Revolutionizing Horse Racing: An Exclusive Interview with Danny Epstien
In a captivating conversation, Danny Epstien, a visionary entrepreneur and horse racing enthusiast, delves into the creation of the Horse Racing League (HRL), a groundbreaking team-based racing initiative. With a unique blend of sports and entertainment, Epstien aims to revolutionize the industry, attracting new fans and offering an immersive experience like no other.
A Passion Project
Epstien's journey into horse racing began at a young age, spending time at Gulfstream Park with his grandfather and Yonkers Raceway in high school. His love for the sport grew during his five years at Caesars Entertainment, where he owned tracks and gained insights into the industry. The turning point came when he worked in Formula One, where he and Greg Maffei, the former CEO of Liberty Media, recognized the potential for a similar dynamic in horse racing.
"I think you look at the numbers in horse racing—it's incredible what has happened with the Kentucky Derby and how much growth there's been, and you look at how much fun there is going to the track," Epstien says. "And then the last thing I'll say is, when you look at what's happening in sports right now, people are watching the last five minutes of a game or the last inning because attention spans are short. There's no other sport in the world where in two minutes you see an outcome, and so it has all of the things that I think make it so great for the fans that are already in the sport."
A New Era of Horse Racing
The HRL is set to debut in February, with a focus on team-based racing and an F1-inspired format. Epstien envisions a league that offers an authentic and immersive experience, with behind-the-scenes access and a focus on storytelling. "We want great stables and great brands that people can get behind and root for," he says.
"We approached this in a unique way in terms of when we started working on this over a year and a half ago. Greg and I started with industry stewards that we were excited about being a part of this, and we approached it with what we think the opportunity is from F1. How do we all work together to figure out the best format to actually make it happen?" Epstien explains.
Differentiating the HRL
One key difference between the HRL and previous horse racing leagues is the ownership structure. "Our league, the teams actually own all the horses," Epstien notes. "It needs to be a real league." This approach ensures authenticity and a genuine team dynamic, with owners actively involved in the racing process.
"We want to give people something that is real here, and that they can get excited by, and giving them access is the key to doing so," Epstien adds. "That's why all of the people that we're talking to—even when we're talking to various celebrities that we'll announce later that want to be involved—they all have some ties into either horse racing or equestrian, something within the equine community."
The Future of Horse Racing
Epstien sees horse racing as a sport that is resistant to disruption due to its live, immersive nature. "Sport is one of the last things that (artificial intelligence) will have a problem disrupting in terms of the live sporting experience because you have to watch live to see the outcome," he says. "Otherwise, it's going to get ruined."
The HRL aims to capitalize on this resilience by attracting new fans and offering an innovative experience. "Our goal is to have people come in who aren't in the sport right now. They find it, they love it, and they'll stay," Epstien says. "And I think that is the big opportunity here, where if we do a good job, it should be great for the industry and for all of the participants."
As the HRL prepares for its debut, Epstien's passion and vision are clear. "Horse racing is such a magnificent sport, and so if we can do a good job of helping bring new fans into it, the opportunities for this system and horse racing in general, we hope it's just a huge win," he concludes. The future of horse racing looks bright, and the HRL is poised to play a pivotal role in its evolution.
