2024 will see the first staging of The Betfred Derby Festival as Betfred grow their support for the world’s most famous Flat race, taking naming rights to the two-day fixture at Epsom Downs and extending their partnership with The Jockey Club to at least 2026.

Betfred’s deal will also see them support a further race on each day of the Festival taking the total across the two days to six, with the original three-year deal announced earlier this year extended by a further 12 months.

Founded by Fred Done with a single betting shop in Salford in 1967 - between the victories of two great Derby winners in Royal Palace and Sir Ivor - Betfred has grown to become the largest independent bookmaker on the high street in the UK with 1,400 shops. It remains family owned, with Fred Done as Chairman of the Betfred Group. As well as having a significant online and mobile presence, it has expanded globally into South Africa and currently operates in 10 states in the USA.

Betfred Boss Fred Done said: “Following on from a memorable two days at Epsom last year we are delighted to further develop our support of the Betfred Derby Festival and we very much look forward to working with Amy and her team to keep the fixture at the forefront of world racing’.

Amy Starkey, Managing Director at Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Our relationship with Betfred spans many years and many major races, and we are delighted to be strengthening our partnership at Epsom Downs still further following a brilliant first running of The Betfred Derby in 2023.

“Betfred’s support of British racing over many years is clear for all to see and we can’t wait to get cracking with Fred and his team as we look to promote the greatest Flat race in the world in 2024 and beyond.”