The Jockey Club Notes Efforts to Fill FanDuel TV Void

In case anyone failed to get the memo after many of the eight presentations at this year's edition of The Jockey Club Round Table on Matters Pertaining to Racing focused on building fan interest, Everett Dobson hammered home the message in his closing remarks. At the end of the Aug. 6 conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Dobson, who wraps up his first year as chair of The Jockey Club, provided some final reminders of the importance of finding new fans, while also outlining plans for a study on inbreeding, ideas on a new racing channel as FanDuel TV begins its fade out, and new help for regional markets. READ: Round Table Speakers Offer Ideas on Building Connection But first, it was time to hammer home the morning's biggest message. "If you guys haven't heard fan development enough today, well, guess what?" Dobson said. "We must grow the sport. No one, no industry, has ever regulated its way to prosperity. No business has ever cut its way to long-term growth. "Growth comes from a sustainable ecosystem, which requires new customers, new fans, new owners, new breeders, new participants. Every major professional sport in America invests heavily in creating lifelong fans. None of this is going to work without real investment in how we market and package the sport." Other news updates on The Jockey Club: Scientific Research Dobson said TJC is committed to scientific research to inform the industry about the long-term genetic health of the Thoroughbred and plans to share findings with interested breeders and other parties. "The current foal crop in the United States suggests that we represent just under 20% of the global foal crop. Globally, the decrease in the number of stallions in breeding service today has outpaced the decrease in mares. The number of stallions has decreased faster than the number of mares," Dobson said. "Consequently, the coefficient of inbreeding has been increasing at an increasing rate. "We are committed to scientific research to inform the industry. In regards to this, one of the things that we are going to be launching is what we call a SNIP analysis. What is a SNIP analysis? Well, it will measure the actual shared DNA, and this will allow the breeder or purchaser of a racehorse to have a far better understanding of the true genetic makeup of the broodmare, the stallion, or a prospective yearling. "To assist this, we are going to be launching an initiative that will allow the SNIP to be analyzed through the genetic makeup of the horse. The Jockey Club is committed to this initiative. We'll be launching something that you will have available as breeders sometime this winter. We will also continue to work with geneticists, our owners, and breeders. "The power of SNPs will give us insight into the genetic makeup and the inbreeding and the coefficient of inbreeding that will last us for generations." Fanduel TV Void On addressing the void following FanDuel's decision to reduce racing coverage, Dobson said discussions are taking place on shaping a new outlet, which he hinted would lean into streaming. "Although this creates a real gap in how our content reaches fans, it also allows us to rethink how our content should be reaching fans. It will require strategic planning and collaboration to build a sustainable distribution pathway," Dobson said. "It will address consumer demand in the current environment, and I can report to you that those discussions are actively underway. Today's consumer discovers sports through digital platforms, streaming services, social media, and mobile devices. As you've heard today, our content must be available wherever the fan chooses to consume sports." A Stronger Partner Dobson said TJC will become a stronger partner for states and regions facing their own unique hurdles. He said TJC can help these states and regions with state lawmakers and racing commissions, work to improve state breeding programs, and economic development. "Many of the greatest challenges facing Thoroughbred racing are not national; they are, in fact, local," Dobson said. "For that reason, I am pleased today to announce that The Jockey Club is expanding its commitment to supporting horse racing and breeding organizations at the state and regional level. "We will be adding a new member of our team that will dedicate 100% of their time to state initiatives. This effort will help share best practices among breeding programs, assist horsemen facing legislative challenges such as decoupling proposals, provide research and economic analysis, and encourage greater regional cooperation where neighboring states can achieve more by working together than by working alone. "Every state racing program has unique strengths. Our goal is not to replace local leadership. Our goal is to support it. When one state succeeds, this industry succeeds."