The signal for the Fair Grounds race meet starting Nov. 14 will be available to a wider variety of advance deposit wagering outlets, a group that does not include TVG, Churchill Downs Inc. announced Nov. 12.
CDI said it had reached an agreement with the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association for ADW signals to be sent to three of the four outlets regarded as the largest domestic entities by volume. Included are Twinspires.com, which is owned by CDI, XpressBet, which is owned by Magna Entertainment Corp.(CDI’s partner in the content partnership TrackNet Media Group), and Youbet.com.
It is believed that the Fair Grounds signal is the first Youbet has received from a TrackNet track since the content group was formed in March 2007.
“We are pleased to come to terms with our Louisiana horsemen on an agreement that will allow the Fair Grounds signal to be shared with national ADW outlets,” Fair Grounds president Austin Miller said in a release. “We are delighted to have Fair Grounds racing available on TwinSpires.com and other online wagering platforms, and we hope our customers enjoy wagering on this excellent product.”
Quoting a CDI executive, the release said TVG was offered a deal to take the signal, but claimed the network "unfortunately declined to accept the signal under the terms negotiated and approved by Louisiana horsemen.”
But TVG president David Nathanson told The Blood-Horse the network is still working to obtain the Fair Grounds signal.
“TVG continues to be in discussion with Louisiana horsemen, and hope we can secure the Fair Grounds signal at equitable rates,” he said. “We continue to work to find a resolution.”
Calls to Louisiana HBPA president Sean Alfortish weren’t immediately returned. The Louisiana HBPA is a member of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group, which is representing about 20 organizations in negotiations for signal revenues. But earlier this year, the Louisiana HBPA reached an agreement with Youbet for the Delta Downs signal, a deal made at terms that were not recommended by the THG.