A dozen of England's major race tracks, including the historic sites at Epson, Ascot and Newmarket, are banding together to set up Websites that will offer live racing and wagering on the Internet, and increase revenue from television rights.
The elite league plans to include all five English classic races on the flat as well as the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup steeplechases. Twelve tracks are involved. The Daily Telegraph in London says TV rights for all racing in England commanded only $9.5 million this year -- the amount received by one football club -- while Wimbledon tennis rights brought $16 million and cricket received $40 million.