08/03/2016

Co Antrim Firm To Officially Sponsor Grand National From 2017

A firm based in County Antrim has become the official partner of the Grand National Festival from 2017.

Randox Health, a global healthcare company, has signed a five-year deal to begin in April 2017 with Jockey Club Racecourses.

The £1 million Grand National currently attracts one of the largest live TV audiences in sport and Channel 4's largest audience of the year. From 2017, the first year with new partner Randox Health, the race will be broadcast on ITV.

Crabbie's, Title Partner for the 2016 Grand National Festival being held from 07 to 09 April and the previous two runnings, will retain its association with the Jump Racing spectacular, moving from 2017 to become sponsors of the Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle on the Friday's Ladies Day.

Dr. Peter FitzGerald CBE, Founder and Managing Director of Randox, said:‎ "The Randox Health team is extremely pleased to partner the world's greatest race. The Grand National offers us a major public platform to raise awareness of preventative healthcare and to encourage people to take control of their health and wellbeing.

"We see this partnership as a natural fit, as both organisations invest heavily in the future and we aim to use our partnership to promote a positive lifestyle and to bring enjoyment to millions of people. We care about people's health and this is the people's race."

John Baker, North West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, ‎who runs Aintree, said: "I am delighted to welcome Randox Health as our new partner from after the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National Festival. This is an incredibly exciting time to join forces with Randox because they are highly ambitious as a company and share our aspiration to promote the Grand National to the maximum number of people in the years ahead.

"We are already working closely with Randox Health and are excited both about their plans for the future and how they see the role of our partnership within that. Their vision, people and operation are very impressive, they love their racing and I am confident they will prove fantastic partners for our crown jewel."

(CD/JP)

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