American online sportsbook operator FanDuel Group has announced the signing of a multi-million-dollar deal that is to see southwestern Illinois’ Fairmount Park Racetrack rebranded as the new-look FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing.

The New York-headquartered firm used an official press release to declare that the agreement with track owner William Stiritz and Associates is to additionally involve the revitalization of the Madison County horseracing facility via ‘significant upgrades’ and the establishment of a branded on-site retail sportsbook pending approval from the Illinois Gaming Board.

Renewed racing:

FanDuel Group, which is a subsidiary of London-listed online and land-based sportsbetting behemoth Flutter Entertainment, detailed that the alliance represents its first such horseracing investment and is to furthermore see the 95-year-old venue in the small city of Collinsville revive its running of the $250,000 St Louis Derby. It stated that this signature event has not been held since 2006 ‘due to financial constraints’ but will next year be form of a calendar sure to encompass some 53 live racing days.

Superior selection:

Matt King serves as Chief Executive Officer for FanDuel Group and he used the press release to explain that Fairmount Park Racetrack opened in 1925 and is also permitted to host daily simulcast betting on races from tracks located across the United States. As such and the boss moreover revealed that his firm’s TVG advanced-deposit wagering (ADW) platform will commence operations from the rebranded Illinois venue to bring local punters action from approximately 60,000 races from over 150 facilities located across the globe.

Read a statement from King…

“We are delighted to partner with Fairmount Park Racetrack to continue bringing high-quality horseracing and soon additional entertainment experiences via our sportsbook to the region. Fairmount Park Racetrack is an iconic state landmark that we plan to modernize bringing innovative technology and entertainment offerings only we can deliver.”

Economic enhancement:

Illinois is home to three horseracing facilities but Fairmount Park Racetrack is the only one not to be located within Cook County. The venue’s General Manager, Melissa Helton, used the press release to welcome FanDuel Group and proclaim that the new partnership will allow her venue to continue and hasten ‘the track’s proud history as a bedrock in the community.’

Helton’s statement read…

“Fairmount Park Racetrack is excited to extend our partnership with FanDuel Group to now include its sports gaming platform. This partnership will allow Fairmount Park Racetrack to remain an important economic driver for the surrounding communities.”