Mid-Atlantic tracks reach simulcast deal with Monarch

The simulcast dispute between the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative of racetracks and the Monarch Content Management Company, which is owned by the Stronach Group and controls the simulcast signals from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita among others, was resolved late Friday afternoon.

The agreement means the Cooperative’s 23 racetracks, including nearly all of the tracks in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas, along with a few harness tracks along the East Coast, will immediately begin receiving the simulcast signals from all of Monarch’s tracks. Saturday is Florida Derby Day at Gulfstream Park, one of the largest handle days of the winter racing season.

In addition to Gulfstream and Santa Anita, Monarch also handles the simulcast signals of the Maryland Jockey Club tracks, Tampa Bay Downs, Golden Gate Fields, Turf Paradise, and the Meadowlands.

The two sides have been involved in a contract stalemate since last October. The Monarch track signals have not been sent to the Cooperative’s tracks since Dec. 1.

“There were a lot of complicated issues that had to be worked through and we stuck with it until we reached a resolution,” said Phil O’Hara, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative.

The agreement contains a confidentiality agreement, and O’Hara said he could not divulge any of the terms, including pricing.