This agreement is good news for the whole industry

Keith Brown, chairman of the RCA

Keith Brown, chairman of the RCA, said: "This agreement is good news for the whole industry as it protects income which would certainly have suffered otherwise."

The RCA at negotiations last week dropped its cash demand from the equivalent of �5,000 per betting office, while the bookmakers increased their offer by �100 per outlet.

Bookmakers had threatened to ditch UK racing in favour of screening Irish, South African, Italian and US meetings, plus greyhound racing, if racecourse chiefs held out for too high a fee.

The deal means coverage of Thursday's racing at Brighton, Redcar and Southwell, which had been due to be pulled from screens, will now go ahead.

Digital rival

Bookmakers Ladbrokes said they were "delighted" agreement had been reached.

Christopher Bell, chief executive officer of Ladbrokes Worldwide, said: "I am very pleased to have been able to agree a commercially sound deal with the racecourses, based on our ability to pay.

"I am now looking forward to working together with the racing industry to realise the opportunity this agreement gives us to maximise the profitability of all of our businesses."

The deal comes as racing channel Attheraces was launched over the Sky digital network.

The channel has been backed by Sky, Channel 4 and racecourse owner Arena Leisure.