KEMPTON PARK will demonstrate its commitment to jump racing today by unveiling a new long-term sponsor for the King George VI Chase. Stan James, the bookmaker, is taking over the backing of the two-day Christmas meeting with an investment of £1.5 million over five years.
Details of this enhanced sponsorship will be announced today, along with further news of Kempton’s progress towards installing a floodlit all-weather track to replace its turf Flat course. It is understood that Pertemps, sponsors of the King George meeting for the past eight years, is standing aside voluntarily, though will continue sponsoring other jump racing at Kempton.
This is a surprise move, as Pertemps had an existing contract and had become synonymous with the prestigious mid-season chase. The new deal will substantially improve prize-money at the fixture and the King George, won last year by Edredon Bleu, will be worth £200,000, an increase of 25 per cent.
Much the most significant factor of the news is a final rejection of the cynical view that Kempton would abandon jumping as soon as its all-weather plans were approved.