TwinSpires launches tournaments amid signal war with NYRA
The two track signals affected by the Churchill Downs Inc.-New York Racing Association signal war had vastly different days business-wise on Wednesday, day 1 of the impasse.
NYRA did not allow CDI to accept wagers or other content such as race replays on Saratoga, and CDI revoked Presque Isle Downs and will do the same for Colonial beginning Thursday and Ellis Park on Saturday.
Handle at Saratoga was down 39 percent on July 31 from July 24 and down 50 percent from the same Wednesday last year, Aug. 2. All other daytime tracks were up from the previous Wednesday, but a 19 percent decline in total handle means much of the money that would have been wagered on Saratoga likely left the market.
Presque was up 7 percent from the previous Wednesday and a robust 41 percent against July 17. Looking at a year-over-year basis, Presque Isle was up 5 percent against that Aug. 2 date.
A big differentiator for Presque Isle is that it was the host track for the first-ever live-money tournament exclusive to TwinSpires players. CDI's account-wagering platform previously has played host to live-money tournaments that were available for play via other channels as well.
The $100 buy-in tournament attracted 137 entries who had a $75 live bankroll with $25 going to the prize pool.
"Our excitement to launch TwinSpires Tournaments was surpassed by our delight in both player engagement and product performance," said Darin Zocali, director of loyalty and retention for TwinSpires. "To have 137 players take part in our first contest exceeded my personal expectations."
TwinSpires plans to offer the National Handicapping Championship, Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge and a tournament series related to the Kentucky Derby. Its first NHC qualifier will be Saturday with Ellis the host.
"There will be plenty to look forward to for contest players with TwinSpires," Zocali said.
The launch comes at a precarious time in the wagering landscape and provides the CDI-owned signals, which are not available on NYRABets or its affiliates, a differentiator from other signals and contests.
Of course, there is no replacing Saratoga, which is unquestionably the strongest summer signal in North America. NYRA seeks a point increase from CDI on New York residents who play the races via TwinSpires.