Virgin Bet to sponsor Ayr Gold Cup
LiveScore Group-owned operator will also have naming rights for seven further races over the three-day festival
Virgin Bet has sealed a deal to sponsor Scotland’s most famous flat race, the Ayr Gold Cup.
The operator will have naming rights for the three-day Ayr Gold Cup Festival, which will take place between Thursday 16 September through until Saturday 18 September.
The flagship race will be held on the 18 September and race fans will be able to watch the action unfold on ITV’s coverage of the meeting.
Overall, seven races will be sponsored by Virgin Bet, including the Ayr Silver Cup, the Doonside Cup Listed Race and the Firth of Clyde Stakes.
The LiveScore Group-owned operator will also sponsor the Kilkerran Cup, which will run on 16 September, and the Ayr Bronze Cup the following day.
James McKay, sportsbook director at Virgin Bet, added : “We are excited to announce Virgin Bet’s new partnership with Ayr Racecourse, one of the great brands in UK racing.
“As one of the UK’s fastest growing sportsbooks, we know how much our customers enjoy the excitement of premier racing events at the most historic racecourses.
“The Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup will be a big moment in the flat-racing season and we can’t wait to play our role over all three days at the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Festival,” he added.
Last year, 7/2 favourite Nahaarr won the Ayr Gold Cup in a first victory at the race for Newmarket trainer William Haggas.
There have been many distinguished winners of the race in years gone by, such as Brando in 2016, who went on to win a Group 1 contest in France, and Lochsong, a former European horse of the year, who was the victor back in 1992.
Frankie Dettori has twice won the race before, while other notable jockeys to have been Ayr Gold Cup winners include Paul Hanagan, Oisin Murphy and James Doyle.