New York Racing Association content is no longer available on TwinSpires due to an ongoing contractual dispute between NYRA and the advance deposit wagering platform owned and operated by Churchill Downs, Inc., according to a NYRA release.
“Pending a contractual resolution between the two parties, pari-mutuel wagering, live video and race replays from the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will be unavailable to TwinSpires customers,” the release said. “NYRA is seeking financial terms from TwinSpires similar to those currently in place with all national advance deposit wagering platforms offering NYRA content.
“In its role as a not-for-profit corporation franchised by New York State, NYRA's mission is to conduct world-class racing for the benefit of the state's economy while growing the sport and creating opportunities for horsemen and breeders to compete for robust purses throughout the year. To fulfill those goals, NYRA will continue negotiations with TwinSpires to increase funds flowing to the sport and its stakeholders in New York.”
In its own statement in response to the impasse, Churchill Downs' CEO Bill Carstanjen said, “Following NYRA's disturbing recent pattern of demanding significant new economics from ADWs for no additional value in return, NYRA has elected to terminate TwinSpires's access to its Saratoga signal today. While we hope to resolve this dispute quickly and amicably, make no mistake that we will continue to advocate for and invest in our customers and this industry. NYRA's reckless pattern reflects an increasingly misguided understanding of how to best serve the racing industry in New York. Their actions are bad for horse racing and negatively impact our fans.”
In response, David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO explains, “The COVID-19 pandemic supercharged the shift from brick and mortar wagering to the largest national ADWs, and fundamentally changed the economics of horse racing in New York State. Accordingly, NYRA asked these ADWs to pay an additional source market fee of just 1 percent on wagers from New York, bringing that number inline or significantly lower than several other jurisdictions. Unlike their counterparts, CDI has refused to add this source market fee to an agreement struck in 2018. As a not-for-profit responsible for growing the sport while supporting our horsemen and backstretch community, this is untenable for horse racing in New York.”
After a brief impasse between NYRA and FanDuel/TVG in early July, a new contract was reached in time for that platform to offer pari-mutuel wagering on opening day of the Saratoga meet.
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