Ladbrokes dump South African racing?

Bob Brogan wrote: Just been told by a friend who manages a WHill shop that she had a memo to remove all papers from shops

No online prices for Hills up today Bob, nor for 10bet who I think might be a Hills spin-off company, though I'm not sure about that. States "no races available". Maybe a one-off problem for the day but I suspect otherwise...

Also see, though don't know if it is from today or previous, that Stan James don't seem to be offering online prices either.

None of the TGP-powered sites are covering The Vaal today (10Bet, Netbet, 138.com etc.). I suspect that, as with William Hill, this may be a permanent move.

I see on Oddschecker a whole host of Bookmakers covering South African Racing. Racebets also is covering the SA meetings.

lol Naresh and a whole host of bookmakers who stop you betting with them or restrict you to pence bets as soon as you win... :evil:
That aside, though you are of course correct, if, as suspected, WH and the others have stopped then the trend is definitely going the wrong way

It's unlikely to be a coincidence that this apparent change of policy has happened on the first day of the month.

Scotia tried in vain to play SA racing when he was in Scotland

It's not them taking bets that's the problem , the bigger problem is they no longer show the racing , meaning there will be no big money deal for pge to sign

True bob they could not even tell me the results SA racing totally off their feed

This probably the reason, imo if ARC doesn't get the bookmakers onboard they will drop SA racing like a hot coal and there will be no more new deals


Racecourse group Arena Racing Company has agreed a “landmark” deal licensing it to provide coverage of South African racing to betting shops in Britain and Ireland in the latest major move in the rapidly changing media rights landscape.

South African company Phumelela has licensed Arc to supply and distribute coverage of all South African race meetings from June 1 next year until the end of 2022 in an agreement that will also result in South African racing continuing to be distributed to online betting operators via the At The Races streaming platform Sport Mediastream. Arc replaces SIS, which has held the rights to South African racing since 2011. In September SIS and Racecourse Media Group – which represents the media rights of 34 courses – announced a five-year betting-shop rights agreement for the period between 2018 and 2023, which in turn threw the future of SIS’s rival TurfTV into doubt.

The future of the betting-shop rights for Arc’s 15 courses has yet to be decided. The rights for Arc’s tracks under the old Arena Leisure banner come up for renewal at the end of next year, while the deal involving the old Northern courses comes up for renewal at the end of 2017. South African racing will be sold with Arc’s rights, although how the pictures will be delivered to betting shops has yet to be decided.

Arc chief executive Martin Cruddace said: “Arc is thrilled to be extending our relationship with Phumelela in order to help further promote South African racing to a British and Irish audience. This is mutually beneficial for all involved and we are pleased to be providing a transparent service for LBOs.”

South African racing is an important part of the betting-shop offering, with 440 race meetings from eight racecourses being shown each year. Phumelela chief executive Rian du Plessis said: “We are delighted to have struck a deal with Arc which ensures South African racing can continue to have a UK and Irish audience and grow its popularity.”

Laddies showing the cards today. They didn't do early prices, just SP, but possibly doing race-by-race as prices for the first race were up at the off, not sure how long before the race started.

Thats a start Engles, thanks for letting me know

Fully agree, Bob. Sounds like a classic case of opportunism on the part of ARC, but they probably hadn't counted on UK bookmakers doing a deal to show Indian racing as a replacement for the SA meetings.

Sportingbet don't appear to be covering Scottsville today, either on their .com or co.za site. Just a one-off?