Tabcorp’s racing broadcaster Sky Racing has confirmed that at least 50 Australian trotting races will be exported to France as part of an expanded 2015 trotting calendar.
Negotiations between Cheval Français, Harness Racing Australia, Sky Racing, Harness Racing Victoria, Harness Racing NSW and the NSW Harness Racing Club have resulted in races across 12 race meetings being broadcast live into the French market this year. The first four races from Tabcorp Park Melton went into France last Saturday.
This expansion is more than double previous agreements (22 races in 2014) and facilitates live broadcasts via EQUIDIA, live streaming on approved websites and wagering via France’s PMU network.
“French wagering customers are known for their strong interest in trotting events and we’re delighted to have been able to work with our harness racing industry partners to expand Australian trotting’s presence in France in 2015. The harness racing industry will benefit from French wagering returns on these trotting events,” said Tabcorp’s Chief Operating Officer - Media and International, Brendan Parnell.
Harness Racing Australia Chairman, Geoff Want said: “After working with le Trot for a number of years now, it is great to be able to expand on the previous one-off arrangements and build a consolidated mini-meeting calendar for 2015. The import and export of harness racing product with international partners including France, Sweden, South Africa, North America and New Zealand is now worth over $7 million annually to the Australian harness racing industry.”
Scheduling for these events in Australia will be synchronised to coincide with late morning and early afternoon local French wagering times and promotional opportunities.
In addition, it is hoped that appropriately scheduled heats of the 2015 World Driving Championship will also be exported to France and other jurisdictions across the world.
2015 SCHEDULE OF AUSTRALIAN TROTTING RACES EXPORTED TO FRANCE
|
Date
|
Venue
|
No. of races
|
|
Saturday, 3 January 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 10 January 2015
|
Ballarat
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 17 January 2015
|
Bendigo
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 24 January 2015
|
Shepparton
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 14 February 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Friday, 8 May 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Friday, 3 July 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
6
|
|
Saturday, 25 July 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 29 August 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 12 December 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 19 December 2015
|
Tabcorp Park, Melton
|
4
|
|
Saturday, 26 December 2015
|
Ballarat
|
4
|
For more information: Nicholas Tzaferis, GM Corporate Affairs, Tabcorp 03 9868 2529
