MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 22/3/2023 @ 12 noon

ARENA RACING COMPANY PURCHASES ARABIAN RACING ORGANISATION

Arena Racing Company (“ARC”) today confirm the purchase of The Arabian Racing Organisation Ltd (“ARO”).  ARO is the sole Arabian Racing Authority in Britain, operating with the support and permission of the British Horseracing Authority (“BHA”), managing all elements of the integrity, fixture list and promotion of the sport.

The ARO team of Genny Haynes, Willie McFarland and Debbie Burt will continue to deliver the recently published 2023 fixture list, which will cover a programme of Arabian races across British racecourses.

As Britain’s largest racing group, ARC are long term supporters of ARO, hosting events at their numerous racecourses across the summer Arabian Racing season.

ARO Chief Executive Officer, Genny Haynes said, “We are delighted to confirm this deal with ARC, who have been fantastic supporters of ARO for a number of years, with the majority of our races run on ARC racecourses.”

“ARO is now in a position to develop new commercial revenue streams, with the aim of developing the sport’s profile within the UK. The future of our Arabian Group races is now secure, and our aim will be that these races host some of the World’s best Arabians, as well as provide a springboard for our domestic horses to progress.  Equally, we look forward to working on the continued development of grassroots Arabian racing, which is an integral part of our domestic programme.”

“Our thanks must go to our sponsors HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, UAE President Cup, Emirates Breeders Series, Arabian Horse Organization, The Arabian Racehorse magazine, Equine MediRecord, Racing Welfare and partner racecourses for their ongoing support, as well as our former ARO Directors Charles Gregson, Bill Smith and Richard Weston for their invaluable work and vision in establishing the sport in the UK.”

Managing Director of ARC’s Racing Division, Mark Spincer, said, “As long term partners of ARO, we are delighted to take this step to help secure the future of the sport in Britain. Arabian races have sat alongside a number of our summer fixtures, and we look forward to working with Genny, Willie and Debbie to continue this and look for opportunities to grow the sport over the coming years.”

Twenty Arabian races, including four Group races, will take place on British Racecourses in 2023, with the season starting at Lingfield Park on Tuesday 9 May, and culminating at the same venue on Tuesday 26 September.

Since 2021 Arabian horses have been permitted to be stabled alongside Thoroughbred horses in stables licenced by BHA, meaning that British racehorse trainers are able to train Arabians alongside their existing bloodstock.

Hayyan and Ioritz Mendizabal win the UAE President Cup (UK Arabian Derby)

Group 1PA at Doncaster

© Debbie Burt

[ENDS]

For all ARO’s Media Enquiries Debbie Burt may be contacted on:

00 44 (0) 7782 349047  or via email: [email protected]

The Arabian Racing Organisation Limited, is the sole Arabian Racing Authority in the UK, operating with the support and governance of the British Horseracing Authority.

For additional information, please contact

Sam Cone      

Head of Communications and Public Affairs 

Arena Racing Company

Office: 020 7802 5120

Mobile: 07920 404 296 

Email: [email protected]  

Web: www.arenaracingcompany.co.uk

4th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

About ARC:

Arena Racing Company (“ARC”) is the largest racecourse operator in the UK. 

ARC is made up of the following sixteen racecourses: Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Ffos Las, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal Windsor, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton and Worcester.

In addition to racecourses ARC owns Central Park, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sunderland and Perry Barr Greyhound Stadia and looks after the media interests of the Greyhound Media Group (“GMG”).

ARC runs four of the six all-weather racecourses in the UK offering two different types of surface for horses to run on: Polytrack at Lingfield Park and tapeta at Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton Racecourses – the only tapeta racing surfaces in Europe.

In 2013 ARC pioneered the All-Weather Championships which see horses compete throughout the winter for the chance of qualifying for Finals Day on Good Friday at Newcastle, and the All-Weather Vase at Lingfield Park.

ARC hosts racing at all levels of the sport from Class 6 through to Group 1s. Doncaster Racecourse is home to the world’s oldest Classic, the Cazoo St Leger, run each year in September as part of the four-day Cazoo St Leger Festival as well as the final Group 1 of the year in Britain, the Vertem Futurity Trophy. Feature jumps races include the Grade 1 Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle Racecourse, the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow Racecourse and Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter Racecourse.

As well as racing, ARC also operates a hotel at Wolverhampton Racecourse, a hotel and golf course at Lingfield Park and The Border Minstrel public house at Newcastle Racecourse in the grounds of Gosforth Park. The Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse opened in September 2018.

ARC is a significant shareholder in the horseracing TV channel Sky Sports Racing which is broadcast on the Sky platform to c.14 million homes.

ARC plays a pivotal role in British Racing. It is a shareholder in British Champions Series and Racecourse Data Company and is represented on the boards of the Racecourse Association (“RCA”), Great British Racing (“GBR”) and British Champion Series (“BCS”). 

In 2015 ARC set up The Racing Partnership. This limited company represents the media rights of the 16 ARC owned-racecourses and the four independent racecourses Hexham, Newton Abbot, Plumpton and Ripon. 

Further information about ARC can be found at www.arenaracingcompany.co.uk