Amy Howe ousted, racing industry urges FanDuel to rethink TV pullback

FanDuel’s bet on shrinking its racing television business now faces a bigger question: whether the company misread the value of horse racing media before pushing out the CEO who approved the pullback. Amy Howe was terminated after about five years running FanDuel, and Christian Genetski was set to take over just as racing leaders renewed pressure on the sportsbook giant to rethink a move that has rattled one of the sport’s most familiar platforms.

The timing sharpened the stakes. On March 27, FanDuel told employees its racing network would be phased out over roughly 20 months, with more than 100 jobs scheduled to be eliminated by November 2026 and about 60% of the workforce cut by the end of June. FanDuel said keeping a linear TV network no longer fit its long-term strategy, but the company also said it would keep some racing broadcast and track-production work through 2027, including commitments tied to Keeneland’s Spring Meet, the Triple Crown, Del Mar and Breeders’ Cup-related production.

For horse racing, the pullback is not just a staffing story. FanDuel TV traces its roots to TVG, which launched in 1999 and became a fixture in North American racing television. Caton Bredar’s reaction captured why the move landed so hard inside the sport: many fans, she noted, do not remember a time without TVG or FanDuel. That kind of visibility has long mattered in racing, where television coverage is often the bridge between casual viewers and the wagering menu.

The industry’s concern is bigger than nostalgia. Racing depends on exposure, and exposure drives handle, fan acquisition and sponsor value. Ray Paulick has urged a second look at the decision, arguing the sport still needs the kind of platform that keeps races in front of bettors and potential new customers. That argument only grew louder after Todd Schrupp, one of the network’s best-known voices, discussed leaving FanDuel TV after a 26-year run that began with TVG’s launch.

Howe’s exit, confirmed by Flutter Entertainment on May 6, 2026, gives the racing world a new opening to press its case. FanDuel may keep some racing production obligations alive for now, but the larger issue remains unresolved: whether a major betting company can afford to downsize the very media arm that helped make horse racing visible in the first place.