Press Release

Tote’s Back Heritage Raceday kick starts the year at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse

Tuesday 4th February, 2020

The Tote, now under the ownership of the UK Tote Group, is delighted to be sponsoring the first meeting of the year at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse.

The Tote’s Back Heritage Day on Friday 7th February marks the beginning of a four-year partnership with Chester Race Company, which sees the Tote become the on-course betting partner at Chester and Bangor-on-Dee Racecourses, ensuring the new Tote brand will feature prominently across both sites.

The Tote is now the exclusive pool betting solution at Bangor-on-Dee, replacing Bangor Bet.

Dani Johnson, UK Tote Group Partnerships Director, said “Friday 7th February is a significant day for the new Tote. Following the announcement of the partnership with Chester Race Company we are excited to see the Tote returning to Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse. We look forward to working with the teams at Chester and Bangor-on-Dee to develop the pool betting offer and ensure customers can enjoy a great experience when betting with the Tote in a racecourse environment.”

Mark Kemp, Managing Director of the UK Tote Group, said: “It is a hugely exciting time for the new Tote. We are committed to working with the strong team at Chester Race Company and all our partners to grow the distribution and interest of the Tote with racing fans. As well as once again offering pool betting, under the new Tote brand, to the quarter of a million people to visit Chester and Bangor-on-Dee racecourses every year, we are also launching the Tote’s new website – tote.co.uk. This is focused on pool betting and we are seeking to transform the Tote digital betting and racing experience on and off course over the coming months, with regular new improvements coming.”

Speaking on behalf of Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse, Chester Race Company Chief Executive, Richard Thomas, said: “We are really pleased to be working with the new team at the Tote and excited to have pool betting back on course at Bangor-on-Dee. We are always working hard to ensure customers have a fun and enjoyable time when racing with us and being able to once again offer a full range of Tote betting will help enhance the customer experience.”

The Tote will be sponsoring the following races as part of The Tote’s Back Heritage Day at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse on Friday 7th February:

• Tote Placepot First Bet of the Day Mare’s Novices’ Chase (Class 4) (Qualifier for the EBF/TBA Mares’ Chase Series)

• Tote back With Better Value Guaranteed Open Hunter Chase

• Tote’s Back Novices Hurdle (Class 3)

• Tote.co.uk Handicap Hurdle (0-110) Class 4)

• New Tote British Stallions Studs EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4) (Qualifier)

• The Tote’s Back Tomorrow With Another Placepot Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

Full details about the Tote’s Back Heritage Day can be found here.

For more information about the UK Tote Group please visit www.uktotegroup.com and follow us @UKToteGroup and @ToteRacing.

ENDS.

For further information, please contact:

Susannah Gill
Communications and Corporate Affairs Director
UK Tote Group
susannah.gill@uktotegroup.com
07751 870 929

Stephanie Hughes
Head of Marketing
Chester Race Company
shughes@chester-races.com
07885 457 424

Notes to Editors

About UK TOTE GROUP

UK Tote Group is the proud owner and steward of the Tote, the UK’s leading pool betting operator.

The Tote has been a core part of British horseracing since 1928 when it was established by Parliament under Winston Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to provide the public with a safe way to bet and vital funding for the sport.

UK Tote Group is committed to fulfilling Churchill’s founding mission through a revitalised Tote which provides better value and an improved experience to customers, as well as increased funding to British horseracing. 

The 90-year-old British company is backed by racehorse owners and breeders from around the world and has an exclusive partnership with 55 British racecourses to provide pool betting services to the six million people who attend race meetings in Great Britain every year.

The Tote employs 90 people who are based in the Tote’s main office in Wigan and a satellite office in London.

For more information about the UK Tote Group please visit www.uktotegroup.com and follow us @UKToteGroup and @ToteRacing.

About Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse

Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse is a left-handed jumps racecourse set in glorious countryside and overlooked by the Welsh hills. The racecourse has a unique character, amplified by the fact that it is the only racecourse in the country that doesn’t have a grandstand. The first steeplechase meeting took place at Bangor on 25th February 1859 over much the same course as that on which the races are held today.

Today, many of the top trainers send their horses to race at Bangor-on-Dee as part of their education. Paul Nicholls, Donald McCain, Alan King, Phillip Hobbs, Nicky Henderson and Jonjo O’Neill all have regular runners.

Recognised as a leader in its field, Chester Race Company consistently push boundaries to ensure the racecourse product delivers the optimum experience and opportunities for visiting horsemen and the general public. Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse has consistently been awarded the Gold Standard Award by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) for the past three years and has historically won Small Racecourse of the Year.