NYRA, Churchill Downs in Contract Battle over Financial Issues
Bettors Lose Again as Horse Racing Giants Duel over Dollars
Horse racing has numerous issues, too many to count. Add another one to the list on Wednesday as NYRA and Churchill Downs dispute over contract issues. In horse racing news and horse racing betting, this would be another instance of a struggling sport shooting itself in the horseshoe.
“Signal wars” reopened Wednesday morning, @thenyra Saratoga is not available for wagering via @twinspires & @PID_Casino is not available on @NYRABets https://t.co/W6Q2O9whJv
— Ed DeRosa (@EJXD2) July 31, 2024
NYRA and TwinSpires Contractual Impasse
The NYRA released a statement:
“A contractual impasse between NYRA and TwinSpires, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., will temporarily eliminate Churchill Downs content from NYRA Bets. This change is effective Wednesday, July 31.”
“The currently impacted tracks include Ellis Park, Colonial Downs, Presque Isle, Louisiana Downs and Ocean Downs.”
“NYRA is seeking financial terms from TwinSpires similar to those currently in place with all national advance-deposit wagering platforms offering NYRA content.”
“We apologize for this inconvenience and will keep you apprised of developments.”
This NYRA and Churchill Downs dispute follows an issue between FanDuel and the NYRA at the end of the Belmont at Aqueduct meet and almost trickled into Saratoga before an accord was reached.
NYRA’s Financial Demands Impact Handle Figures
Per Horseracingnation:
The New York Racing Association demanded that FanDuel pay a larger percentage of its handle from New York state residents. This demand led to an impasse, wreaking havoc on handle figures from the July 4 week.
Belmont at Aqueduct handled 50.4 percent less money for the week ended Sunday than the week ended July 9, 2023. Each week included July 4 plus the Belmont Derby and supporting stakes on the following Saturday.
NYRA Bets email to customers this morning regarding its content dispute with CDI. pic.twitter.com/CkrXDjZAGH
— Jim Gazzale (@JimGazzale) July 31, 2024
A NYRA executive weighed in on the current issue with Churchill Downs Inc.
“Pending a resolution, pari-mutuel wagering, live video, and race replays from Saratoga will be unavailable to TwinSpires customers” McKenna said.” NYRA seeks financial terms from TwinSpires similar to those in place with all national advance-deposit wagering platforms offering NYRA content.”
“In its role as a not-for-profit corporation franchised by New York state, NYRA’s mission is to conduct world-class racing for the benefit of the state’s economy while growing the sport and creating opportunities for horsemen and breeders to compete for robust purses throughout the year. To fulfill those goals, NYRA will continue negotiations with TwinSpires to increase funds flowing to the sport and its stakeholders in New York” McKenna concluded.
This NYRA and Churchill Downs dispute received a response from Churchill Downs.
Churchill Downs Incorporated Statement on
Contract Impasse with NYRAAfter failure to reach agreement on updated and unreasonable terms, the New York Racing Association (“NYRA”) made the decision to cut off racing content from Churchill Downs Incorporated’s (“CDI”) online…
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 31, 2024
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