'The Derby remains the greatest Flat race in the world' - Betfred to sponsor Epsom Classics in three-year deal

Betfred will sponsor the Derby and the Oaks for the next three years, becoming the first bookmaker to back the Epsom Classics.

The Jockey Club, which owns Epsom, had been searching for a third sponsor for the Derby in four years after Cazoo, the used car company, did not renew its backing of the meeting after the latest edition after experiencing a challenging period of trading. Before Cazoo, the Derby – won last year by Desert Crown when the race was part of the late Queen’s official Platinum Jubilee celebrations – had been supported by Investec.

Betfred founder Fred Done said: “I'm so pleased to announce that Betfred will sponsor the Derby for the next three years. To be associated with a race like this gives me great pride and, for me, the Derby remains the greatest Flat race in the world.”

Nevin Truesdale, the chief executive of the Jockey Club, said the group was “absolutely delighted” Betfred were sponsoring the Derby and the Oaks, and two other races at the meeting which are yet to be decided. Amy Starkey, the Jockey Club’s managing director, said the agreement was “an exceptional deal for British horseracing”.  

She added: “This partnership represents a substantial investment in the world’s most famous Flat race and we are very grateful to Betfred for their generous support.”

Betfred had previously been a significant sponsor in racing, with the likes of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ebor, Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch handicaps backed by the bookmaker. Many of those deals were signed after Betfred's purchase of the Tote pool betting operation in 2011. The Tote has since been sold to a new group of investors.

Desert Crown wins last year's Derby at EpsomCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ever Ready became the first commercial sponsor of the Derby in 1984 before Vodafone took over sponsorship in 1995. Vodafone signalled its intention to walk away from the Derby in 2007, only to back the 2008 edition as a one-off after a sponsor could not be found.

Vodafone was replaced by Investec, the bank founded by Bernard Kantor, until the firm unexpectedly ended its sponsorship less than halfway through a ten-year deal, which had been signed in 2017, following the 2020 running of the Classics. 

Betfred’s association with two of British racing’s most prominent contests marks a return to the limelight for the bookmaker after Done had previously said “racing and Betfred have got to learn to live without each other” following the expiry of the Tote’s exclusive licence to operate pool betting at British racecourses in 2018.

The Derby and Oaks are the only Classics to have bookmaker sponsorship in Britain this year. The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket are backed by Qipco, the investment firm of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his brothers, but have previously been sponsored by the likes of Stan James and Ultimatepoker.com.

A new sponsor is expected for the St Leger this year, with Cazoo having sponsored the last two runnings. The likes of Ladbrokes and William Hill have sponsored the race previously.

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