DraftKings and NYRA Team Up in Sponsorship Deal

Two immovable forces in the world of U.S. sports announced a key partnership deal last week that will see betting behemoth DraftKings expand its relationship with the New York Racing Association. The deal strengthens DraftKings’ status in the booming New York legal sports betting market and with the millions of horse racing fans around the country.

A new official partnership deal makes DraftKings the official sponsor of Saratoga Race Course and the iconic Belmont Stakes, which this year takes place at the track while Belmont is being renovated.

The NYRA deal furthers DraftKings' foray into the horse racing realm right before the commencement of what figures to be a busy summer season on the New York sports betting scene. Saratoga's summer schedule commences July 11 and runs through Sept. 2.

The details

DraftKings, with the announcement of a Saratoga Race Course is set to become the sponsor of two of the bigger annual horse races on American soil, the Belmont Stakes, and the Travers Stakes.

The 155th $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes will be named the DraftKings Travers Stakes and run at Saratoga on Aug. 24. It will be broadcast on FOX. The 156th Belmont Stakes Racing festival will be run the June 8 weekend and will have DraftKings’ fingerprints all over it.

Naming rights of the DK Horse Acorn Stakes June 2 will also be a part of the deal.

Building the horse racing market

Thursday’s announcement isn’t the first time Saratoga and the NYRA have teamed up. Last year, DraftKings became the title presenting sponsor of one of Saratoga's signature races, the Jim Dandy Stakes.

The deal expansion gives DraftKings a leg up on the immense competition they are against in the bustling U.S. and New York legal sports betting scenes. it is an agreement that figures to be beneficial to both sides.

“Bringing DraftKings and DK Horse back to Saratoga for a second consecutive year is a tremendous honor,” said Christopher Cipolla, general manager for horseracing at DraftKings. “Having our branding present throughout the summer at one of the most beautiful and well-attended racetracks in all of the world and being named the presenting sponsor of this year’s Travers and Acorn further cements our commitment to the sport of horse racing.”

According to Tony Allevato, NYRA chief revenue officer, “DraftKings is a premier brand within the rapidly growing sports wagering marketplace, and this arrangement will help to introduce world-class racing to a wider audience of fans and bettors. This will be a tremendously exciting year at Saratoga Race Course, and we thank DraftKings for supporting New York horse racing.”

DK Horse

DraftKings has taken advantage of the American market's strong horse race betting culture for years. DK Horse, DraftKings' standalone horse race wagering app, continues to be a player in that market and is available in 20 states with legal horse racing jurisdictions around the country. It allows users to place bets on all domestic and international horse racing action.

DraftKings and DK Horse will have a heavy presence at Saratoga all season long, giving it extra exposure not only in New York, the top sports betting state in America, but anywhere Saratoga's races are simulcast.