Virgin Bet and Arena Racing Company Extend Partnership

As the largest racecourse operator in the UK, ARC hosts over 570 fixtures each year, with Virgin Bet-sponsored racedays serving as an essential part of the British horse racing calendar. The deal will see Virgin Bet sponsor a number of high-profile fixtures at Doncaster Racecourse.

The partnership will kick off with the historic Virgin Bet November Handicap at Doncaster on 9th November 2024, the exciting conclusion to the turf flat racing calendar in Britain. Additionally, this fixture will incorporate the continuation of Virgin Bet’s ‘Women’s Day’ event, which celebrates the contributions of women in the racing industry.

The sponsorship continues over jumps with the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase Meeting at Doncaster on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th January 2025, a winter highlight that remains a fan favourite.

Virgin Bet will also sponsor Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Chase Meeting on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of March 2025. The two-day meeting attracts both top jockeys and horses with the feature race on Saturday, the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Chase, widely regarded as a key trial for The Grand National.

As part of the sponsorship, Virgin Bet’s Personal Safety Partner, WalkSafe, will be integrated and available for all at each raceday.

Founded in 2020, WalkSafe was developed to give the public as much information about their surroundings as possible. The app, WalkSafe+, enables users to plan the safest route home, along with a host of additional features to help ensure a safer experience for all.

Racegoers at ARC races will be able to learn more about the innovative and free-to-download app at each Virgin-Bet sponsored race meet.

Dominic Vye, Marketing Director, Virgin Bet, said:

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Arena Racing Company, sponsoring key racedays that represent some of the best British horse racing has to offer. We are excited to continue our commitment to honouring the rich traditions of horse racing and providing unforgettable experiences for fans.

“This year, for the first time, we have partnered with WalkSafe as part of our ‘Good Bet’ brand propositioning, and plan to give racegoers the knowledge and tools to ensure they can travel home from a racing venue safely.”

David Leyden Dunbar, ARC Director of Partnerships, added:

“The November Handicap, Great Yorkshire and Grimthorpe Chase meetings are highlights of the autumn and winter months at Doncaster, so we are delighted to extend Virgin Bet’s partnership with the Racecourse. Equally, we look forward to working with Virgin Bet to promote their positive initiatives designed to enhance the customer experience over the coming months, such as WalkSafe, which will increase the raceday experience for attendees.”