Newbury switch all about aiding track's Covid recovery as Sky gains strength

Joining up the dots that have led to Newbury's change of allegiance may not take much doing. Just two months ago, the independently owned track revealed the first nine months of the Covid crisis had blown a £3m hole in its finances, taking it from a £1m profit in 2019 to a loss of £2.38m last year, and more bad news has yet to be accounted for in the first seven months of this year.

While the details of the deal announced on Wednesday remain private, it is being widely assumed that Sky has made Newbury an offer it could not refuse in the circumstances. But the news is not expected to herald another period of flux like the first half of 2018, when it was announced in quick succession that all Irish racing and Chelmsford would move to Racing TV, while Chester, Bangor and Ascot would move the other way to Sky.

Racing TV is believed to be making good progress completing renewal deals for its rights with its other tracks and an announcement is expected in the near future. Newbury's decision to jump ship was no surprise, although the manner of the announcement certainly was, with Racing TV being given hardly any advance notice, even though it is to continue broadcasting from the track for more than two years before the new deal kicks in.