The New York Racing Association has entered into a content exchange agreement with TrackNet Media Group for 2008, NYRA officials said Dec. 28. In addition, NYRA has new deals with TVG and Youbet.com for the upcoming year.
The agreement will permit TrackNet Media-affiliated racetracks, wagering facilities, and account wagering providers to accept wagers on a non-exclusive basis on races from Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. Likewise, NYRA racetracks and its account wagering system will be permitted to accept wagers on a non-exclusive basis on races conducted at all TrackNet-affiliated racetracks.
The agreement also grants HRTV non-exclusive rights to televise races conducted at the three NYRA racetracks, according to a release issued by NYRA. TrackNet’s affiliated account wagering businesses, including TwinSpires.com and XpressBet.com, will be able to offer live video streaming of races from NYRA tracks.
NYRA for 2007 has an exclusive agreement with TVG, which broadcasts NYRA races live and offers account wagering on the product. Both TVG and HRTV will broadcast NYRA races in 2008.
“NYRA is committed to securing the broadest possible distribution for its renowned racing product,” NYRA president and chief executive officer Charles Hayward said in a statement. “Partnering with TrackNet and its affiliated account wagering and television companies is a tremendous step forward in reaching that goal. Our patrons will be glad to know that tracks under the TrackNet umbrella will continue to be part of the wagering menu of our own NYRA Rewards account wagering platform.”
“New York offers some of the most dynamic horse racing in the country,” TrackNet chief executive officer Scott Daruty said in a statement. “Officials with NYRA have demonstrated great foresight and customer focus by embracing an open-content model and making NYRA races available to a wide array of wagering outlets, including TwinSpires.com and XpressBet, and to more than one horse-racing television channel.
“New York horsemen and racetracks will benefit from this decision, as will wagering customers around the country who enjoy betting on NYRA races and who can now do so through their preferred on-track or off-track wagering platform.”
TrackNet Media is a partnership of Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment Corp. It buys and sells signals and facilitates a content exchange between the two companies.
NYRA also announced Dec. 28 it reached an agreement with Youbet.com, another account wagering provider, that will allow Youbet.com to offer wagering on NYRA races and offer video in 2008. Youbet.com now takes wagers on the NYRA product as a sub-licensee of TVG, but in 2008 will be a direct customer of NYRA.
NYRA said it had reached a similar non-exclusive agreement with TVG for 2008. Hayward called TVG the "key venue" for NYRA because it has the broadest distribution.
"We look forward to continuing to provide our subscribers with the opportunity to watch and wager on races from Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga," David Nathanson, TVG senior vice president and general manager, said in a statement. "Our investment in the best of breed wagering platforms, highest-quality television production, and unmatched television distribution will continue to set TVG apart from others in the marketplace, and make televised coverage of NYRA racing available to more people on a daily basis than anyone else in the world."