Attheraces marketing chief quits

Gavin Bisdee, marketing director of horseracing media rights company Attheraces, has quit without a job to go to. His role is being filled by sponsorship manager Tom Earl until a replacement is found.

Bisdee, who joined Attheraces (then called Go Racing) in July 2001, was previously marketing director of online sports betting service Bluesquare. Before that, he helped set up SRi Prime Consulting, a sports sponsorship consultancy owned by ISL. Bisdee says: “I’ve been involved with three start-ups in the past few years for other people. I’m now looking at my options, including starting up my own company, or setting up a marketing consultancy.”

Bisdee is now the second highprofile departure from Attheraces’ launch team. Chief executive Chris Stoddart resigned in June. He is currently working out a year’s notice. No replacement has yet been announced.

Attheraces is a joint venture between BSkyB, Channel 4 and horseracing, media rights and technology group Arena Leisure. The consortium signed a &£307m deal with 49 UK racecourses in June 2001, giving it the rights to launch interactive TV and Internet-based betting services for those courses.

As part of the deal, Attheraces and its backers agreed to invest &£72m in marketing over ten years. As yet, however, there has been no sign of any significant cons-umer marketing, although it is understood that a consumer advertising campaign is planned for the New Year.