Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, has signed a groundbreaking multi-year deal with Third Time Entertainment, an Orlando-based game development studio, to bring the world’s most prestigious horse race to the virtual world via the studio’s cutting-edge virtual horse racing gaming experience, Photo Finish™ LIVE. Starting with this year’s 149th Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs and Third Time Games will host month-long season events on the Photo Finish™ LIVE platform, each culminating in a grand race, the virtual equivalent to the Kentucky Derby.
Throughout each event leading up to the Derby, Photo Finish™ LIVE players will race horses they own with real money purse prizes on the line, in a virtual Road to the Derby, for a chance to earn the Kentucky Derby’s virtual crown. Ian Cummings, CEO of Photo Finish™ LIVE, expressed his excitement for the partnership, stating that their technology is revolutionizing the way fans experience horse racing and will attract a new generation of fans.
The partnership between Third Time Entertainment and Churchill Downs represents a pivotal moment in the world of horse racing, allowing fans of the world’s oldest sport to experience the excitement and thrill of the Kentucky Derby in a whole new way, utilizing the world’s newest technologies. Casey Ramage of Churchill Downs Racetrack also noted the importance of the partnership, stating that it will help bring the sport to a whole new audience, continuing the growth of the sport for years to come.