Thirty-five years ago, Troy Levy would sit at Yonkers Racecourse trying to figure out how to attract new and younger audiences to horse racing in the hopes it would lead to new owners in the sport. .
Fast-forward to today, and Levy believes he’s not only found a way to do it, but that a partner together can help grow the sport.
Game of Silks, an online game that connects to the real world of thoroughbred horse racing, and NYRA Bets Holding announced a new partnership on December 7, resulting in NYRA Bets Holding’s position. own a minority stake in Silks. Levy is the game’s CEO, vice president, and co-founder.
The partnership also establishes Silks as the official blockchain game and NYRA metaverse partner. Game of Silks works using blockchain technology, which is a system that makes it virtually impossible to change recorded information.
“It’s truly an unbelievable marriage for a tech company to enhance its ability to attract so many newcomers to the sport,” Levy said.
Levy is also the owner of Florida-based Tropical Racing and Versailles, Ky-based Circle 8 Ranch.
In order to play, users “are required to purchase a non-fungible token (NFT) in the form of a unique race silk, representing their identity throughout the metaverse and appearing virtually on horses, stables, and assets.” other digital assets in the game they own,” according to the press release.
Each year, real-life thoroughbred ponies turned into digital assets are sold to players, who are initially unaware of which ponies they are receiving.
This blind draw is important to game fairness, Levy said.
“In my opinion, one of the parts of the racing industry that keeps people away is that the horses with the best pedigree always belong to the same people. “This way we completely level the playing field; every participant has an equal opportunity for the same amount of money to get the best crossbreed in racing.”
Finally, the unsold horses will be revealed and will be sold.
Silk Game
Silks players receive rewards tied to their NFT horse’s real-world success whether it’s on the track or in the barn.
As the horses become popular with the general population, they are ready to retire. With Game of Silks, players will begin learning about the horse a year and a half before it races in real life.
“They’re going to learn everything about their family,” Levy said of the gamers and their NFT horses. “They’re going to be the family advocates of every generation of horses. And I believe that’s going to be a part of what the racing industry has never been.”
Levy and his business partner Dan Nissanoff came up with the idea together, and Levy approached NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke. Levy recalls telling O’Rourke that the idea—Game of Silks—would build a community that was passionate about the sport and even more industrious than the horsemen did.
O’Rourke’s response was to let Levy and Nissanoff build it and return it to him.
“They understand how important technology is to the racing industry,” Levy said of the NYRA. “And they’ve seen before saying that this can only enhance thoroughbred racing with their stores like Fox, with stores having their own (intellectual property) and everything they do. make racing. They always seem to be at the forefront.”
NYRA will provide Silks players with the latest news and information using the NYRA-produced Fox Sports programs “America’s Day at the Races” and “Saratoga Live”.
In a release, O’Rourke said, “Silks captures the growth of fan engagement and appeals to both seasoned equestrians and complete novices, which is exactly why. why NYRA seized the opportunity to join this partnership. NYRA is committed to educating our fans about Silks to grow the game and ultimately grow the equestrian fan base.”
Silks plans to build interactive digital replicas of historic and important race tracks, while also with NYRA involvement, digital versions of Racecourse Saratoga, Belmont Parkand Aqueduct race track.
Levy said the Game of Silks community has players between the ages of 20 and 70. They have become committed to learning all they can, with some looking to breeding farms where inspiration in The real world of their NFT is reigning.
“The horse racing industry is now said to have 28,000 licensed horse owners, and in less than a year we’ve built (a community of) 25,000 people sitting in chat rooms and all they do. to do is to talk about racehorses.”
