Horse Racing: THIS SHOP STROP WILL HIT PUNTERS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 1, 2007

THERE is a humdinger of a row going on over the televising of racing in betting shops which could have a catastrophic effect on what is available to you and me.

The service to shops from all courses has up to now been the monopoly of SIS, which is 43 per cent owned by Ladbrokes and Hills.

As of today Ascot, York, Chester, Goodwood, Newbury and Bangor leave the SIS fold to join a new company, Turf TV, and as of January 1 they will be joined by another 25 courses including Cheltenham and Aintree.

The immediate effect will be that, with the exception of races on terrestrial TV broadcast by Channel 4 or the BBC, no races from the likes of Ascot, Chester or York will be shown in the shops of the major chains.

You won't be able to see the last two races from Cheltenham, for example, in any Ladbrokes, Hills or Coral shop.

Why the bookies are refusing to sign up with Turf TV has yet to be explained. They say they can't afford it but as the Turf TV charge is EUR9,700 rather SIS's EUR19,200 and given that the Big Three's profits are through the stratosphere this won't wash.

The crucial thing here is that betting shops do not suffer. The present position of the Big Three ensures they will.