DraftKings and NYRA Team Up in Sponsorship Deal

Horse and rider train as the sun rises at Saratoga Racetrack as we look at the deal between DraftKings and the NYRA. — Horse and rider train as the sun rises at Saratoga Racetrack on August 16, 2013, in Saratoga Springs, New York. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images via AFP.

Last week, two major players in U.S. sports solidified a key partnership as betting giant DraftKings expanded its relationship with the New York Racing Association. This agreement bolsters DraftKings’ presence in the growing New York legal sports betting market and among the millions of horse racing enthusiasts nationwide.

DraftKings has signed a new official partnership agreement to become the official sponsor of Saratoga Race Course and the prestigious Belmont Stakes. This year, the Belmont Stakes will take place at Saratoga Race Course while renovations are being completed at Belmont Park.

DraftKings is expanding into the world of horse racing with the NYRA deal just in time for the upcoming busy summer season in New York sports betting. The summer schedule at Saratoga begins on July 11 and concludes on September 2.

The details

DraftKings has announced that it will sponsor two of the biggest annual horse races in the United States, the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes, held at Saratoga Race Course.

The upcoming $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 24 will be known as the DraftKings Travers Stakes. The race will be televised on FOX. The 156th Belmont Stakes Racing festival, scheduled for the June 8 weekend, will also feature heavy involvement from DraftKings.

As part of the agreement, the DK Horse Acorn Stakes on June 2 will include naming rights.

Building the horse racing market

Saratoga and the NYRA have previously collaborated before Thursday’s announcement. In the past, DraftKings was named the title presenting sponsor of the Jim Dandy Stakes, one of Saratoga’s notable races.

The agreement to expand the deal gives DraftKings a competitive advantage in the crowded U.S. and New York legal sports betting markets, benefiting both parties involved.

Christopher Cipolla, general manager for horseracing at DraftKings, expressed his excitement about bringing DraftKings and DK Horse back to Saratoga for a second year in a row. He considers it a great honor to have their branding featured at such a prestigious racetrack and to be named the presenting sponsor of this year’s Travers and Acorn races, showing their dedication to the sport of horse racing.

Tony Allevato, NYRA chief revenue officer, stated that partnering with DraftKings will bring world-class racing to a larger audience of fans and bettors in the rapidly growing sports wagering marketplace. Allevato expressed excitement for the upcoming year at Saratoga Race Course and thanked DraftKings for their support of New York horse racing.

DK Horse

For years, DraftKings has capitalized on the robust horse race betting culture in the American market. Their standalone app, DK Horse, remains a key player in this industry and is accessible in 20 states with legal horse racing jurisdictions nationwide. This app enables users to place bets on both domestic and international horse racing events.

Throughout the entire season, DraftKings and DK Horse will maintain a strong presence at Saratoga, increasing their visibility in New York, the leading sports betting state in the nation, as well as in any location where Saratoga’s races are broadcast.

Written By:
Davis Isabela

Davis Isabela is the Editor-in-Chief of Underscoreg Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.