Investec Signs Biggest British Racing Sponsorship

Specialist bank and asset manager Investec and Epsom Downs Racecourse have announced a 10 year extension to the Derby Festival sponsorship until 2021. The new agreement represents the biggest sponsorship agreement in British racing history. The extension, agreed in the fourth year of the original five year contract, will see the Investec Derby reinstated as the richest race in the UK offering a prize fund of £1,325,000 in 2012. 

Rupert Trevelyan, Managing Director of Epsom Downs Racecourse commented, “We are delighted that Investec have agreed to extend their sponsorship for a further 10 years. They are a fantastic brand to work with, very forward thinking and proactive, and we will continue to work in collaboration with them to develop the Investec Derby Festival. It is only fitting for such a prestigious event like the Derby to have such a high profile, committed and long term partner.” 

Raymond van Niekerk, Global Head of Marketing at Investec added, “‘The Derby Festival is Investec’s grandest single spectacle in sponsorship. The event has a magnificent profile in the social arena as well as in the racing and sports industry. Since we started in 2009 the sponsorship has been very rewarding for us as a brand, and it will continue to grow in stature as we work with Epsom to cement the Investec Derby Festival as one of the key events in the British social and sport calendar. The last three years have been very special and we look forward to working with Epsom for at least the next 10 years!’

The new agreement will also see Investec continue its sponsorship of the Investec Spring Meeting across the term of the agreement. Epsom’s season opener being six weeks out from the two-day Festival was seen as a platform via which to launch the Road to the Derby. In addition to an extra £20,000 in prize money, today’s first Derby trial race, the Investec Derby Trial, will offer a wild-card entry into the greatest flat race in the world, the Investec Derby.