No sponsor for Derby!

Derby likely to be run without sponsor


JOCKEY Club Racecourses and the Epsom executive are resigned to this year's Derby having no sponsor, and their finances taking a significant six-figure hit, when Britain's premier Classic is run on May 6.

Jockey Club chief executive Simon Bazalgette admitted on Sunday: "Although talks are still going on with potential partners, and the two-day meeting has been broken up into smaller sponsorship packages, we are prepared for the possibility that the Derby is run without a sponsor.

"The loss of a long-term sponsor [Vodafone], just as the course was entering a period of major redevelopment, combined with the subsequent economic downturn, has made the task of finding a new sponsor that much harder."

Conceding that the absence of a title sponsor would cost JCR "several hundred thousand pounds," Bazalgette added: "As a group, we are equipped to absorb the impact, if necessary."

Regardless of whether British racing's richest event attracts a backer, this year's race will have a total prize fund of £1.25 million.

Epsom executives, led by managing director Nick Blofeld, will continue the search for commercial support to the last possible moment, following Vodafone's final exit after last year's race.

However, a deal will have to be signed within the next fortnight, if the successful commercial partner is to receive full value from publication of race conditions for the two-day programme in the Racing Calendar.

The O Brien horse Fame And Glory won impressively today at Lepordstown. Looks a good one for The Derby

Epsom opens new stand and welcomes new era


EPSOM may not have a sponsor for the Derby, but it does have a brand new grandstand, which will be opened on Wednesday when an afternoon of quality racing heralds the dawning of a new season and a new era for the home of the premier Classic.


The search for a successor to former Derby backer Vodafone goes on, but while that has yet to reap any reward, the Epsom executive will gain some cheer when the Duchess of Cornwall opens the £27.6m Duchess's Stand, from which racegoers will enjoy a six-race card headed by a Derby prep race and two famous old handicaps.

Although every one of the four Derby entries in the Weatherbys Banking Blue Riband Trial can be backed at 50-1 or more for next month's Classic, the contest has attracted some smart performers, as have the Blue Square-backed City And Suburban and Great Metropolitan handicaps.

Both races will be contested by maximum 20-runner fields, and of the 20 in the £50,000 City And Suburban, the one to beat looks to be William Hill's 13-2 favourite Hawaass, who carries not only Frankie Dettori but also a tall reputation.

"The sky is the limit with him and he should go well," said trainer Mark Johnston when asked about Hawaass, one of whose rivals, the Clive Brittain-trained Lake Poet, won the last Great Metropolitan staged at Epsom in 2007 before plundering an even more valuable handicap at the same year's Derby meeting.

Both Johnston and Brittain will be hoping for a successful afternoon,as will Epsom's managing director Nick Blofeld, who said: "It is going to be a fabulously exciting day. We are all very proud of a project that has been completed on time and on budget, which is no mean achievement."

Assessing the racing surface, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper - who on Tuesday described the round course as good, good to soft in places - said: "The home straight and the climb up the back straight are very much on the easier side of good, but I don't think the jockeys will steer towards the stands' side up the straight as the ease is not pronounced and it's a natural, unwatered surface."

Do you think the derby would be a international event if they moved it from Epsom?

try to never have a bet at epsom,course is just yuuuk

Afternoon Hibby, must say its a terrible track, but has the tradition, should be run at Newmarket or Ascot?

could get mark to sponser it name it afyrt his horses call it the donkey derby

Investec announced as new sponsor of the Derby

EPSOM's long search for a Derby sponsor has come to a successful end after the racecourse announced five-year-deal with leading specialist banking organisation Investec who will back the premier Classic, the Oaks and Coronation Cup until 2013.

The announcement follows the recent completion of the three-year £38 million re-development programme at Epsom Downs.

The work saw the construction of a new 120-bedroom hotel, the Entrance Pavilion and Duchess's Stand and the return to a full calendar of 14 race days for 2009.

Epsom managing director, Nick Blofeld, said: "We are very excited by the news and believe there is a great fit between the two companies which will mean we are both able to benefit from a long-term relationship.

"These days it is much more about strategic partnerships and there are many waysInvestec and Epsom Downs can work together to keep the Derby Festival a hugely successful event but also bring some fresh creativity and reach new audiences."

Investec’s UK CEO, Bradley Fried said: “We are delighted to be joining Epsom and the Derby Festival at the beginning of a new era and know that together we will be able to make a great event even better."

The firm is associated rugby and sponsor England autumn internationalrugby at Twickenham, The Investec Challenge Series.

Good news, would have been sad not to have a Derby sponsor, even during these difficult times.

Thought Investec was SA firm?

Sylvester Wrote:

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> Thought Investec was SA firm?

2 mins on google and i think your correct

Bernard Kantor

INVESTEC HARNESSES POWER OF RACING IN THE UK

Investec‘s association with racing in South Africa, by way of its sponsorship of the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby, saw its reinstatement to a Grade 1 event four years ago as part of one of Africa's three most prestigious race days - the J&B Met.

The leading specialist bank’s UK MD, Bernard Kantor, announced in London today that, following the £38m re-development of Epsom Downs racecourse, Investec has agreed to become long-term partners in the sponsorship of the Derby Festival until 2013. This year’s event will be held on 5 and 6 June at Epsom Downs racecourse.

Epsom MD, Nic Bloefeld, commented: "We are very excited by the news and believe there is a great fit between the two companies which will mean we are both able to benefit from a long- term relationship. Strategic partnerships are key today and there are many ways Investec and Epsom Downs can work together to keep the Derby Festival a hugely successful event, while bringing in some fresh creativity and reaching new audiences. Investec is a very successful international company and has worked in other sports already, best known being the Investec Challenge Series UK, Australia’s Super 14, New Zealand Tri Nations and the Investec International Rugby Academy South Africa.

Investec’s involvement in the Epsom Downs Derby heralds the dawn of a new era in English Classic racing. The redevelopment at Epsom Downs was completed on 22 April when Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, officially opened Epsom's new Duchess's Stand.

Bernard Kantor said, "We at Investec have great respect for the traditions of classic racing and the enjoyment that this level of racing brings to spectators around the world. It is a natural extension of our brand footprint. We have a proud tradition of supporting sport around the world and hope that our involvement will make this historically significant racing festival even more successful in future. Investec will enjoy the global exposure and TV coverage associated with the Derby Festival and we are excited to be able to introduce our clients to the buzz and excitement at Epsom for these important races. It suits our positioning of 'Out of the Ordinary' and has a logical fit to our Investec Zebra logo".

Kantor added that part of the deal includes provision for fans of racing and Investec’s clients from SA who would like to attend this most exciting two day event from a privileged position at Epsom Downs. Details will be announced soon via the various racing organisations in SA! An opportunity not to be missed!

About Investec

The Investec Group is an international, specialist banking group that provides a diverse range of financial products and services to a select client base. Founded in South Africa in 1974, it operates in a number of countries around the world, with its principal markets in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia.



For further information contact:

John Freeman
021 439 2781