Betfred has added to its horse racing sponsorships stable by signing a multi-year partnership of the St Leger Festival.
It will take over from Cazoo, which had been headline sponsor since 2021 and becomes the latest high profile meeting to move from the car sales platform to the Warrington-based bookmaker, after the Epsom Classics.
“To have the Betfred name attached to the St Leger Festival is not just a sponsorship but a privilege,” said Betfred boss, Fred Done.
“I am proud to be associated with the world’s oldest classic which is obviously synonymous with great horses like Triple Crown winner Nijinsky, Dunfermline for the Queen and Oh So Sharp for Sir Henry Cecil.”
The 4-day Betfred St Leger Festival will run from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 September, with the title sponsors supporting a number of the key races across the meeting including the Betfred St Leger Stakes.
Doncaster was granted city status as part of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 which will be commemorated with the renamed Betfred City of Doncaster Handicap, run on the final day of the four-day meeting.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Betfred as the headline sponsors of the St Leger Festival and of the Betfred St Leger itself,” added Arena Racing Company Chief Executive, Martin Cruddace.
“Fred Done and his team have long been keen supporters of British racing, and the inclusion of this historic race meeting into their sponsorship portfolio is another indication of their commitment to the sport. The whole sport is extremely fortunate to benefit from working in partnership with Fred and his team and we very much look forward to a fantastic Betfred St Leger Festival in September.”
The Betfred St Leger is the World’s oldest classic, having first been run in 1776. It represents the final leg in racing’s “Triple Crown” of the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs. The Triple Crown has not been achieved since Lester Pigott rode Nijinsky in 1970.
