Big two talks with TurfTV go to wire.

Byline: By Graham Green

BRITAIN'S two biggest bookmakers have still to sign deals with TurfTV as talks between Ladbrokes and William Hill and the new picture provider with exclusive coverage of 31 of Britain's 59 racecourses from tomorrow look set to go down to the wire.

Although a Sunday Times report said Ladbrokes would today announce a five-year agreement, estimated to be worth pounds 60 million, the company refused to confirm this, and with a number of points thought to be at issue last night, several more days of negotiations may be required.

If this proves to be the case, and with William Hill believed to be in a similar position to that of Ladbrokes, the two high-street giants will be unable to follow rival Coral and show pictures of tomorrow's Catterick and Cheltenham meetings in their shops.

However, should last-minute deals be clinched, it is understood both firms have the technology in place that would allow the new service to be seen immediately across the majority of their estates.

William Hill director of racing David Hood said yesterday: "There is nothing to report today and I would think discussions will probably carry on into the week. I'm sure there will be meetings tomorrow, but I don't know if anything will be finalised.

"If we reached agreement, we could switch on a large proportion of our estate and those shops would be competitive to Ladbrokes and Coral."

Until Coral broke ranks and agreed a deal with TurfTV days before Christmas, the leading bookmaking chains had been united in opposition to the service, but now Betfred, whose founder Fred Done had been its fiercest critic, is also involved in negotiations.

TurfTV is a partnership between 31 racecourses and technology company Alphameric.