Racing Victoria and Seven West Media have announced that premium Victorian thoroughbred racing will continue to be televised live and free on the screens of the Seven Network until at least June 30 2020.

The new agreement will see 21 premium Victorian Saturday meetings, headlined by the $5 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup on 20 October and the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate on 27 October, broadcast annually across the nation on Channel 7 and/or 7Two.

The agreement also ensures that racing fans and sporting enthusiasts can access a free-to-air broadcast of premium Victorian and Sydney racing on the one channel on a minimum 21 occasions throughout the year.

The premium broadcast will commence on the opening day of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival on September 1 when Caulfield host the $1 million Memsie Stakes and Randwick hosts the Chelmsford Stakes.

It continues on Saturdays throughout the Spring Racing Carnival before returning in February for the Festival of Racing and feature autumn racing period.

RV and SWM’s premium broadcast agreement comes on top of their existing joint venture partnership that sees Victorian and South Australian racing showcased on free-to-air Channel 78 (metropolitan) / Channel 68 (regional) every day throughout the entire year.

It is also in addition to the broadcast agreement that sees SWM broadcast the four days of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Carnival from Flemington on Channel 7.

Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said: “We’re delighted to announce this new premium broadcast deal with the Seven Network that will further showcase our very best racedays to racing fans nationally.

“Our broadcast strategy is built on ensuring that people can view Victorian racing anywhere, anytime and that we maximise opportunities to grow engagement with our sport.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with the Seven Network who are wonderful supporters of racing and like us are passionate to see it grow and remain successful.”