Breeders’ Cup bettors at Churchill to have mobile access via new app

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ontrack customers for the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs this weekend will be able to use a mobile wagering app that was launched only recently at nearby Keeneland Racecourse, according to Breeders’ Cup officials.

The app, developed by United Tote, allows ontrack customers to bet on their phones through a dedicated wireless network at the track using funds deposited through a cash card. Keeneland made the app available at its fall meet, and the service was generally praised by users, though there were some complaints about failed connections to the network.

Ken Kirchner, a simulcast and wagering consultant for Breeders’ Cup, said the app would be made available on the two Breeders’ Cup days, but that Breeders’ Cup and Churchill were not going to widely advertise its availability because the app was still being tested.

“It’s still a beta,” Kirchner said.

The app allows users to avoid mutuel lines, and the sign-up process does not require any of the extensive information that is necessary to open an account with an Internet or telephone betting operation. Use of the app is limited, however, to the reach of the racetrack’s wireless network, betting is restricted to the races at the live track, and cash is required for funding.