William Hill reclaims sponsorship of Futurity Trophy for 2024

Arena Racing Company (ARC), Doncaster Racecourse, and William Hill have announced a new partnership for the sponsorship of the 2024 William Hill Futurity Trophy. William Hill will return as a sponsor of the race they were first associated with in 1976. 

The Futurity Trophy, the final Group One race of the British Flat season on October 26, is known for showcasing top two-year-old talent from Britain and Ireland. Recent winners include Auguste Rodin, who claimed victory in 2022 before going on to win the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, and Irish Champion Stakes in 2023.

Mark Walton, Racing Sponsorship Manager for William Hill, said: “We are delighted to become the sponsors of the Group 1 William Hill Futurity Stakes, strengthening our relationship with Arena Racing Company as the curtain falls on the 2024 Flat season.

“It’s fantastic to once again be associated with such a prestigious event, the final Group 1 of the British Flat campaign, made more special by the fact that William Hill were the sponsors of the race when it became the Futurity back in 1976. I am tremendously excited to see which two-year-old emerges as racing's next big star."

Aidan O’Brien, who has dominated the Futurity Trophy with a record 11 wins, is expected to present a strong challenge once again. His colt, The Lion in Winter, is the current favorite at 7/2.

David Leyden Dunbar, ARC's Director of Commercial Strategy & Partnerships, said: “William Hill have a long association with Doncaster Racecourse and the Futurity Trophy, so we are delighted to welcome them back. Recent years have proven it a fantastic opportunity for some of the UK and Ireland’s best two-year-olds, and we look forward to another excellent renewal in October”.

William Hill’s sponsorship will also extend to the Cheltenham Showcase meeting, taking place on the same weekend, highlighting the bookmaker's commitment to both flat and jump racing.