York Racecourse has renewed its partnership with Sky Bet, keeping the Flutter Entertainment sportsbook brand as a sponsor until 2028.

The extension of the contract has also seen its scope expanded, with Sky Bet taking on sponsorship of York’s Ebor Festival, taking place between 17-20 August. 

The inclusion of the Ebor event into the sponsorship increases the total prize fund across the festival’s 12 races, in addition to all fixtures on the Sky Bet York Stakes and the Ebor pre-festival Sky Bet Race to the Ebor meetings by 23% to over £2.7m.

Michael Afflick. Flutter UK&I Creative and SBG Brand & Sponsorship Director, said: “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Sky Bet Ebor, as well as being the new title sponsor of the Ebor Festival itself. 

“The relationship that we have built with York over the past 18 years has been a fantastic one and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the coming years.”

The partners have also planned initiatives such as the Sky Bet Preview Evening, which will be showcased to both a live audience and across online channels, to promote the fixtures.

A breakdown of prize funds will see £500,000 awarded for the Sky Bet Ebor winner – making it the UK’s richest flat handicap’, whilst the Group Two Sky Bet City of York Stakes will have a £400,000 pot. 

Additionally, the Sky Bet Lowther race will have a prize fund of £250,000, alongside a further £100,000 for the Sky Bet Nursery and £200,000 for the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur, the latter having been increased by £30,000.

Lastly, the two parties will also collaborate around an ‘expanded’ Ebor Community Fund, which will direct £33,000 towards local good causes, with an application window opened for local Yorkshire charities to partner with one of the 22 runners in the Sky Bet Ebor race.

The charity partnered with the winning horse will receive a donation of £20,000, whilst additional prizes will be handed out for any runner which places, and all organisations paired with a participant will receive at least £1,000.

Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse, William Derby, remarked: “Our partnership with Sky Bet stretches back some 18 years and has seen both organisations grow and invest in the sport we love.  

“This agreement sees this tremendous partnership continue through to 2028 with a record investment in prize funds across our race programme, to support owners and help attract star horses for us all to enjoy. We remain hugely appreciative of our partnership with Sky Bet and both organisations are committed to further developing and growing the racedays.”

The announcement follows on from Sky Bet’s partnership with Spotlight Sports Group (SSG) ahead of the forthcoming football season and World Cup, which will see the latter build and manage a microsite for the bookmaker.