Sky Sports Racing, which is set to become the new identity for pay-television channel At The Races, has agreed a long-term deal for exclusive rights in the UK and Ireland to US horse racing’s Triple Crown.
The new multi-year deal encompasses rights to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Sky agreed the deal with US broadcast partner of the Triple Crown, media company NBCUniversal.
Matthew Imi, chief executive of At The Races, said: “This agreement reinforces our long-term commitment to the biggest racing events on the international stage and we will help raise the profile of these great fixtures even further in the UK and Ireland with coverage and cross promotion across Sky Sports.
“We also value our partnership with NBCUniversal and there are excellent opportunities for further cooperation in helping promote racing on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Sky Sports Racing is set to launch in January. Earlier this month, it agreed a rights deal with Ascot Racecourse, replacing rival Racing UK as the pay-television partner for the leading British venue.
From March 2019, Ascot’s 25 annual fixtures will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing. The agreement will run until at least 2021, with Sky Sports Racing also managing UK streaming for betting rights for the racecourse. Ascot had previously been shown on At The Races before joining Racing UK in 2014.