Sponsorship threat
William Hill announced yesterday that it is reviewing its racing sponsorship programme and blamed the effects of the National Lottery for the cutback. Nearly half the company's pounds 400,000 a year sponsorship is under threat, in particular big races such as the Lincoln and Cambridgeshire.
The warning from Britain's second largest bookmaking chain follows Thursday's decision by Ladbrokes to sack 200 staff as a direct result of the impact of the Lottery.
William Hill has already decided on some cuts but will not reveal the races the firm is to drop until individual courses have been notified.
"We are undertaking a wholesale revision which could mean in excess of a 50 per cent reduction," the firm's spokesman, David Hood, said.
"Each race will be looked at on its merits. We are having to bite the bullet like the rest of the betting industry. The Lottery has made a huge impact. Turnover is down massively, but we would rather cut sponsorship than cut jobs."
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