Racing UK brings horseracing to Wetherspoon pubs

Live horseracing from the UK's top 30 courses has today become available in selected pubs in the JD Wetherspoon chain under a deal with Racing UK Television.

Action from venues such as Cheltenham, Aintree, Newmarket, Newbury, York, Epsom, Kempton and Sandown is now being shown in 75 Wetherspoon pubs, roughly 10% of the estate.

Racing UK said that the deal arose after it sent a racing whip to JDW chairman Tim Martin, leading to a successful six-month trial of the channel in Wetherspoon's Liquorice Gardens pub in Worksop.

The broadcaster's commercial arm already beams live horseracing coverage to more than 3,500 pubs and clubs in the UK and Ireland.

Racing UK commercial director Nick Mills said: "We are delighted to add such a major player as JD Wetherspoon to our portfolio of pubs.

"Horseracing has a tradition of bringing communities together and is proven to attract business during the quieter times, such as the afternoons and early evenings, and the partnership looks an excellent fit."

JDW spokesman Eddie Gershon added: "We're confident that our customers will welcome the addition of horseracing through Racing UK in a number of our pubs."

As an independent channel, Racing UK is not reliant on the Sky satellite service to reach its audience in pubs and clubs. The network is also offered to homes on Sky, Virgin Media and UPC cable in the Republic of Ireland.

In 2009, the channel temporarily went free-to-air after the collapse of its UK distribution partner Setanta, before reverting to a pay-only channel.

Racing UK ran its first high definition broadcast this year for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival as part of a £7 million operational investment.