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he Seven Network has announced the most significant free-to-air television deal in the history of racing with Australia’s thoroughbred racing to be shown live and free every Saturday of the year until 2027.

Seven West Media CEO, James Warburton, said: “Seven has a long and proud history of bringing horse racing to Australian television viewers, and I’m very pleased to announce this innovative, comprehensive long-term agreement.”

“It is great news for Seven, our partners, the fans and horse racing in general, and it reinforces our position as the home of the best sport on television, all live and free,” Warburton said.

Seven Network Australian sports broadcaster, Bruce McAvaney, added: “It’s a landmark deal for racing in this country.”

“To be able to share with all Australians the excitement and colour of the race track every week, on free-to-air television, is a dream come true.

“It feels unifying, the culmination of all within the sport pulling together to keep going despite the constant challenges of the pandemic.

“For 7SPORT, it continues a tradition that goes back five decades and more to the legendary Bill Collins, to the delights of Winx and her connections, and now opens up the chance to showcase to the widest possible audience the great moments to come,” he said.

Racing Victoria chairman, Brian Kruger, said: “We’re delighted to reach an agreement with Seven on this long-term broadcast deal which is a win for racing fans and punters across the nation.”

“It will provide a consistent platform to showcase our sport nationally and build upon engagement levels that have risen throughout the pandemic.

“It is a great demonstration of collaboration across the states and what can be achieved when we work together for the betterment of Australian Racing.

“The agreement expands upon the five-year agreement we announced in August 2020 for the free-to-air coverage of 21 premium Victorian Saturday meetings on the Seven Network to a year-round agreement alongside New South Wales, together with the best meetings from Queensland and South Australia.

“We see this national consolidated broadcast complementing the critical role that Racing.com already plays in delivering in-depth free-to-air broadcast of Victorian racing seven-days-a-week, 52-weeks-a-year via the Seven Networks on Channels 76 & 68.

“There is well-established and strong relationships that exist between Racing.com and the Seven Network, which provides great opportunities for cross-promotion of Victorian Racing to national audiences within this enhanced broadcast model.

“Racing.com will remain the home of Victorian, with the weekly Saturday broadcast on Seven’s other channels further showcasing Victorian Racing to fans in other states.

“This aligns with our strategy of combining the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing industry’s media rights and assets in an Integrated Media Business (VTRIMB) to deliver the best possible coverage for racing fans across all available platforms and channels.

“We thank all the Victorian racing clubs for their support of this agreement and the VTRIMB Board for shepherding this major new deal with Seven,” Kruger said.

Partnering with Racing Victoria, Racing NSW, Racing Queensland and Racing SA, the long-term deal will see elite Racing across the nation including:

• Victoria: the best of Melbourne’s time-honoured events headlined by the All-Star Mile, Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate
• NSW: every group 1 and feature race, the Golden Slipper, The championships, The Everest and Golden Eagle
• Queensland: the Summer and Winter Carnivals, Queensland Oaks, Queensland Derby and Stradbroke Handicap
• South Australia: the May Carnival, South Australian Derby, South Australian Oaks and Goodwood Handicap.