it was revealed ITV’s audience for the Grand National fell short of expectations.
Although its 62 per cent peak share of the total TV viewers equalled the modern record for a commercial station, an audience peak of 8.2 million viewers was lower than that drawn by any of the four Grand Nationals covered by Channel 4, which peaked at 10m a year ago.
It was a lower figure than that achieved by the BBC on all but two occasions in its post-2004 coverage.
Aintree chief John Baker was reported to have hoped for 12m but insisted he was not disappointed, blaming the unusually warm and sunny weather for the figures.
Figures for the first two days of the meeting had been well up on Channel 4’s for the corresponding days last year, as were the daily audiences for Cheltenham.
However, Racing Post analysis of ITV’s audience figures relative to those secured last year by Channel 4 shows morning and afternoon programmes on ITV and ITV4 have so far been seen by well over three million fewer people than watched the equivalent output on Channel 4 last year.
British greyhounds a hit Down Under
British greyhound racing is increasing its international footprint with SIS and Australia’s leading gambling operator Tabcorp reporting a strong start to their partnership.
Tabcorp’s racing media arm, Sky Racing, started broadcasting pictures across Australia from UK stadia in February after striking a deal with SIS for the supply of UK greyhound racing live pictures and data. Despite only a soft launch, the meetings have proved popular with the Australian market.
Brett Gorman, general manager of international at Tabcorp, said: “Early indications show our customers have welcomed the new greyhound racing product from the UK.
“Although most of the coverage so far has been late at night or early morning, the feedback we have received has been very positive.”
It is understood the broadcasting of morning UK Bags meetings has proved particularly popular, with the difference in time zone meaning they hit an evening Australian audience.
SIS commercial director Paul Witten declared himself delighted with its reception, saying: “We couldn’t be more pleased with how the first month has gone with Tabcorp, and it’s great news that they are already looking to increase coverage.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][bsf-info-box icon=”Defaults-envelope-o” icon_size=”32″ pos=”left”]For more information about Racing Post’s B2B services, contact us or browse more of b2b.racingpost.com.[/bsf-info-box][vc_column_text]Racing Post B2B caters for all digital content requirements across web, mobile, tablet and retail. But we are more than just a data provider – we enhance raw data with the best and most recognisable content authored by the biggest names in sports betting. Racing Post B2B offers an unrivalled worldwide content portfolio for bookmakers and media associations. Acknowledged throughout the racing and gaming industries, the Racing Post creates bespoke products suited to your audience that will enable your company to maximise profitability by offering unique data, editorial or multi-media solutions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]