Paddy Power and Sky Bet remove betting on Bath races after ‘commercial decision’

PADDY POWER and Sky Bet will not allow punters to bet on Wednesday’s racing at Bath.

The bookies have ‘reluctantly’ made the ‘commercial decision’ to remove markets on the six-race Flat card tomorrow evening.

A Flutter spokesperson said: “Sky Bet and Paddy Power have made a commercial decision to remove Bath from tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) offering.

“This decision has been reluctantly made due to the increase in costs associated with certain aspects of our Horse Racing proposition.

“Total media rights payments from operators stand at more than double that of the Horserace Betting Levy – the industry’s direct funding mechanism – this at a time when the funding of the sport remains a critical item of debate.

“Flutter remain huge supporters of horse racing; in the last year we invested over £140m into the sport via media rights, levy, sponsorship and marketing; we are principle sponsors of ITV Racing; flagship sponsors at York and Cheltenham; partners of Go Racing In Yorkshire; founders of the Sunday Series; we work closely with the PJA, IJF and the Horse Welfare Board; and next month we are unveiling the exciting new Horse Racing documentary series funded by Flutter.”

Betfair, another Flutter brand, continue to offer markets on Bath’s evening racing, with the first contest off at 6pm.

The decision taken by Paddy Power and Sky Bet caught many punters off-guard.

And it comes almost exactly two years after Paddy Power confirmed they were limiting their best odds guaranteed concession for certain meetings.

That move was taken against a backdrop of rising media rights costs and Flutter calling for more transparency in how racing was funded.

A total of 47 runners will go to post for Bath’s card where the Class 4 5½f sprint at 6.30 is the feature.

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