Ladbrokes Sign On As Irish Greyhound Derby Sponsors
Ladbrokes (Ireland) Ltd. is to sponsor the Irish Greyhound Derby, the world's richest greyhound race. A three year deal was announced at Shelbourne Park in Dublin today. The first running of the Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby will take place through August and September 2010.
Ladbrokes is Ireland's largest bookmaker, operating from over 270 shops nationwide. It offers internet, telephone and mobile betting to a global customer base and this new sponsorship deal is set to further expand their product on offer.
Ladbrokes will also for the first time feature all heats of the Irish Greyhound Derby 2010 via live feeds to all Ladbrokes UK shops giving their UK customer base a first look at the 2010 Irish Greyhound Derby Winner. This will be exclusive to Ladbrokes to the semi-finals of this prestigious event.
The Irish Greyhound Derby is the world's richest greyhound race. In 2008, the first €1 million betting night in the sport was achieved at the final night at Shelbourne Park while the 2009 renewal broke a new attendance record at the historic Dublin venue.
“The Irish Greyhound Derby is regarded as a prestigious sporting event both at home and afar, and our association heralds the start of exciting times for Ladbrokes and the broader greyhound industry” said Managing Director for Ladbrokes Ireland, Joe Lewins. “It is an event that captures the hearts and minds of the Irish sporting public and we intend to deliver that sense of sporting excellence to a wider global audience than has ever been the case up until now.”
“Ladbrokes has a great record in preserving the best of sporting tradition. The Irish Greyhound Derby is an addition to an already expansive Irish sports sponsorship portfolio and we will be working closely with the management at Shelbourne Park and the Irish Greyhound Board to further raise the profile and importance of this great event.”
“The support of Ladbrokes for our blue riband event is a marvellous vote of confidence in the sport of greyhound racing,” said Irish Greyhound Board Chairman Dick O'Sullivan. “It has been a difficult past twelve months for all sport and business but this is a great start to 2010 and the pulse of the sport will be racing faster as a result of this announcement today.”
Martin Cullen TD, Ireland's Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism said: “Greyhound racing is a premier evening entertainment and also a major sporting activity, with the Irish Greyhound Derby the most significant night of the year. I congratulate the Derby's new three year sponsor Ladbrokes (Ireland) and wish both Ladbrokes and the Irish Greyhound Board a very successful partnership.” Minister Cullen added: “The Government, in its support for the Irish Greyhound Board, is committed to the continued development of the sport and the greyhound industry, which is a key employer particularly in our rural communities.”