Picture loss major blow to Betfair

Betfair, the leading betting exchange is having to come to terms with the news that broadcaster Attheraces is to cease its live coverage of UK horseracing from midnight on Monday.

Betfair and many of its clients rely on the supply of pictures from Attheraces, particularly in the betting-in-running market, which represents 10 per cent of the exchange's business.

Betfair and other commercial subscribers will only be able to receive pictures from the 10 racecourses in the G-G Media group, Irish and South African racing plus greyhounds, but these form a comparatively small proportion of their business.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin, commenting on the situation said: "Without live feed it will be hard, but we are still thinking of sending staff to the courses. We must have the ability to suspend markets from the 'off' so we have control over market management."

Meanwhile, rumours abound as to a possible replacement for Attheraces.

Satellite Information Services, which at present supply pictures to the betting shops and is part-owned by the major bookmakers, could team up with broadcaster Sky to produce a subscription-based programme similar to Attheraces's old rival, the Racing Channel.

Alternatively, the racetracks could go it alone, with the Racecourse Holdings Trust, which owns 13 racecourses, using the services of RaceTech, a subsidiary of the Racecourse Association. Racetech already produce and broadcast pictures and this solution would appeal to those in racing who do not want the bookmakers to extend their influence in this sphere.