Sky Sports Racing deal done for Melbourne Cup
Sky Sports Racing will broadcast the Lexus Melbourne Cup exclusively live in the UK and Ireland this year after signing a long-term deal with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), it was announced today.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup is Australia’s richest handicap race and one of the world’s most iconic races. The new partnership with VRC gives Sky Sports Racing exclusive pay TV broadcast rights to the entire Melbourne Cup Carnival including AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Kennedy Oaks Day and Stakes Day as well as Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival attracts huge crowds of more than 310,000 over the four days each year and is recognised as the highlight of the Australian racing calendar.
Sky Sports Racing will also have exclusive film crew and reporting access to the racecourse amongst UK and Ireland broadcasters.
In 2017 Joseph O’Brien became, at 24, the youngest winning trainer in the history of the Melbourne Cup thanks to the emphatic success of his horse, Rekindling. Remarkably, he achieved the feat, which has still so far eluded his illustrious father, only 17 months after obtaining his trainer’s licence.
Matthew Imi, Chief Executive, At The Races said: “The Lexus Melbourne Cup is one of the most prestigious and famous races anywhere in the world and we are delighted to start this important new partnership with VRC. This agreement covers not just the Cup race but the whole Carnival across four spectacular days and we will aim to maximise its exposure and convey the excitement of the week across our broadcast, digital and social channels.”
Neil Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, VRC said: “Sky Sports Racing will be a great new home for the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the UK and Ireland. We are very pleased that Sky will be supporting one of the largest racing events in the world and we look forward to working with them to showcase the racing and theatre of the Carnival across the four days.
“Positioning the Lexus Melbourne Cup and our other world-class races during Cup Week alongside Sky’s other premium global sporting events will support the increasing global awareness of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.”