Attheraces face shutdown

Attheraces today confirmed that its coverage of live UK horseracing is likely to cease from midnight on Monday.

Despite continuing efforts to solve its dispute with 49 of Britain's racetracks following the collapse of the £307m media rights deal, Ian Hogg, the broadcaster's managing director said: "We have been working hard to ensure that the channel does not go off the air but, as it stands, we will have no choice but to shut down the broadcast of the UK racing product.

"The Attheraces channel has been of considerable benefit to the racing industry in this country and over 850,000 people watched our coverage of the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival. Attheraces remains the industry's only viable option looking forwards."

Attheraces intends to continue its evening broadcast of US racing, albeit a cut-down version, and also its betting business. All account holders with BET attheraces will be able to bet as normal on the phone and via the internet.

To safeguard its international market, Attheraces is also requesting a one-month contract with the racecourses to continue providing overseas customers.

Despite the bleak announcement from Attheraces, which comes just as the new turf flat season gets under way, betting shop punters will still be able to watch live UK racing courtesy of Satellite Information Services, while it is hoped that terrestrial racing coverage will also continue under short term agreements.