A landmark agreement signed between online gaming group, Betfair and the Victorian Racing Club (VCR) in Australia, will have over 3 million Betfair customers receive access to one of the country’s most prestigious horse races, the Melbourne Cup. The non exclusive agreement, which was penned for an initial period of one year, will see the race streamed online, allowing Betfair fans greater exposure to exciting Australian racing.

“The VRC, which has pioneered wagering on Australian racing through the Melbourne Cup, is delighted to be able to partner with Betfair to take the 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup Day to the world,” said Dale Monteith, the group’s CEO. “This initiative builds upon strategies undertaken by the VRC, over the past decade, to encourage the world to wager on the race that stops our nation and to return tangible benefits to the Victorian Racing Industry.”

“Last year it is estimated that 700 million people in 120 countries watched the Melbourne Cup live or on replay,” added Monteith. “The arrangement this year with Betfair will enable its customers to be able to watch the race once they have had a bet on the race.”