Racing: Racecard dispute ends

The dispute between the British Horseracing Board and national newspapers, including The Independent, over the use of racecards is over.

Racing's ruling body, which had initially asked for a vastly increased payment for use of the cards, and, when that was rejected, then issued stipulations to newspapers over the amount of racing coverage and use of sponsors' names, yesterday backed down from all its demands. The BHB has agreed to extend the current licensing arrangements for use of racecards until March 2007.

The Independent, along with the other national newspapers, had omitted sponsors' names from race titles as a protest at the BHB's proposed price rise but, after the satisfactory conclusion of the dispute, these return today.