bet365 to sponsor Hennessy Heritage Festival

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Newbury Racecourse announced Monday that bet365 Sportsbook & Racebook has become the new headline sponsor for the Hennessy Heritage Festival, signing a new long-term agreement.

Headquartered in Stoke and with a worldwide customer base of over 10 million, bet365 is the world's largest online sports betting company. It will sponsor races across three days, including the Grade Two bet365 Long Distance Hurdle, which has been won by champion stayer Big Buck's for the last four years.

bet365 joins Hennessy, the world's largest cognac producer, whose support of the historic Gold Cup handicap is British racing's longest commercial sponsorship. This will be the 57th year the famous steeplechase, worth £175,000, will bear Hennessy's name and it has extended its deal by a further three years.

"The Hennessy Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious races run in the National Hunt calendar and is always a favourite with racing fans," said Denise Coates, joint chief executive of bet365. "We're delighted to be supporting the Heritage Festival and we look forward to working with The Racecourse Newbury and Hennessy."