Statement re OFT

RNS Number:7781J
Arena Leisure PLC
08 April 2003



                               ARENA LEISURE PLC

  STATEMENT RE: OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING INQUIRIES INTO THE BRITISH HORSERACING
   BOARD/JOCKEY CLUB AND INTO THE TRANSACTION MADE BETWEEN 49 RACECOURSES AND
                                   ATTHERACES

Arena Leisure Plc ("Arena") notes that the Office of Fair Trading ("OFT") has,
today, issued two separate notices to the above parties in relation to the
inquiries it has undertaken.

Inquiry into the British Horseracing Board and Jockey Club

The OFT has today served a Rule 14 Notice to the British Horseracing Board
("BHB") and the Jockey Club following its investigations into the governance
agreements notified to it by these two bodies. Arena understands that the OFT's
investigation has focused on the freedom of racecourses to organise their
racing, the amounts that racecourses must offer owners in prize money and the
supply of race and runners data..

Ian Penrose, Arena's Group Managing Director said:

"The OFT's inquiry is the most in-depth review of the organisation of British
horseracing ever. As the owner of six racecourses which staged 22% of last
year's races, Arena welcomes recommendations that will enhance the commercial
freedom of racecourses and other industry participants."

Inquiry into the attheraces media rights transaction

A second Rule 14 notice has also been issued to Arena this morning, regarding
the arrangement notified to the OFT by attheraces Holdings Ltd and other related
parties on 15 November 2001, concerning the acquisition by attheraces of the
media rights to 49 of the UK's 59 racecourses in June 2001.

Arena understands that the Racecourse Association, BSkyB, Channel 4 and all 49
racecourses which signed the attheraces media rights agreement have also
received this notification and will therefore also need to respond as directed.
Arena, as a 33% shareholder in the attheraces venture alongside BSkyB and
Channel 4, and as the owner of six racecourses which sold their media rights to
attheraces, will now consider the implications of the OFT's notice.

Ian Penrose said:

"We consider that the OFT has not raised any concerns about the formation of the
Joint Venture between BSkyB, Channel 4 and ourselves to purchase horseracing
rights but has significant concerns that racecourses acted collectively to sell
their rights during the negotiations. We will endeavour to work with all
concerned to address the OFT's findings."

Arena will make further announcements regarding both inquiries once the detailed
documentation has been fully considered.




For further information, please contact:

Ian Penrose
Group Managing Director
Arena Leisure Plc                                     Tel: [phone]

Nick Davis
Director of Communications
Arena Leisure Plc                                     Tel: [phone]

Emma Kent/Miles Bake
Bell Pottinger Financial                              Tel: [phone]



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

STRSSSFLASDSEEL