Waiting game: Towcester considering options over pool betting

Officials at Towcester are playing a waiting game over the future of pool betting on horseracing at the racecourse, having yet to decide on their arrangements once the Tote's monopoly ends next month.

The majority of British tracks – 55 in total including those under the Jockey Club and Arena Racing Company banners – have come together to form Britbet, their own pool betting business.

Chester and Bangor have their own in-house operations, Ascot will launch Bet With Ascot in partnership with the Tote on July 13, while Chelmsford is run by the Tote's owners Betfred.

However Towcester, which also stages greyhound racing including the Star Sports Greyhound Derby, has yet to decide which way it will go.

Towcester chief executive Kevin Ackerman said he was relaxed about the situation, with the course not staging horseracing again until October 10 and Britbet having put their launch on hold to continue talks with the Tote over possible collaboration.

New pool betting project Britbet on hold as talks continue with the Tote

"We are considering our options," Ackerman said. "We've not really had any dialogue with Britbet – we don't take any offence to that because the scale of their business model has meant they've no doubt had a number of issues and challenges to deal with up to this point.

"We have a pre-existing relationship with the Tote through our greyhound racing side of the business. We have a good relationship with them and we await developments with interest. Whatever happens I think we can make a decision from there."

Doubts have been cast over the viability of pool betting in Britain if liquidity is split between two operations.

Ackerman added: "I certainly don't think two totes is in anyone's interests, and certainly not British horseracing's."

Britbet this week announced a standstill agreement with the Tote to explore opportunities for collaboration, with the arrangement providing the opportunity "to develop a long-term partnership to ensure there is a single pool betting operation for British racing which is in the best interests of the sport".

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