U.K. bookmaker William Hill PLC announced Thursday that it has signed a deal to sponsor racecourse Kempton Park’s Winter Festival for the next four years. The $7.3 million deal includes sponsorship of the festival’s showpiece King George VI Chase, seeing William Hill replace the event’s previous sponsor, Gibraltar-based bookmaker Stan James.
As the festival’s new sponsor, William Hill gains exclusive naming rights to a two-day gala, as well as several other events including the Christmas Hurdle, Desert Orchid Chase and Feltham Chase. The deal is the second Kempton Park has made with William Hill, which also sponsored the track’s Lanzarote Hurdle Day, Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, and Roseberry and Magnolia Stakes.
“The sponsorship of this historic and prestigious event affords William Hill the opportunity to enhance our portfolio of great betting races for the general public, whilst strengthening our loyalty to racing during a difficult financial period,” William Hill chief executive Ralph Topping said. “We are committed to working with Kempton Park to enhance the Winter Festival meeting and look forward to working with this dynamic team throughout the next four years.’’
A William Hill press release said the company expects the 2009 King George VI Chase to be especially exciting as Kauto Star attempts to become the second racehorse in history to win the three-mile event four years in a row. To date, the only horse to have achieved this feat is the legendary Desert Orchid, who did so in 1990.
phill.provance@gamblingplanet.org
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