William Haggas, leading Newmarket trainer, urged Ladbrokes to become a partner in British racing as the firm may be able to regain some of the glory it once had following an alliance.In Sunday’s Racing Post, Haggas published a letter responding to Ladbrokes chief executive Jim Mullen. Mullen had said that his company did not feel welcome in the world of British racing and that they are being “cornered and pushed into a position where we have to either fight or flight.”
Contribution To The Sport
Under the ABP model, which is currently supported by Betfair, Bet365 and 32Red, most British racecourses won’t enter commercial agreements with bookmakers. This includes sponsorship deals, unless the operators pay an agreed contribution to the sport.
Support New Policy
Ladbrokes have recently fallen in favour compared to their rivals, so Haggas has asked them to support racing’s new policy.He wrote: “Ladbrokes have made fortunes out of racing over the years and it seems only since they deviated from their core business have they run into difficulties.”They have built a multi-billion-pound business, essentially on the back of our sport, and have paid so little back it is nearly laughable.”Perhaps their tumbling share price might goad them into action and make them realise if they got back to what made them good and joined an official association with racing, they could blossom and might grow again to be the force they once were.”