MEDIA RELEASE 13 OCTOBER 2023

BETMGM AND NEWCASTLE RACECOURSE ANNOUNCE MULTI YEAR PARTNERSHIP

. BetMGM to become headline sponsors of Newcastle’s Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Arena Racing Company (“ARC”) and Newcastle Racecourse are delighted to announce a new multi-year partnership to deliver The BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Run at the beginning of December over two miles, the race was won last year by one of jumps racing’s biggest superstars Constitution Hill, who then went on to a nine length victory in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He became the first horse since Bula in 1971 to complete the Supreme Novice Hurdle / Champion Hurdle double. Trainer Nicky Henderson has suggested Constitution Hill could return to Gosforth Park for this year’s renewal as a starting point for the 2023/24 campaign.

Executive Director of Newcastle Racecourse, Paul Elliott, said, “We’re delighted to welcome BetMGM on board as the headline sponsor of the highlight of our jumps season. The BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a race very much embedded in the history of the area and we look forward to a new era with such a prestigious new sponsor.”

“The Fighting Fifth has consistently attracted some of the top two-mile hurdlers from Britain and Ireland including the likes of Constitution Hill, Epatante and Buveur D’Air.”

UK Director at BetMGM, Sam Behar, commented, ‘’To add the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle to our ever-evolving and increasing horse racing portfolio clearly outlines our commitment to the sport. We’re looking forward to working closely with the team at Newcastle Racecourse to deliver a fantastic renewal in 2023 and beyond.”

Group Director of Commercial Strategy and Partnerships at ARC, David Leyden Dunbar, said,

“The BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle never fails to deliver the most compelling contests and last year’s head-to-head between Epatante and eventually winner Constitution Hill will live long in the memory of all racing fans. It’s terrific to have BetMGM’s long term support and the team at Newcastle look forward to December’s race and hopefully seeing some of this season’s best Hurdlers compete at the highest level.”

For more information regarding the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, or to buy tickets, please visit www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk.