OFT launch BHB probe The British Horseracing Board`s supply of pre-race data to internet betting sites is to be the subject of a competition inquiry from the Office Of Fair Trading, it was revealed today.Formal notices requiring information will be sent to the BHB, its agent, bookmakers with internet betting sites and other users of pre-race data such as newspapers.The inquiry follows a complaint from William Hill that the BHB is abusing a dominant position as the sole provider of race and runner data on UK racing. William Hill alleges that this has enabled the BHB to set excessive and discriminatory pricing and restrictive licensing terms.The OFT said today that after preliminary inquiries into the complaint it had reasonable grounds for suspecting that the BHB had infringed Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998.William Hill`s appeal against a High Court ruling that it must pay for using the BHB`s pre-race data on its internet sites is scheduled to be heard in the week beginning July 16.
