William Hill and BetMGM Confirm Sponsorships for Cheltenham Festival 2025

This week, two major bookmakers, William Hill and BetMGM, have confirmed their sponsorships at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival, further strengthening their ties with horse racing's most celebrated events.

William Hill's Return to Cheltenham

William Hill has officially returned as a sponsor at the Cheltenham Festival, taking on the sponsorship of the County Handicap Hurdle, a highly competitive race that draws a full field of runners. The race, now titled the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle, will take place on Gold Cup Day, March 14, 2025, and marks William Hill's prominent return to sponsorship at Jump racing’s biggest festival.

This new sponsorship extends William Hill’s growing partnership with The Jockey Club. The bookmaker is already the Official Betting Partner for the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree and continues its support with the sponsorship of the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day. This weekend, William Hill will also lend its name to five races at Cheltenham’s Showcase event, the first meeting of the season.

William Hill’s history with Cheltenham is notable, having previously sponsored the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Commenting on the renewed partnership, Dan Glavin, Bookmaker Partnerships Manager at The Jockey Club, expressed his enthusiasm for the bookmaker’s return. Daryl West, William Hill’s Head of Media and Sponsorship, highlighted the significance of their involvement, noting the importance of Cheltenham in the company’s long-standing history in horse racing.

To kick off this weekend’s festivities, William Hill will host the William Hill Showcase Saturday Centaur Preview, with Nick Luck joined by racing legends Sir AP McCoy and Barry Geraghty.

BetMGM Secures Queen Mother Champion Chase Sponsorship

Alongside William Hill, BetMGM has also confirmed its place at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, announcing its sponsorship of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. This prestigious race will now be titled the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase and will remain under the bookmaker's sponsorship until 2027, replacing Betway, who had sponsored the race since 2015.

BetMGM’s association with The Jockey Club doesn’t stop there, as the bookmaker will headline several key races across Jockey Club venues. These include the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, and the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. BetMGM is also sponsoring multiple races during Cheltenham's December meeting.

Sam Behar, UK Director at BetMGM, emphasized the bookmaker’s excitement about the new sponsorship and its ongoing commitment to horse racing in the UK. BetMGM made its Cheltenham debut last season, sponsoring the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, but this year the bookmaker has shifted its focus to the Queen Mother Champion Chase, one of the most prestigious and valuable races in the sport.

The Jockey Club’s Dan Glavin also welcomed BetMGM’s expanded role, praising the bookmaker’s enthusiasm for supporting British horse racing.

These sponsorships highlight the growing significance of major bookmakers like William Hill and BetMGM in the horse racing industry, solidifying their influence at iconic events like the Cheltenham Festival.