December 12th saw an announcement by the Cheltenham Jockey Club that Virgin Bet will be the key sponsor of this year’s Cheltenham: the December Gold Cup. The event, which is named the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup, will take place on December 16th, and Virgin Bet will sponsor The Christmas Meeting and the final race.
Ric Leask, Virgin Bet’s Marketing Director, said that Virgin Bet’s support of “one of the most prestigious events in the racing calendar” is the best way to demonstrate the sportsbook’s passionate commitment to ensuring an exceptional wagering experience. Leask continued, placing an emphasis on Cheltenham’s significance to racing aficionados and how it “holds a special place” in their hearts. According to Leask, the operator is devoted to its role as a major player in horse racing, and he concluded by expressing Virgin Bet’s delight in being able to remain a key figure in horse racing’s most exciting moments.
Ian Renton, Managing Director of The Jockey Club – West, also commented on the sponsorship, stating that he was pleased to welcome Virgin Bet as this year’s sponsor, and he also made sure to thank the operator for generously supporting the event. He described the Virgin Bet Gold Cup as an event that has always proven to be very competitive and that it offers a “thrilling Jump racing spectacle.” Renton added that the competitors who will take part in this year’s race look remarkably strong, and that the Cheltenham Jockey Club is looking forward to “another tremendous renewal” on December 16th.
The Cheltenham Jockey Club Has Seen Much Support From the UK’s Sports Betting Industry
Virgin Bet’s sponsorship will include a £1,000 voucher that can be won by each member of the stable staff who wins the Best Turned Out Award. A donation of £5,000 will also be made to the Gold Cup 100 Community Fund, which will commemorate the Cheltenham Gold Cup’s 100 year anniversary in 2024.
Virgin Bet is not the first betting company to have contributed toward Cheltenham-held horse racing events, seeing as Cheltenham has a rich horse racing history that spans two centuries. It all began in 1815 with the town’s very first Flat race meeting on Nottingham Hill. Several years later, the very first races on Cleeve Hill took place. As for the December Gold cup in particular, it was established in 1963 on the Cheltenham Racecourse and has since been organised on an annual basis.
Since 2015, gambling giant Betway has been the sponsor of Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase. This event is referred to as the Betway Queen Mother Champion Race, and it takes place yeach year during the summer. Paddy Power, another big name in the UK’s betting market, sponsored the Festival Plate Handicap Chase in 2021. Coral and Sky Bet have also served as prominent sponsors for the Cheltenham Jockey Club.
- Author
Daniel Williams
