Newmarket unfazed by ITV4 fixtures link
Tuesday 5 January 2016 13:23, UK
Newmarket Racecourses insist ITV4 would be a suitable home for many of their fixtures after ITV secured a four-year deal to show live racing from 2017.
Reports suggest that of the 34 fixtures to be broadcast on the network's main channel, only the opening day of the Qipco Guineas Festival, featuring the 2000 Guineas, is set to be featured alongside meetings like Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Cheltenham Festival.
Key Newmarket cards, including the Qipco 1000 Guineas, July Festival, Cambridgeshire meeting and the Future Champions fixture, are all reportedly lined up for 60 slots of racing scheduled on ITV4.
But Amy Starkey, regional director for Jockey Club Racecourses East Region, believes ITV4 has already "proven easy to turn to for sports fans".
She said: "It is understandable this new TV deal has sparked excitement and debate, but it is disappointing so much is being said about a leaked provisional list of headline meetings and it really is too early to speculate.
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"Newmarket Racecourses will enjoy good coverage across ITV's main channel alongside the first day of the Qipco Guineas Festival, as well as top-quality racing on ITV4, which has proven easy to turn to for sports fans.
"ITV has committed to broadcast from more than one racecourse on days beyond the crown jewel events, just like the current Channel 4 arrangement.
"Everything will be decided in on-going discussions with ITV and in line with the 2017 fixture process."
The official statement issued by Racecourse Media Group that announced the new deal on Saturday did not mention any fixtures from Newmarket with the main ITV station.
