One for the Boozy Punter editor who likes this stuff!
The Champion Hurdle will have a new sponsor from 2011 after a five-year deal was struck with bookmaking operation Stan James. What do we know about that organisation?
Well, first things first, there is not and was not, a Stan James. The company was founded by Steve Fisher and James Holder, and is now owned by Fisher and his wife Anne. The company was named Stan James from taking the first two letters of Steve and Anne (Stan) and from James. Stan James opened their first shop in Compton, Berkshire in 1973.
They bought Betdirect in 2007, betterbet.com in 2008 and 27 branches of Pagebet earlier this year.
Now based in Marina Bay, Gibraltar the company has sponsored the 2,000 Guineas, King George VI chase and World Matchplay Darts. The Cheltenham Hurdle deal also covers three two-mile races leading up to The Festival. They are the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November, the International at Cheltenham in December and the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park in January.
There was a Stanley James who took 1-73 in a match for Otago against Fiji in 1954. He didn't bat though.
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