Rishi Persad

It’s no secret that FanDuel TV will eventually be closing shop. From camerawoman to feature producer, I spent 23 years dedicating my life to telling stories to horse racing fans. And when I say I dedicated my life, I truly mean it. Just like every other horse racing employee around the world, there is something about this business that pulls you in and never lets go. You give it your heart and soul. You sacrifice your family, your time, your friends—for a community that somehow becomes your family, your life, your friends. It’s hard to describe this kind of dedication, but everyone in horse racing understands it. It’s a different world. Is it the horses? Or is it the people you meet along the way—the ones who make the same sacrifices, who live the same life, who understand without you ever having to explain it? When we received the news that we would no longer be part of a network we poured our heart and soul into, the first thing we all thought about wasn’t ourselves—it was about the people we’re about to lose. The coworkers who became family. The horse racing enthusiasts now searching for their place in an industry that doesn’t have many places to go. The people who have been living this life twice as long as I have. It’s a shame it has to come to an end. But I will never forget the relationships we built, the memories we made, the years on the road with my HRTV/TVG/FanDuel TV family. The storylines that touched us. The races that shocked us. The racetracks that welcomed us. The backsides that smelled like horse shit—but somehow felt like a breath of fresh air every morning. Watching the sunrise. Saying “good morning” to every single person you pass. Feeding peppermints to horses you fall in love with. Cheering for horsemen you may not even know—but feel like you do, because you told their story. Everyday people don’t understand this. They don’t even know this world exists. Horsemen do. I’m in TV, but in a lot of ways, I consider myself a horseman too. I don’t ride horses. I can’t train horses. I don’t even bet on horses. But I understand this life. I understand this industry. And I will miss all of it. But more than anything, I will miss the family I found along the way—especially my FanDuel TV family. You know who you are. And we will always be family.