Sportingbet Australia will sponsor the Cox Plate for the next five years in a new multi million dollar deal with the Moonee Valley Turf Club.
The race will be called the Sportingbet Cox Plate and Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said he was delighted to be sponsoring the premier weight for age race in the country.
“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 Turf Club.”
Sullivan said the sponsorship was a further commitment to the Victorian racing industry on top of the product fee paid to Racing Victoria and numerous other sponsorships.
“I have always said Sportingbet would contribute well over and above the product fee we pay to RVL and this is another example of how committed we are to ensuring racing in Victoria continues to grow,” he said.
“This sponsorship will see Sportingbet contribute over $5m to the industry in Victoria alone next year in product fees and sponsorship.”
Already an existing sponsor of the MVRC, the new enhanced deal will make Sportingbet Australia the major sponsor of the MVRC.
“We have been a sponsor of the club for over two years but this deal involves a significant increase as the major sponsor from July 1, 2012,” he said.
Moonee Valley Racing Club Chairman, Bob Scarborough said he was delighted with the partnership.
“The Moonee Valley Racing Club believes that this exciting partnership with Sportingbet Australia will be of great benefit to both organisations, and will ensure that the Sportingbet Cox Plate will remain as the Australian Weight-For-Age Championship,” Scarborough said.
“The Club has developed a number of exciting initiatives for the Sportingbet Cox Plate in recent years, including the move to make this an international invitational race.
“The Club will continue to focus on growing the profile of the Sportingbet Cox Plate in key international markets, and we believe that the partnership with Sportingbet Australia will assist the Club in these endeavours.”
