Corporate bookmaker Sportingbet Australia will sponsor the Cox Plate for the next five years in a new multi-million dollar deal with the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
The deal means the country’s premier weight-for-age feature is named the Sportingbet Cox Plate.
Tatts ended its sponsorship of the Cox Plate after the running of this year’s 2040m race, which carried $3 million prizemoney.
The prizemoney for the 2012 feature has yet to be announced.
MVRC chairman Bob Scarborough said he was delighted with the partnership.
“It will ensure that the WS Cox Plate will remain as the Australian weight-for-age championship,” he said.
Michael Sullivan, chief executive of Sportingbet Australia said it was the company’s biggest commitment yet to a racing or sporting event.
“The Sportingbet Cox Plate is one of the iconic races in this country and no race has produced champions like it has over its near 100-year history,” Sullivan said.
“This is the biggest single commitment we have ever made to a sporting or racing organisation which shows just how much faith we have in the race and the Moonee Valley Racing Club.”
The agreement between the bookmaker and the club follows a successful two-year night racing partnership which also included the Group One Manikato Stakes.
Sportingbet Australia recently secured the naming rights for Sandown from the Melbourne Racing Club from January 1.
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