Paddy Power and Sky Bet ‘stand by’ decision to remove Bath races from betting after solicitors’ letter sparks U-turn

5 months ago 50

PADDY POWER and Sky Bet have stood by their decision to temporarily remove Bath races from betting.

And they have issued a fresh call for more ‘transparency’ over how bookies’ contributions are used in racing on the back of the short-lived feud with Arena Racing Company.

Both Flutter brands will reportedly now offer betting on the six-race card on Wednesday evening after a late U-turn.

But that only comes after both firms removed the meeting – run at an Arc track – from their sportsbook offerings on Tuesday afternoon citing a ‘commercial decision’.

Arc boss Martin Cruddace told the Racing Post he was pleased ‘sense had prevailed’ after sending a solicitors’ letter to Flutter threatening legal action ‘late last night’.

But Flutter insist they believe they were right to refuse to offer a market in the first place.

They have also vowed to ‘continue to seek innovative ways to understand how our significant investment can have the greatest impact on growing UK racing’.

A Flutter UKI spokesperson said: “Flutter UKI stands by its decision to remove the Bath racecard for early prices throughout today.

“We will continue to seek innovative ways to understand how our significant investment can have the greatest impact on growing UK racing over the longer-term.

“The industry needs to have a conversation about media rights given total payments from operators stand at more than double the Horserace Betting Levy – and there is little transparency over how much of that funding flows back into this great sport.”

While Cruddace told the Racing Post: “We’re pleased that sense has prevailed and that Flutter has responded positively to our solicitors’ letter of late last night.

“We do very much value our long-standing relationship with Flutter and have always been open in acknowledging the clear symbiotic relationship between the horseracing and betting industries.

“We will continue to work closely with them as our respective industries face continued Gambling Commission activity on the flawed principle of affordability.”

The extraordinary stand-off burst into life on social media when a screenshot of an exchange between a punter and Paddy Power customer service agent confirmed Bath races would not be offered.

The highlight of the meeting is the Class 4 Mike Loftus Is 60 Today “Confined” Handicap run over 5½ furlongs and worth just under £5,000 to the winner.

Every other race on the card bar the maiden fillies’ stakes run at 7.35 is worth under £3,000 to the winner.

Warnings of discontent surfaced almost exactly two years ago when Paddy Power removed their best odds guaranteed concession on some meetings.

That also came amid calls for greater transparency regarding the flow and distribution of money within racing.

Explaining their original decision to remove Bath races from betting, a Flutter spokesperson had said: “Sky Bet and Paddy Power have made a commercial decision to remove Bath from Wednesday’s offering.

“This decision has been reluctantly made due to the increase in costs associated with certain aspects of our Horse Racing proposition.

“Total media rights payments from operators stand at more than double that of the Horserace Betting Levy – the industry’s direct funding mechanism – this at a time when the funding of the sport remains a critical item of debate.

“Flutter remain huge supporters of horse racing; in the last year we invested over £140m into the sport via media rights, levy, sponsorship and marketing; we are principle sponsors of ITV Racing; flagship sponsors at York and Cheltenham; partners of Go Racing In Yorkshire; founders of the Sunday Series; we work closely with the PJA, IJF and the Horse Welfare Board; and next month we are unveiling the exciting new Horse Racing documentary series funded by Flutter.”