RMG welcomes Fakenham Racecourse to media rights group
RMG will work with the Norfolk racecourse on the commercialisation and development of its licensed betting shop, streaming, pay-TV and international rights from 1 May this year through to 31 December 2028.
Fakenham Racecourse will also become a shareholder in RMG, which is 100% owned by racecourses and pays all of its profits to its racecourse shareholders. The venue hosts 12 fixtures throughout the year.
“We are excited to be joining RMG and to be in partnership with many other like-minded small independent racecourses, alongside the larger independents and Jockey Club racecourses,” Fakenham chief executive and clerk of the course, David Hunter, said.
“We have an excellent relationship with The Racing Partnership, At The Races and Sky Sports Racing which goes back many years and we are very grateful to the many successful years we have partnered with them.
“However, my board of directors feel now is the right time for Fakenham to make a change and we believe joining the RMG family will ensure Fakenham will continue to provide good quality grass roots National Hunt racing with good prize money.”
RMG chief executive Martin Stevenson added: “RMG and its 34 racecourse shareholders are delighted to welcome Fakenham Racecourse to the RMG family. The racing from Fakenham will further strengthen our output and we very much look forward to working closely with David Hunter and his team on all aspects of their media and data workstreams.”
Meanwhile, RMG and Sports Information Services (SIS) have agreed a new fixed-odds retail and online streaming deal with Hollywoodbets, allowing the South African betting operator to broadcast and take bets on British and Irish racing.
Hollywoodbets will simulcast racing from 35 British racecourses and all 26 Irish racecourses into 92 betting shops in South Africa, and online via the Hollywoodbets.net website.
RMG and SIS will also work with Hollywoodbets to leverage its marketing and promotional assets to increase interest in British and Irish racing.
RMG’s chief commercial officer Nick Mills said: “The agreement represents an exciting opportunity to increase the shop window for our racecourses, as well as generate additional international revenue, which goes back into the sport.”