Racing UK’s birthday freebie

Racing UK, the satellite horseracing channel, is celebrating its fourth birthday by broadcasting free-to-air this weekend. It will start at 8am on Saturday May 30 and end at 6am on Monday.

The move will increase the channel’s audience reach from 3 million to 10 million over the period. Viewers will be able to tune into racing from Goodwood, Haydock and Newbury on Saturday and the French Derby on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the channel has also appointed Simon Brydon as its new head of online. Brydon was the founder and chief executive of online-only television channel Cycling TV and has worked in television production for the past 16 years.

Brydon will be responsible for creating and managing a new on-line team at the channel, as well as developing its website and online offering. He will also manage Racing UK’s bet2view services, commercial opportunities and online advertising strategy and revenues.