Paddy Power-Betfair, the company that owns and operates TVG and an exchange-wagering system in New Jersey, confirmed on Wednesday that it is in talks with FanDuel, a daily fantasy sports operator, on a potential merger.
The Jockeys’ Guild has withdrawn its support for an accreditation program for racetracks run by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, citing its dissatisfaction with issues related to jockeys’ health, according to a letter the Guild sent to the NTRA.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a 1992 federal law prohibiting states from authorizing gambling on sports is unconstitutional, a decision that could lead to sports wagering in New Jersey within weeks and potentially open up the practice in other states down the line.
The Breeders’ Cup will hold all five of its 2-year-old stakes on its Friday program starting this year in a reconfigured schedule that moves the Distaff and Dirt Mile to the Saturday card.
The 19th century racehorse Preakness, namesake of the second leg of the Triple Crown, and the trainer William Lakeland, whose career included wins in some of the biggest races of the late 19th century, will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame this year.
The Ontario Racing board of directors has announced the signing of a 19-year funding agreement with the Ontario government, which announced last month that it would allot up to $105 million annually to horse racing industry stakeholders over the period.
Horsemen that had plans to stable and race at the recently shuttered Hazel Park Raceway in 2018 are being encouraged by the Michigan Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association to file claims for damages as creditors.
Jeannine Edwards, a longtime racing broadcast reporter who recently retired, will be given the Special Award of Merit by the Maryland Jockey Club in the lead-up to the MJC’s Preakness Stakes two weeks from now, the racing organization announced on Monday.
Fresh off of records set last year, the Derby this year attracted $148 million in bets, a 7.5 percent increase, while the entire 14-race card broke the $200 million mark for the second straight year, at $223.7 million, a jump of 7.8 percent over the full-card number last year, according to charts of the races produced by Equibase.
The Kentucky Derby broadcast on NBC on Saturday posted a 9.1 overnight rating and a 21 share, according to the television network, with both figures representing significant declines from last year.
