by Ed DeRosa

In a rare moment of solidarity, representatives of both horsemen and racetracks called for an end to exclusive agreements when it comes to distributing a simulcast signal.

Executives with the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America Inc. vehemently broadcast their disdain for the agreements when they spoke at the International Simulcast Conference on Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Drew Couto, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and vice president of THG, said that revenue to tracks and horsemen increased when Southern California tracks accepted wagers from all account wagering operators earlier this year and that Television Games Network lost $1-million when it refused to allow access to its exclusive signals at Del Mar, Fairplex, and Oak Tree this year.

“Exclusivity is a terrible thing,” said Chris Scherf, TRA executive vice president.

The THG negotiates simulcast agreements on the behalf of horsemen associations. While it has made headlines for its demand that horsemen receive a third of the revenue from account wagering handle, ending exclusives is also a part of its agenda.

Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times