Isle of Man based Virtual Live Racing (VLR) is set to launch a pioneering virtual racing product for the first time in the UK, at Ascot Racecourse.

The deal with the course which is famous around the world for being the home of Royal Ascot, is a major milestone in the success of the company whose chairman is Vincent Caldwell, online betting pioneer and racehorse owner who lives in the island.

VLR uses the latest CGI technology to create a fully immersive digital racing and betting experience of world leading racecourses with stunning graphics and realistic commentary.

But what makes VLR’s product a ’real game changer’ when compared to the current roster of virtual racing products in the market, is that virtual tote betting enabled races are based on past performance data from previously run real races using each racecourse’s archive and intellectual property database, not RNG (random number generator) which use fixed odds betting outcomes.

Vincent Caldwell said: ’It’s a great honour to partner with Ascot Racecourse and introduce our new concept in virtual live racing to the UK.

’Ascot is much more than just a racecourse - it is an institution woven into the very fabric of British life.

’Throughout its history it has always set the standard for other racecourses to follow, so this partnership is a significant milestone for our business - and it means that the Virtual Live Racing product we build for Ascot must simply be the best.

’We’ve already had success in the USA where we have a number of tracks live with more in the pipeline - but partnering with Ascot represents a hugely significant step forward for the business.’

Alastair Warwick, chief operating officer, Ascot Racecourse, said: ’We embrace new technology, and the exciting opportunities that it is creating, especially in the increasingly popular virtual racing space.

’VLR offers a unique, innovative, market leading product which brings a new dimension to virtual racing that allows the Ascot brand to offer several thousand virtual races to new and existing digital betting entertainment audiences globally.’

Virtual Live Racing products are created by the software firm’s CGI experts who have won BAFTA and Royal Television Society awards, and received Emmy nominations, for their work in the movie and TV industries before working with VLR.

In addition to partnering with Ascot, and a number of US tracks (including Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago, plus Derby Lane, Tampa Bay Downs and Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida) the profile of the VLR brand has also been boosted recently by sponsoring Irish jockeys Jack and Paddy Kennedy for the 2020/2021 season.

The brothers, who are both rapidly rising stars in the sport, have already notched up a number of victories while wearing the VLR brand on their silks.