ITV

Ascot Racecourse is set to return record prize-money of £17.5 million to the sport in 2024, having announced on Monday its financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. Turnover for that period rose by 9% to £110.9 million, with a pre-tax profit of £5.9 million--up from £3.4 million in 2022. The 2023 business summary highlighted several other points of interest: Gross profit percentage fell from 34.5% to 33.8%, reflecting increased costs and general inflationary economic conditions. Profit before tax increased by £2.5 million but EBITDA (Earnings Before...

Newsells Park Stud's David Porter-Mackrell was named the Employee of the Year at the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, at Ascot Racecourse on Monday. The gala marked the 20th anniversary of the awards, which was attended by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin. The event, celebrating the contribution of racing's workforce to British racing, saw a total of £128,500 in prize money handed out across six categories. With Newsells the last 15 years, head stallion man Porter-Mackrell was nominated by...

Edited Press Release The turnover at Ascot Racecourse exceeded £100 million for the first time with a strong recovery from COVID-19 last season. The return to profit will allow for record prize money of £17 million set to be returned to the sport in 2023 and a voluntary increased loan repayment will help reduce debt ahead of schedule. The 2022 business summary highlighted several points of improvement: A return to profit with a pre-tax profit of £3.4m after two difficult years of COVID-19 restrictions. This compares to a pre-COVID profit...

Forty broadcasters from all corners of the globe will provide live coverage of Saturday's $30.5-million G1 Dubai World Cup from Meydan Racecourse. In all, nine races will be contested, headlined by the $12-million Dubai World Cup, Sponsored by Emirates Airline. Dubai Racing Club's Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and RMG's agency HBA Media, have secured some of the biggest names in sports broadcasting to televise and live stream the day's events, include Fox Sports in the U.S., ESPN/Star+ in South America, SuperSport in Africa, Viaplay in Europe, Dubai Media and BeIN...

Breeders' Cup has entered into multi-year agreements with ITV, Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV to continue their live broadcast coverage of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in the U.K. and Ireland. "The Breeders' Cup World Championships is a premier international event and we're delighted that fans in the U.K. and Ireland will once again be able to watch the most talented horses, jockeys and trainers in the world compete during our two days of championship racing," said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. "ITV, Sky Sports Racing and...

What did you get up to during the lockdown? Did you finally build that patio that you promised you'd complete years ago? Maybe you took up exercising? Or did you go searching for a broodmare after one of her sons put up an eye-catching performance on the track only to find her pulling carts in Belgium and, after initially being told that she's not for sale, did you finally strike a deal for the price of a small second-hand car? Thought not. Kevin Blake, the popular ITV racing pundit and...

ITV, which has been the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster of British racing, has agreed to a new deal to show British racing until 2023. Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport, said, "ITV is delighted to announce the continuation of free-to-air coverage of a sport that is loved and followed by so many. To do so following a successful resumption of the sport with wide audiences returning to our coverage after such a long lay-off is particularly welcome and we look forward to bringing the very best this wonderful sport has to...

Royal Ascot, which will feature 36 races for the first time as the coronavirus results in a spectatorless meeting, will reach over 120 countries via television broadcasts, Ascot Racecourse announced on Monday. ITV1 in the UK will display the iconic, five-day meeting, while the royal meeting will also be available in America, Australia, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean and Europe. ITV will cover 30 races on their main channel. Sky Sports Racing, reaching 14 million homes in the UK and Ireland, will broadcast all 36 races, and the Royal...

A group of bookmakers has revealed that it will donate all profits made on Saturday's Virtual Grand National to the National Health Service. After the world's most famous steeplechase was scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, ITV announced that it would air a virtual version compiled with CGI technology in a special programme hosted by Nick Luck. Among the Betting and Gaming Council members involved are bet365, William Hill, Flutter Entertainment, Sky Bet, GVC, Betfred, Betway, BetVictor, JenningsBet and Inspired Entertainment.