Talking Horses: Sky Sports Racing wins first skirmish in TV racing battle


The announcement of the move by Ascot to switch away from Racing UK to Sky next year was clearly not welcomed by ITV

Newmarket’s July meeting, one of the undoubted highlights of the summer racing programme, begins on Thursday with Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani on hand to add polished presentation and glamour to proceedings on ITV. But will this fixture, or any horse racing for that matter, still be on the channel in 2021?

The At The Races channel is to relaunch as Sky Sports Racing in January and Tuesday’s announcement that Ascot had signed up with Sky was the conclusion of the first significant skirmish on the way to the looming battle between the digital broadcaster and ITV for the exclusive rights to the sport when the contract comes up for renewal again at the end of 2020.

Related: Hong Kong's 'Magic Man' João Moreira will grace Ascot at the Shergar Cup

Newmarket 1.50 First Eleven 2.25 Legends Of War 3.00 Tribal Quest 3.35 Mirage Dancer (nb) 4.10 Handmaiden 4.45 Gabr 5.20 Shamshon

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