The Derby at Epsom, Britain’s most historic and prestigious Classic, will be sponsored by a gambling company for the first time after Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR) agreed a three-year deal with Betfred, which operates 1,400 betting shops in addition to an online betting and gaming business. The contract also includes the Oaks, the feature event on the opening afternoon of the two-day Derby Festival, which begins on 2 June.
JCR had been looking for a sponsor for the Epsom Classics since Cazoo, a used-car sales website, said last August it was ending its association with the Derby and Oaks after two years.
