William Hill has been named the first-ever title sponsor of Cheltenham’s prestigious two-day Showcase Meeting, marking a significant milestone in the bookmaker’s deep involvement with British horse racing.
The event, which takes place this Friday and Saturday, is the traditional opener for the National Hunt season. As part of the new agreement, the William Hill brand will feature across five sponsored races, including the feature race, the £100,000 ($134,000) William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase.
This high-profile partnership during Showcase Meeting strengthens William Hill’s existing ties with The Jockey Club and is the centerpiece of a major sponsorship weekend for the operator.
The bookmaker is also backing the Group One Futurity Stakes at Doncaster, which closes the Flat racing season, and the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, which helps kick off the Jump campaign.
This move solidifies the brand’s commitment to British racing at a time of significant change for the company.
Parent company Evoke recently rolled out an updated version of the William Hill Vegas app, introducing AI-powered personalization and improved navigation.
More critically, Evoke has confirmed it is actively reviewing its UK retail operations, which could impact up to 200 of its betting shops nationwide.
This review comes as the industry braces for a potential tax increase in the UK Government’s forthcoming autumn budget.
The sponsorship of such a beloved national event reinforces the brand’s dedication to the core UK racing market, even as it navigates operational and regulatory headwinds.
Mark Howarth, Director of Racing at William Hill:
“We’re thrilled to be headline sponsors of the William Hill Showcase Meeting this year. This meeting really is where the Jumps season kicks off, and we can’t wait to be at the home of National Hunt racing to see the beginning of another enthralling campaign. We are delighted to continue supporting British racing and cannot wait for the weekend to start early on Friday at Prestbury Park and Town Moor.”
Daniel Glavin, Betting Partnerships Manager at The Jockey Club:
“We’re thrilled to be strengthening our longstanding partnership with William Hill as they become the first ever title sponsor of Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting. Their continued support across both codes of British racing is clear, and adding this weekend’s Cheltenham fixture and Old Roan Chase to their existing sponsorship of Aintree’s Boxing Day meeting and the William Hill County Hurdle at The Festival highlights their commitment in a big way. We’re looking forward to a fantastic few days of racing to kick off the Jumps season in style.”
