LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) has announced that four new franchises will be awarded in time for the 2024 season out of an impressive group of potential ownership groups from Miami, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Dallas and New Orleans. The official announcement of which four cities will become home to the new NTL teams is expected during the week of this year's Kentucky Derby.
"It’s great seeing the interest in our growing league and the potential ownership groups from such outstanding markets across the country," said NTL President Tom Ludt. "Choosing only four additional franchises for the upcoming season will be difficult, but it demonstrates the growing excitement around our league as well as the expansion prospects for the future."
The NTL launched in 2023 with six charter franchises in Seattle, New York, Nashville, New Jersey, California and Philadelphia as a groundbreaking new sports league centered around professional thoroughbred racing. The NTL has built an impressive stable of founding owners that include Grammy-award winning musician Nelly and businesswoman Moira Forbes as well as several former professional athletes.
Co-founder Randall Lane said the successful first season provided the foundation to quickly expand with more high-profile owners. "Our partners and fans have wholeheartedly embraced our vision. We set out to reimagine professional thoroughbred racing as a major pro league that young fans would find thrilling.” Fellow co-founder, Robert Daugherty, added “The success of year one made expansion an easy decision and has attracted more exceptional owners to the table. We are also pleased by the number of high-profile sponsors who are now engaging with the NTL.”
The official expansion announcement of new teams will come during the week of this year's running of the Kentucky Derby in May. The new team owners will quickly begin preparations to launch their franchises and build teams set to compete for the 2024 Championship Cup.
About The 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. The NTL is a lifestyle, allowing fans the chance to root for the same stars’ month after month and year after year.