NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the National Thoroughbred League (NTL) announced that it will kick off its second season, August 30th-September 1st in Nashville, with the NTL MILLION-DOLLAR WEEKEND, featuring exclusive activations across Music City and rare pours from the event’s title sponsor, Pappy Van Winkle, before the NTL’s Nashville Cup – a five race team competition with $1.83 million in purse money, taking place on September 1st at the magical Kentucky Downs Race Course.
Interest in the NTL has continued to rise since its inaugural season in 2023, leading to the total prize purses for NTL Nashville Cup to swell from $1 million, announced earlier this year, to $1.83 million (including a $500k and $750k race) and the opportunity to expand the weekend’s events from one race to race day format featuring 5 total team races and 10 NTL teams.
The second season of the National Thoroughbred League–the first-of-its-kind racing league reimagining America’s oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league that consistently and safely runs exceptional horses–will feature three event weekends: The Nashville Cup, September 1 at Kentucky Downs; The Philadelphia Cup, October 19 at Parx Racing; and The Phoenix Cup, December 30 at Turf Paradise–which will boast over $3.5 million in total prizes, creating some of the biggest thoroughbred purses in horse racing this year.
Kicking off the festivities of the NTL MILLION-DOLLAR WEEKEND in Nashville:
- Friday, August 30th | NTL Owners dinner, hosted by Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Tanya Tucker
The NTL owners (including Nashville Dreams co-owner Tanya Tucker) are having their second annual season-opener BBQ feast (and yes, there may be some Pappy consumed). And while space is extremely limited, this year, we are letting 20 VVIP fans join the table and toasts.
- Saturday, August 31st | The NTL Album Release Party, sponsored by Pappy Van Winkle
Music City meets the NTL. The NTL is dropping its first album – theme songs for each team, unlike any you have heard in sports. Guests will join us at Tanka Tucker’s personal bar to hear the reveal of each song – and toast them with Pappy Van Winkle. A night of music, horses and libations – a Nashville night to remember.
- Sunday, September 1 | The $1.83 million NTL Nashville Cup
The NTL season kicks off in-style with one of the biggest race cards in America this year – 5 consecutive races, with $1.83 million in total purse money. Come watch the team leaderboards shift, race-to-race, as the best thoroughbreds in the world compete on our teams, in our league, at the magical Kentucky Downs Race Course, the only European-style track in America, located in horse country just north of style. NTL fans will watch in style, in our own air-conditioned luxury chalet, with open bar, betting coaches, a private stage highlighting top Nashville music talent and special southern eats, including a Pappy Van Winkle pancake bar featuring Glenford Farms syrup, made exclusively in Pappy barrels. Also, Eric Waugh, who set the Guinness World Record for The World’s Largest Painting on Canvas by one artist, is NTL’s artist-in-residence and will be painting throughout the races.
“We are excited to offer these huge purses to launch the NTL’s transformative five-race team format, with points from each race accruing across the afternoon,” said Randall Lane, co-Founder of the NTL. “The Million Dollar Weekend will showcase everything that the NTL is about: exciting event weekends highlighted by thrilling horse racing competition, featuring 10 teams and some of the best thoroughbreds in America.”
“Pappy Van Winkle is one of the world’s most storied and sought-after brands, built on quality craftsmanship and tradition and we’re beyond honored to welcome them as the title sponsors of our first National Thoroughbred League event this year,” said Bob Daugherty, co-Founder of the NTL. “Their addition signifies the scope and scale of what we’re building at the NTL, and we cannot wait to share a pour with fans.”
This season four new teams will be joining the original six franchises: the New York Knights, the California Shamrocks, the Philadelphia Stallions, the Nashville Dreams, the New Jersey Degens and the Seattle Gems and participating in the NTL Draft where thoroughbred owners will be able to nominate their horses to be drafted by one of the 10 NTL teams onto their roster and compete for the league’s highly competitive $3 million+ purse pool.
More exciting updates from the league are ahead on this front and to be announced shortly. Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.NTL.Racing.
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.
