Season 14 Preview: Countdown to Churchill

The season that we've all had circled on the calendar for over a year is finally upon us — welcome to Season 14.

On April 12, 2023, it was announced that Third Time Games and Churchill Downs had agreed upon a multi-year partnership deal that made Photo Finish™ LIVE the Official Gaming Partner of the Kentucky Derby.

At the time, Photo Finish™ was mere days into real-money racing and still not on many people's radars.

What a difference a year can make. One year later, Photo Finish™ is a crypto gaming success story with unheard-of retention rates and season-on-season growth that is the stuff dreams are made of.

With the 150th Kentucky Derby just days away, let's set the stage for a historic season.

Dollar Fifty Hot Dog Stakes

Surprise! After teasing our jockeys riding hot dogs, we decided it was only right to up the ante by ditching the horses and putting them in hot dog costumes—as one does!

Photo Finish™ would like to thank the entire $COST team for reaching out to us for what ended up being a swift light-on-its-feet collaboration that not only introduced our community to their meme but helped our team showcase what it is capable of on short notice.

If you missed the $COST race, no, you didn't. That's not OK, and you need to watch it immediately. Watch the replay here. It's not what you think!

Foal's Day Tailgate

Last season, over 1,200 of you animals tuned in to our special Foal's Day Tailgate live on Spaces. So, we're going to do it again, but this time, bigger and better!

We're giving away two horses. We're previewing the retirement of one of only two SS- horses in the game. And, of course, we're chatting about all things Foal's Day as we kick off the biggest season in Photo Finish™ history.

Click here to listen live or to catch the replay.

Announcing: [REDACTED]

Had you for a split second, didn't we?

We've heard the questions about our Kentucky Derby marketing plans, and let's say your questions should be answered in the coming week.

If there is anything you've learned about Third Time Games and Photo Finish™ LIVE over the past few years, it should be that anything we do aims to be longstanding and meaningful.

News cycles in crypto gaming and Web3 last about ten minutes. What we have planned will ripple across our little bubble and your family's group chat.

Just circle May 4, and let us do the rest. See you in this space in the coming days to discuss our plans.

Making the Grade Series

Hosted by our new friend, Taco, live on his Twitch Channel, the new series features even more races to get a variety of horses out on the track.

Here's the TL;DR on the brand-new Making the Grade series.

Airs every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
Features different racing archetypes each week
Includes juvenile and 3yr+ races for every archetype
Grades range from B+ to S-
“Pick Juice” featured in each race
Comprehensive coverage of competitive racing

Click here to follow Taco on Twitch and turn alerts on to tune in to the Making the Grade show this Wednesday evening.

Season 14: Richie!'s Notes

You know what time it is – it's Richie's time to shine!

Every season we kick things off on the blog with a little check-in with the race schedule servant himself to hear what's new, what's old, and what we need to know about the state of the racing ecosystem.

Check out Richie!'s Season 14 notes below.

This season, we're introducing several adjustments to make the competition more thrilling, accessible, and engaging.

More Graded Stakes Races: By popular demand, we're adding a slew of new graded stakes races to the schedule. Data drives our decisions, and the data says you people love graded races, so graded races you shall have!
Adjustments to Juvenile Races: We've heard your feedback loud and clear. This season, lower-priced claimers for juveniles will be reduced, making way for more mid-priced claimers. This change balances the competition and provides more strategic options for newcomers and seasoned players.
Juiced-Up Streaming Events: Streaming has become a cornerstone of our community's experience. We're at the point where there is at least one live Photo Finish™ stream a day. This season, even more special events will include more juice in the wagering pool – who doesn't love that?
Refinement of Race Selection: In our continuous effort to optimize the racing calendar, we've reduced the number of underperforming high Fleet Figure benchmark races. This decision was made to ensure that every race feels competitive and rewarding.
Population Growth Adjustments: To accommodate our expanding population and acknowledge the growth of our racing community, we're implementing a gradual increase in race events. This adjustment ensures that there's always room for everyone to compete.

PFJC Headed to Kentucky

With the countdown officially on, Photo Finish™ Jockey Club executives located all around the globe have begun preparing to attend the race, live and in color, together for the first time in what is planned as an incredible VIP experience.

Over 40 members of the PFJC and their guests have secured tables at the exclusive First Turn Dining Club for the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 3-4 to celebrate their shared passion for horse racing together in person for the first time.

These members are set to enjoy VIP experiences as they mingle and rub elbows with the finest race fans and the sport's most influential stars.

You can read more about the PFJC's trip to Churchill in the community blog, where we previewed the experience months ago.