William Hill to sponsor Haskell Invitational

William Hill, the world's leading sports betting company, has teamed with

Monmouth Park in a long term agreement to become the racetrack's exclusive

sports betting provider.

Under the agreement, William Hill also becomes title sponsor of the Grade 1,

$1 million Haskell Invitational, which will be run July 28.

Should sports betting become legal under federal law, William Hill will

develop a full Las Vegas-style sports book at the historic racetrack, subject to

the approval of New Jersey gaming regulatory authorities.

New Jersey enacted a law legalizing sports betting last year following a

voter referendum that passed by a 2-to-1 margin. The major professional sports

leagues and the NCAA have sued to stop New Jersey's plans, claiming they would

violate federal law. In February, a federal judge ruled in favor of the leagues

and NCAA. New Jersey has filed an appeal and oral argument in the Third Circuit

Court of Appeals is scheduled for June 26.

"One day sports betting will be legal in New Jersey. When it is, William Hill

will be there," said William Hill US CEO Joe Asher.

"We have carefully evaluated which sports betting company would put us in the

best position to succeed and we decided to partner with a world leader," said

Dennis Drazin, advisor to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and

Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park.

The Haskell Invitational, set for its 46th renewal, is North America's

richest invitational Thoroughbred race. The 1 1/8-mile test for three-year-olds

has been won in recent years by champions Big Brown, Rachel Alexandra and Lookin

at Lucky.

Monmouth Park's 2013 racing season begins Saturday and runs through October

6.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com