Racecourse Media Group and HBA Media extend partnership to maximise International Media Rights for British and Irish horseracing

Wednesday 18th December 2024  – Racecourse Media Group (RMG), responsible for a range of racecourses’ media rights businesses, have renewed their distribution relationship with HBA Media, the leading horse racing media rights agency through a refreshed three-year representation agreement.

The renewal sees HBA Media continue to market and distribute RMG’s showcase British, Irish and international events to a global audience. The successful partnership, established in 2021, has resulted in a substantial increase in media rights revenue and enhanced broadcast exposure, as well as the launch and development of Crown Jewels Racing (CJR).

Crown Jewels Racing is a year-round premium package of the very best of the sport, comprised of 18 world-renowned race-days, including seven RMG-managed events. This enables international broadcasters to market more effectively and build a year-long narrative around the global horseracing calendar. CJR is complemented by enhanced production (a CJR 90 stand-alone production around the feature race) and a fan engagement tool, CJR Fantasy Game.

Henry Birtles, Chief Executive of HBA Media, said:

“We are delighted to have extended our agreement with RMG as their principal distribution partner for premium British, Irish, Dubai and Bahrain horse racing. Our collaboration brings together an exceptional lineup of events and forms an unparalleled calendar of prestigious racing festivals across multiple continents - promoted globally under the Crown Jewels Racing banner and creating a one-stop shop for broadcasters and platforms.

“With a 100% increase in media right revenue over the past rights cycle, our ambition is to target new territories, expand our network of over 40 established broadcasters, and build on our successful commercial returns for Federations by improving production standards. We also will continue to distribute the World Feeds of RMG’s wider racing portfolio outside of the CJR brand.”

Nick Mills, Chief Executive of Racecourse Media Group, added:

“Our racecourses have benefitted from significantly enhanced global exposure and an increase in rights fees, thanks to RMG teaming up with HBA Media. We have been particularly delighted to work with HBA on the launch of Crown Jewels Racing. For the first time, networks benefit from a one-stop shop for horseracing rights, resulting in a consistent calendar of the very best of the sport. The CJR events offer audiences access to premium sporting drama, lifestyle, and entertainment and help leverage each other to boost reach and rights fees.”

EVENTS PORTFOLIO:

RMG events include:

• Dubai World Cup Carnival – 17 fixtures, headlined by the US $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, 5 April 2025
• Cheltenham Festival - the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar. Each day offers a unique twist on four days of extraordinary.
• Randox Grand National Festival - the three-day festival climaxes with the national institution that is the Grand National - the world's greatest steeplechase
• Betfred Derby Festival – the Derby from Epsom is the most famous Flat race in the world, and gives its name to many other Derbies run all over the world
• Qatar ‘Glorious Goodwood’ Festival - the world-famous five-day festival, affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season
• Sky Bet Ebor Festival - the four-day Sky Bet Ebor Festival hosts a Group 1 contest on each of the first three days and culminates with the historic Sky Bet Ebor Handicap
• Irish Champions Festival – a leading international racing festival featuring world class racing over two days at Leopardstown and The Curragh
• QIPCO British Champions Day – Ascot plays host to the finale of the British Flat racing season and Britain’s richest raceday
• Bahrain International Trophy – the $1m Bahrain showpiece is one of the jewels of the Middle Eastern racing calendar

This impressive year-long racing portfolio, is further strengthened by HBA’s existing commercial partnerships with several major organisations, including:

• Ascot Racecourse – known for hosting Royal Ascot, one of the most famous horse racing events in the world.
• The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia – responsible for the G1 Saudi Cup, another major international horse race with one of the largest prize pools globally.
• Victoria Racing Company –the entity behind some of Australia’s most significant races, including the Melbourne Cup.
• Breeders’ Cup – a key event in American racing that attracts top horses from around the world.
• 1/ST – North America’s leading events operation with ownership of Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park and events such as the Pegasus World Cup, The Preakness Stakes and the California Crown.
• Hong Kong Jockey Club - a world-leading racing club, for which HBA distributed seven international Group 1 contests staged over two principal racedays being the Longines Hong Kong International Races and the FWD Champions’ Day.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Hannah Tufnell – Head of Marketing and Communications, HBA Media

Hannah@hbamedia.tv / +44 (0) 7971 598 287

Seb Vance – Director of Communications and International TV Distribution, RMG

seb.vance@racecoursemediagroup.com / +44 (0) 7810 043 040

About Racecourse Media Group (RMG):
RMG is the holding company responsible for a range of media rights management businesses involving 37 racecourse shareholders. The businesses include Racing TV (Pay TV coverage from 35 British and all 26 Irish racecourses); GBI Racing (international betting broadcast service formed via a joint venture with ARC) and Racecourse Data Company (a joint venture between 59 UK racecourses for the licensing and control of Pre-Race Data). RMG has streaming integrations with over 60 bookmaker brands in the UK and Ireland. Content from 36 UK racecourses is also broadcast in c. 7,000 betting shops in UK and Ireland via a partnership with SIS. For more info, go to: www.racecoursemediagroup.com

About HBA Media (HBA):

HBA Media provide multiple live international horseracing packages to broadcasters as well as umbrella deals which include the co-ordination of programme delivery, daily management and troubleshooting.

HBA Media’s aim is to reposition horseracing to be competitive with the likes of football, rugby, and cricket in the world of sports broadcasting.

HBA Media is proud to work with a whole host of prestigious racing federations and major global networks including Ascot Racecourse Limited, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, France Galop, Eurosport, Dubai Media Incorporated, Abu Dhabi Media, TVG, The Japan Racing Association, Singapore Turf Club, The German Jockey Club, The German Tote, Italian Racing, Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Racing Club, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, NYRA, The New Zealand Racing Board, Racecourse Media Group, The Stronach Group, Breeders' Cup, Phumelela Gaming, the Saudi Cup and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. For more information, visit www.hbamedia.tv

ENDS