New betting shop channel agrees on course prices deal

On-course operators represented by the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers (FRB) will make their prices available for the exclusive use of new betting shop channel The Racing Partnership (TRP) following a deal agreed between the two sides running to the end of 2019.

It follows on from one signed earlier in the year with the British Racecourse Bookmakers Association, which means TRP will have access to prices from all on-course bookmakers across its 22 member racecourses.

It also means bookmakers can have access to official raceday data from those racecourses, only if they are licensed by TRP.

The deal starts when TRP begins broadcasting British racing to betting shops from January 1, with the all-weather tracks at Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton as well as Doncaster, Windsor and Worcester joining first.

All 15 Arena Racing Company-owned racecourses and seven independent tracks – Fakenham, Ffos Las, Hexham, Newton Abbot, Plumpton, Ripon and Towcester – will be shown from January 2018.

FRB director Robin Grossmith said: "I'm delighted the FRB and TRP have been able to agree this deal, that has enabled us to provide TRP with the data generated by the leading on-course bookmakers who operate across the TRP estate. We look forward to working with TRP going forward."

TRP director Mark Kingston added: "TRP has always wanted to contract with all on-course bookmakers that stand on its racecourses.

"The agreement with the FRB, together with the deal with the BRBA announced earlier in the year, means exactly that. As a result, TRP will be the only source of official raceday data to the off-course market."

William Hill recently agreed a long-term media rights deal with TRP, although Ladbrokes-Coral and Betfred have yet to follow suit.