Horse Racing
Bookies back down in racing row and u-turn on refusal to take bets on Bath
Paddy Power and Sky Bet, both Flutter betting brands, will now offer prices on the Wednesday night card after being threatened with legal action
A huge row between two major betting brands and Britain’s largest racing group is over less than 24 hours after it erupted.
In an unprecedented move Paddy Power and SkyBet, both owned by Flutter, had announced they would not offer betting on the Wednesday evening six-race card at Bath. The company blamed rising media rights payments for the “commercial decision”.
But Arena Racing Company, which operates Bath and 15 other racecourses in Britain, threatened legal action. And now the two bookmakers are expected to bet as normal on the fixture at Bath where the first race is set to start at 6.00pm.
Arc chief executive Martin Cruddace said: “We are pleased that sense has prevailed, and that Flutter have responded positively to our solicitors’ letter of late last night.
“We do very much value our longstanding relationship with Flutter and have always been open in acknowledging the clear symbiotic relationship between the horseracing and betting industries.
“We will continue to work closely with them as our respective industries face continued Gambling Commission activity on the flawed principle of affordability.”
In its original announcement Flutter, whose stance had not involved its other brand Betfair,, said it had reached its decision “reluctantly”.
In a statement, a Flutter spokesperson said: “Sky Bet and Paddy Power have made a commercial decision to remove Bath from Wednesday’s offering,” a spokesperson said.
“This decision has been reluctantly made due to the increase in costs associated with certain aspects of our Horse Racing proposition.
“Total media rights payments from operators stand at more than double that of the Horserace Betting Levy – the industry’s direct funding mechanism – this at a time when the funding of the sport remains a critical item of debate.”
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