The UK horse racing business has seen its shares of ups and downs over the past decade as shrinking interest in the sport and the chaos of the pandemic have eaten into its core business activities. But the British love their Grand National and that signature event has a new official betting partner with an eye on breathing some life into the venerable sport. Earlier this week, William Hill signed a three-year deal to become official betting partner of the Official Betting Partner of the Randox Grand National Festival.
First run in 1839, and run at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, the Grand National is a well-loved British sporting event that sees plenty of casual gamblers hit the betting shops for the three-day event. William Hill already has a strong connection to the Grand National and operates an outlet at the Aintree. The company also recently signed on former Jump jockey and 2003 National winner Barry Geraghty as a brand ambassador.
In honor of the new partnership, William Hill is also becoming the first bookmaker to go non-runner, money-back for the race. (This means that wagers will be refunded if the race does not compete.)
Speaking through a recent press release, William Hill’s Head of Sponsorship, Social & PR, Daryl West, lauded the deal saying, “The Grand National Festival at Aintree is one of the pinnacles of the National Hunt calendar and we are delighted to be involved as the Official Betting Partner for the next three years.”
“Horseracing is a vital part of our heritage, and it was an easy decision for us to support not just the biggest race in the sport but a huge event in the annual sporting calendar,” he added.
The Grand National Festival will be held Thursday, April 13-Saturday, April 15, 2023.