William Hill confirm end of their three-year St Leger sponsorship deal

William Hill have confirmed their sponsorship of Britain’s oldest Classic, the St Leger at Doncaster, has ended.

The likelihood of the bookmaker pulling out of the annual September staying highlight was raised last month when Hills announced they were not renewing their contract to back the Ayr Gold Cup, a sponsorship they had held since 2009.

William Hill have backed the St Leger since 2017, but their three-year deal ended last year, when the race was landed impressively by John Gosden's Logician under Frankie Dettori, and will not be renewed.

Arena Racing Company, who own Doncaster, will now start the process of finding another sponsor for the 1m6½f race, which has been won by such equine greats as Nijinsky, Oh So Sharp and Reference Point.

A Hills spokesman said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed the sponsorship of the St Leger and have had a wonderful few years at Doncaster.

“Sadly, all good things come to an end and we leave wishing Arc well and with every confidence that they will find a new sponsor.”

Doncaster: home of the oldest Classic, the ever-popular St LegerCredit: Edward Whitaker

An Arc spokesman said: “We have very much enjoyed working with William Hill over the last three years as headline sponsors of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

“As the world’s oldest Classic, the St Leger holds a special place in the British racing calendar and we look forward to speaking to a number of interested parties about creating a new chapter in the race’s history.”

William Hill took over from Ladbrokes, who had backed the Classic since 2005. Betfair, Rothmans Royals, Pertemps, Coalite and Holsten Pils are other firms to have sponsored the race in the last 35 years.

Their decision to cut back sponsorship comes after a year in which it was announced they were to close 700 betting shops due to the government’s decision to reduce the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals, and in which Ulrik Bengtsson was appointed their new chief executive.

The company agreed a streaming and data rights deal with Arc last month that is set to boost racecourse revenues.

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