Latest news with #NationalThoroughbredLeague
Business Wire
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
National Thoroughbred League Continues Record-Breaking Streak at Fairmount Park
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Thoroughbred League reported results from its latest event, The Nelly Cup, which resulted in its largest-ever crowd, more than 6,200 fans, and one of the year's largest betting days at Fairmount Park, outside St. Louis, which is celebrating its 100 th anniversary. The league's newest team, the St. Louis Nellies, who recently moved from Seatle after native son Nelly took an increased ownership stake in the franchise, won the very first race, thanks to a stirring win by Sassy and Bold. The overall Nelly Cup, determined by the accumulated points total over the three NTL races, was won by the New York Knights, who had a winner in Busk, and who extended their season-long lead in the standings. 'The opportunity to host the NTL this past weekend was wonderful for Fairmount Park and our loyal and exuberant fan base,' said Vince Gabbert, General Manager at Fairmount Park, which is undergoing a $100 million expansion and renovation. 'It signifies optimism for the racing product that will continue to work hand in hand-with-a first-class gaming operation. We look forward to serving as an NTL host site for many years to come.' Besides the on-track competition, the afternoon-long event featured numerous activities, including a fan fashion show, an on-track kids race featuring inflatable horses, NFL player meet-and-greets, a VIP afterparty at Fairmount's brand-new trackside bar, Longshots, and DJ performances, hosted by Jarobi White, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of A Tribe Called Quest and a co-owner of the Miami Thunderbolts. 'This event again demonstrates the power of the 'NTL Effect',' said NTL cofounder Randall Lane, referring to the surges in attendance and betting when the league hosts at a track. 'We were blown away by the response in St. Louis, both the numbers and the enthusiasm of the crowd.' The NTL finishes its third season next month, when it will host the Nashville Cup at Kentucky Downs. That event, hosted by Country Music Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker, anticipates total purses that will approach $2 million as it crowns its overall champion. For more information on the NTL and upcoming events, visit
Business Wire
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
St. Louis Native & Multi Grammy-Winning Artist Nelly Takes Larger Ownership Stake, Moves National Thoroughbred League Team to St. Louis
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the National Thoroughbred League (NTL) announced that St. Louis native and multi-diamond, award winning artist Nelly has taken a significant ownership in an NTL team that will move to St. Louis. The league is relocating the Seattle franchise to St. Louis and will name the team the Nellies, after the famous horse term ('Whoa Nellie') and in honor of its newest owner, Nelly. As part of the announcement, Nelly will also serve as host of the National Thoroughbred League's Nelly Cup at Fairmount Park, on Saturday, July 19th. The Nelly Cup will be more than just great teamhorse racing. There will be music – headlined by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of A Tribe Called Quest, Jarobi White. Additionally, there will be food/drinks and a Nelly-inspired fashion show, as well as a proper welcome, and trophy presentation, from Nelly. It's an entire afternoon of fun – as NTL also will celebrate the centennial of Fairmount Park. 'I'm excited to be part of bringing a new professional sports team to the city that means so much to me,' said Nelly. 'The St. Louis Cup is set to be one of the summer's premier events, and I can't wait to hit the track and celebrate with our incredible St. Louis fans.' The NTL is the first team-based professional league in horse racing, giving fans recurring favorites and rivalries, while turning race weekends into full-blown lifestyle experiences and opportunities to support the community — think Kentucky Derby meets Formula 1. NTL has 10 teams and celebrity backers like Nelly, Lamar Jackson, Julius Erving, Tanya Tucker, Rick Ross and Jarobi White. 'Nelly was an early investor in the National Thoroughbred League and his expanded ownership role is a testament to the momentum and success we've built so far,' said Randall Lane, co-founder of the NTL.'Our mission is rooted in creating authentic connections and fan bases in every city we're in, which is why each team's ownership group includes individuals who have strong, personal ties to their local communities.' For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) is a first-of-its-kind racing league reimagining America's oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league, by consistently and safely running exceptional horses, allowing fans the chance to root for the same stars month after month and year after year. The NTL is also a lifestyle, creating weekends of food, fashion and fun akin to the Kentucky Derby or Formula I.
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Business Wire
NTL Again Sets Record, With 6,000 Attendees And 65% Jump In Betting at Philadelphia Cup Event at Parx
BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) continued its record-breaking 2025 campaign with Sunday's Philadelphia Cup at Parx Racing, drawing more than 6,000 fans, an NTL record, and generating a $1.55 daily million handle—a 65% increase over last year's Father's Day card at Parx. The event, hosted by the Philadelphia Stallions, co-owned by local icon Julius 'Dr. J' Erving, demonstrates the what's the 'NTL Effect'—a measurable and unbroken surge in attendance, engagement, and betting whenever the league rolls into town. 'The mission of the NTL has always been to turn horse racing into a major-league, fan-focused team sport,' said Randall Lane, co-founder of the National Thoroughbred League. 'The fact that 6,000 people came out on a cold, rainy day demonstrates the power and resiliency of this concept.' The California Shamrocks won the Philadelphia Cup in a nail-biter, courtesy of a surge in the final race, with the top four teams finishing within 2 points of each other. The New York Knights remain in first place overall at the midpoint of the league's third season. Numerous celebrities attended the weekend festivities, including Erving, Philadelphia Eagles legends Seth Joyner and Hollis Thomas, Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos and Jarobi White, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of A Tribe Called Quest. The event featured multiple musical acts, a dedicated VIP section, celebrity meet-and-greets and special activities for families, including pony rides. The NTL now sets its sights on the next stop: St. Louis on July 19, as the league seeks to continue its 'NTL Effect' streak of larger crowds and surges in wagering. For more information on the NTL and upcoming events, visit
Business Wire
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
The National Thoroughbred League Kicks Off 3rd Season at Historic Pimlico With Record Attendance, Handle
BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the National Thoroughbred League (NTL) reported that the opening event of its third season–the NTL Pimlico Cup generated record returns, both in terms of attendance and betting totals. With a crowd of more than 5,500 on hand in support of Baltimore Community Day, in partnership with Lamar Jackson's Forever Dreamers Foundation, Pimlico Race Course generated a $3.9 million handle, which outpaced the track's year-over-year handle from the same race weekend by 30%. This event continued the 'NTL Effect' of greatly increasing attendance and betting. At the 2024 championship event in Phoenix in December, the Turf Paradise track recorded $3.1 million in total bets – its biggest handle this century and the NTL's biggest total to that date. The previous NTL attendance record was more than 4,500 at last year's Philadelphia Cup. 'Our focus with the National Thoroughbred League is to build a compelling format of competitive races complemented by the collective experience of food, fashion, culture and community all geared towards the goal of standing up an event at a track that can attract a strong following and create more pathways for more fans to fall in love with this amazing sport,' said Randall Lane, Co-Founder of the National Thoroughbred League. 'And while we're certainly proud of the turnout we achieved at Pimlico, we're even more thankful for everyone, especially Lamar Jackson and Governor Moore, who lent their time in support of the local community.' Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP, hosted approximately 1,000 local children, for free, at the event, and presided over a kids race on the track with inflatable horses. Jackson and Moore also joined forces to make the traditional 'Riders Up' call for jockeys. The New York Knights took home The Pimlico Cup and now sit atop the standings for the 2025 season, led by Knights second round draft pick Addy's Laddy T N T, who won the first of three NTL races (each worth $75,000 in purse money). The Nashville Dreams, led by King's River, and the Miami Thunderbolts, competing with Cactus, won the following races. The next chance to see the league in action comes this Father's Day Weekend (June 14-15) for the ' NTL Ultimate Sports Weekend ' where two-time Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Stallions lead owner, Julius 'Dr. J' Erving, along with a dozen Philadelphia Eagles legends, will be participating in a golf invitational at Middletown Country Club on Saturday, June 14th followed by the NTL's Philadelphia Cup event at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA on Sunday, June 15th. For more information, please visit The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) is a first-of-its-kind racing league reimagining America's oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league, by consistently and safely running exceptional horses allowing fans the chance to root for the same stars month after month and year after year. The NTL is also a lifestyle, creating weekends of food, fashion and fun akin to the Kentucky Derby or Formula I.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The National Thoroughbred League Kicks Off 3rd Season at Historic Pimlico With Record Attendance, Handle
More than 5,500 attended the NTL's Pimlico Cup this past Saturday, including Maryland Colts co-owner Lamar Jackson and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. The day's $3.9 million betting handle set an NTL record – a 30% jump over Pimlico's results a year prior. BALTIMORE, May 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the National Thoroughbred League (NTL) reported that the opening event of its third season–the NTL Pimlico Cup generated record returns, both in terms of attendance and betting totals. With a crowd of more than 5,500 on hand in support of Baltimore Community Day, in partnership with Lamar Jackson's Forever Dreamers Foundation, Pimlico Race Course generated a $3.9 million handle, which outpaced the track's year-over-year handle from the same race weekend by 30%. This event continued the "NTL Effect" of greatly increasing attendance and betting. At the 2024 championship event in Phoenix in December, the Turf Paradise track recorded $3.1 million in total bets – its biggest handle this century and the NTL's biggest total to that date. The previous NTL attendance record was more than 4,500 at last year's Philadelphia Cup. "Our focus with the National Thoroughbred League is to build a compelling format of competitive races complemented by the collective experience of food, fashion, culture and community all geared towards the goal of standing up an event at a track that can attract a strong following and create more pathways for more fans to fall in love with this amazing sport," said Randall Lane, Co-Founder of the National Thoroughbred League. "And while we're certainly proud of the turnout we achieved at Pimlico, we're even more thankful for everyone, especially Lamar Jackson and Governor Moore, who lent their time in support of the local community." Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP, hosted approximately 1,000 local children, for free, at the event, and presided over a kids race on the track with inflatable horses. Jackson and Moore also joined forces to make the traditional "Riders Up" call for jockeys. The New York Knights took home The Pimlico Cup and now sit atop the standings for the 2025 season, led by Knights second round draft pick Addy's Laddy T N T, who won the first of three NTL races (each worth $75,000 in purse money). The Nashville Dreams, led by King's River, and the Miami Thunderbolts, competing with Cactus, won the following races. The next chance to see the league in action comes this Father's Day Weekend (June 14-15) for the "NTL Ultimate Sports Weekend" where two-time Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Stallions lead owner, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, along with a dozen Philadelphia Eagles legends, will be participating in a golf invitational at Middletown Country Club on Saturday, June 14th followed by the NTL's Philadelphia Cup event at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA on Sunday, June 15th. For more information, please visit About National Thoroughbred League The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) is a first-of-its-kind racing league reimagining America's oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league, by consistently and safely running exceptional horses allowing fans the chance to root for the same stars month after month and year after year. The NTL is also a lifestyle, creating weekends of food, fashion and fun akin to the Kentucky Derby or Formula I. View source version on Contacts Media Contact National Thoroughbred LeagueNTL@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
