Entain solidifies UK greyhound and horseracing offering with double deal

Entain has strengthened its UK greyhound and horseracing credentials with the launch of a new greyhound racing joint venture business as well as signing an extension of its existing horseracing media deal.

In dual updates, the London-listed operator confirmed the launch of Premier Greyhound Racing, a joint venture business between it and the Arena Racing Company (ARC).

As part of the investment, which was announced in March, ARC and Entain have agreed to prize money investments across open race programmes throughout 2022 of more than £2.5m, as well as investment into greyhound welfare research projects.

Ahead of the launch of the joint venture, both have agreed to invest in four ‘Premier’ Category One competitions across the year, each with a first prize of £20,000.

All other Category One competitions across both ARC and Entain tracks will offer a £10,000 minimum first prize, with the exception of the Springbok maiden hurdle competition at Central Park.

In addition, the pair will give £1,000 to all finalists across the 32 Category One competitions hosted by ARC and Entain tracks in 2022.

All Category Two competitions across 2022 will offer a minimum first prize of £5,000 and standard prize money for minor opens (excluding maidens) will be £300 to the winner and £60 run money.  Maiden races will offer £250 to the winner.

All open race meetings will offer £15 per runner travel money, with an additional payment of £35 per runner for all Irish runners in the eight Premier competitions.

In November, Entain and ARC trialled so-called ‘twilight meetings’ in which Entain’s retail shops utilised content from ARC tracks on certain fixtures. From January 2022, this will increase to between eight and 10 fixtures per week.

Entain’s retail estate and digital brands will take content from Premier Greyhound Racing exclusively from 1 January 2024.

In addition to the prize money investment Entain and ARC will provide funding for research in relation to improving greyhound welfare, with a commitment of £50,000 in 2022.

The funds will be made available to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which recently announced the development of a new welfare strategy supporting an agreed research project to help improve greyhound welfare standards.

Entain director of commercial retail Richard Lang welcomed the conclusion of the new JV agreement.

“This new venture clearly demonstrates Entain’s commitment to the sport of Greyhound Racing and our desire to see it flourish in the years ahead for the benefit of our customers and fans everywhere,” Lang said.

Sentiments were echoed by Kevin Robertson, MD of Arena Racing Company’s Media and International division who hailed the agreement as the “next step forward” for the pair. “Equally, in the shorter term, we are really pleased to have come together to make these significant investments into our Open Race programme over the year, as well as contributing to the ongoing research into greyhound welfare,” Robertson added.

Elsewhere, Entain has finalised an extension of its horseracing media feeds partnership deal with Sports Information Services (SIS) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG).

The agreement, which covers 35 racecourses for UK customers of Ladbrokes and Coral brands, will now run until 2026.

The new deal is part of wider plans that aim to enhance the retail experience for its customers. This also includes the upgrading of current betting terminals and increasing the number of them in Ladbrokes and Coral shops. Entain has also pledged to invest in new digital services in shops making the retail experience closer to online.