Sky Bet Refuses to Offer Prices for Bath Card
The ongoing media rights dispute between Flutter and Arena Racing Company (Arc) saw renewed tensions on Friday as Sky Bet confirmed it would not be offering betting on Bath's evening fixture. This decision marks the second time in four days that the dispute has flared up, following similar actions taken during Tuesday's meeting at Yarmouth.
Sky Bet, a subsidiary of Flutter, has escalated its previous strategy of offering prices 15 minutes before each race at SP only, to now not offering any prices at all for Bath. This move follows Flutter's unprecedented decision earlier this month, where they initially refused to offer prices on a British race fixture for the first time, before reversing their stance under legal pressure from Arc.
Impact on Betting Markets
Paddy Power, also owned by Flutter, mirrored Sky Bet's approach by offering SP-only betting shortly before the races at Yarmouth and is set to follow the same strategy at Bath. Notably, the Bath meeting, which features a six-race card with 44 runners and a total prize fund of £39,750, was not listed on the websites of either Sky Bet or Paddy Power on Friday morning.
This latest development is part of a broader conflict impacting other Arc-owned tracks, with similar SP-only betting offerings at Chepstow and Lingfield fixtures in recent weeks. The dispute's origins trace back to July 3, when Bath was first thrust into the center of the media rights storm.
Statements and Reactions
A spokesperson for Flutter commented on the situation, saying, "This decision has reluctantly been made due to the increased costs associated with certain aspects of our horse racing proposition. We remain absolutely committed to UK racing and in 2023, we invested over £140m back into the sport."
As it stands, Sky Bet will continue to stream the action from Bath, despite not offering early prices. The continued tension between Flutter and Arc highlights the complexities and financial pressures within the horse racing industry, with the resolution of this dispute remaining uncertain.
