Horse Racing League Secures USA Network Airing for Three-Day 2027 Inaugural Season

The team-based Horse Racing League will broadcast its first three-race-day season live on USA Network in 2027. Co-founded by former Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei and Skylark founder Danny Epstien, the league debuts at Gulfstream Park in Miami on March 13. Subsequent stops are set for Keeneland in Lexington and Santa Anita Park in Los Angeles in April and May.

After a draft, ten squads will race for more than $10 million in prize money plus a championship title. Each race day includes two turf and two dirt contests. The league intends to expand to six total days, though financial terms of the USA Network agreement remain undisclosed.

League Format and Media Portfolio Fit

USA Sports, part of Versant, has expanded rapidly since its spin-off from NBCUniversal. The HRL joins an existing slate that includes NASCAR, the PGA Tour, Premier League, Bundesliga, WNBA, Pac-12 football and LOVB. The addition supplies live racing content that aligns with the network's growing emphasis on premium sports programming.

Leadership Additions and F1-Inspired Approach

The HRL last week named Renee Wilm chief business officer, J-T Ladt chief marketing officer and Clifford Lidell chief brand officer. “Through celebrity partnerships and a digital-first strategy, the HRL is excited to introduce a new generation of fans to this legacy sport,” Epstien, HRL CEO, said.

Maffei, who guided Formula 1's acquisition and growth at Liberty from 2005 to 2024, explicitly cited that global series as the model. He now leads BANN Ventures and is scheduled to discuss the HRL at Sportico’s Invest New York 2026 event Tuesday. The league will offer premium live experiences paired with brand activations.

Forward Track for Audience Growth

The structured team format and media partnership aim to convert horse racing's history and glamour into accessible, ongoing entertainment. Execution will determine whether the F1 parallel delivers sustained new viewership or remains an aspirational template. Operators and rights holders should track early metrics from the March opener to gauge uptake before the planned expansion.