 Doncaster is home to the St Leger |
Councillors in Doncaster face a further wait in their battle over horse racing television rights at the town's course. They claim a company that managed the council-owned course had no right to sign a broadcast deal with Racing UK Ltd in the face of a rival bid.
The council has asked the Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court ruling that the deal is binding.
Two days of legal argument ended on Wednesday but a decision is not expected until 20 July.
Negotiations in jeopardy
Doncaster Council's barrister, Richard Salter QC, told the judges the case was important to the council as it is in negotiation with part of the Attheraces Group, a rival of Racing UK, to redevelop the course.
He said Racing UK's strangle-hold over broadcasting from Doncaster is putting the progress of those negotiations in jeopardy.
In the High Court, Racing UK successfully argued they are entitled to exclusive broadcasting rights at the course under an agreement signed in 2004 by John Sanderson, chief executive of the course's then managers Doncaster Racecourse Ltd.
The council claims the deal was signed without its authority.
But David Waksman QC, for Racing UK told the appeal judges Mr Sanderson was "not merely authorised, but expected" by the council to act on its behalf during the contract negotiations.
"The reality was that the council presented Mr Sanderson to the world as the individual with authority to deal on its behalf in relation to Doncaster Racecourse, and in particular in relation to media rights contracts", he said.
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