East Anglian Derby becomes part of Betfair's greyhound portfolio

General / Editor / 12 May 2008 / Leave a Comment

£20,000 to winner makes Great Yarmouth event biggest in Betfair's greyhound sponsorship

Betfair are the new sponsors of the East Anglian Derby at Great Yarmouth, the final of which will be televised live on Sky Sports for the first time on Tuesday, September 23rd.

The £20,000 prize money to the winner makes it the biggest single-race financial pot in Betfair's greyhound sponsorship history, and adds to a portfolio which also includes the betting exchange's flagship event, The National Trainers' Championship, as well as numerous other grass-roots racing and charity initiatives in the sport.

As the final will be aired live on Sky, it necessitated a switch from the race's normal Thursday slot to the following Tuesday.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "Having attended many an East Anglian Derby I am personally delighted that our sponsorship team have managed to secure this prestigious event.

"Betfair were first alerted to the potential and availability of the race when contacted by one of the on-course layers, Edward Thompson, and we are determined to give the race as high a profile as possible.

"This is evidenced by the increased prize money, with the winner now receiving £20,000, and the fact that Dave Lawrence and his Sky team have come on board, too."

Lawrence added: "I am delighted that the Betfair East Anglian Derby final from Yarmouth will be shown live on Sky Sports for the first time ever this year.

"We had a very successful first show at the track when we covered the TV Trophy last year and the Sky greyhound racing team is looking forward to returning to broadcast one of the top races in the greyhound calendar."

Stadium Managing Director Stephen Franklin, son of the event-founder Len Franklin, observed: "The sponsorship and involvement of Betfair, in what will be the 62nd running of the East Anglian Greyhound Derby, is the biggest thing to happen to the event since the stadium bookmakers got involved in the 43rd running in 1989. Betfair have doubled the win prize to £ 20,000, and this has helped gain the Sky Sports coverage."

"With the two semi-finals on Thursday 18th September, formerly the final night and the £2,000 to-the-winner Kronenbourg Sprint Final, plus the £2,500 Derby Purse Final, over 659 metres, we are still planning for a bumper crowd.

"And those who traditionally come on holiday for that week - for the three-day Yarmouth horseracing festival and the East Anglian Greyhound Derby - and are unable to return for the final on Tuesday 23rd September, will be able to catch all the action, including the supporting £500 Betfair Opens, live on Sky Sports."