Betfred made its debut as the sponsor of the Derby Festival in 2023, initiating a three-year partnership.
However, exciting news has now emerged that this sponsorship deal has been extended by an additional year, solidifying their presence until at least 2026.
This expansion signifies an even stronger commitment from Betfred to this prestigious racing event.
As part of the extended agreement, Betfred will acquire naming rights for each day of the two-day festival.
This means that the festival will now be officially known as the “Betfred Derby Festival,” a testament to the bookmaker’s growing involvement in the world of horse racing.
In addition to the naming rights, Betfred will also increase its support for races during the festival.
The initial deal covered only two races, but the extended partnership will see Betfred sponsoring a total of six races at each edition of the event.
This enhanced involvement is expected to elevate the festival’s status and provide added excitement for both racing enthusiasts and participants.
Fred Done, the head of Betfred, expressed his enthusiasm for the extended partnership, calling the previous year’s involvement “memorable” and expressing his eagerness to continue supporting the Betfred Derby Festival.
He emphasized the importance of keeping the festival at the forefront of world racing.
Amy Starkey, the managing director for the east region at Jockey Club Racecourses, which owns Epsom Racecourse, also welcomed the extension.
She highlighted the longstanding relationship between Betfred and British racing, expressing her excitement about strengthening their partnership further.
Betfred’s CEO, Joanne Whittaker, was recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Gaming in 2023 by iGB, underscoring her remarkable leadership in the industry.
Whittaker took over as CEO in 2021, succeeding Fred Done after a 20-year working relationship.
Under her leadership, Betfred achieved significant growth, with a 37.5% year-on-year increase in turnover in 2022, reaching £723.2 million.
Whittaker acknowledged the emergence of a strong female leadership class in the gaming industry upon receiving the prestigious recognition.
Her success as the CEO of Betfred and the extended sponsorship deal for the Betfred Derby Festival further solidify her influence and contributions to the world of gaming and horse racing.