Ken Rudulph, longtime host and analyst on TVG and the rebranded FanDuel TV, has been taken off the air over what the company said in a statement were “disappointing comments” on social media Monday, May 15.
“Horse racing needs to stop pretending and just be what it is,” Rudulph posted on Twitter. “It's a great combo of WWE/reality TV/sports/ with a healthy dose of BS on the side. It's a great game. Cheating is part of it. Death is part of it. Losing is part of it. Winning makes it all worthwhile.”
The following morning, Rudulph apologized on the same platform, saying: “Monday evening I made a mistake and used a very poor choice of words to make what I hoped would be a compelling thought regarding horse racing. I apologize to my colleagues and the industry for my lack of proper forethought. I truly felt you all would have the open dialogue with me. I will find a better way in the future.”
By then, Rudulph was already absent from his morning shift on FanDuel TV.
On Wednesday afternoon, FanDuel issued the following statement:
“Recently, FanDuel TV host Ken Rudulph made disappointing comments online about the integrity of horse racing, as well as the safety and welfare of its participants. As the market leader in legal sports wagering, FanDuel takes the issues of sports integrity and track safety very seriously, and we disagree in the strongest terms with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Rudulph. FanDuel strongly supports equine safety reforms, including our longstanding support of equine retirement and aftercare programs as well as organizations focused on the health and safety of jockeys. We also work in close partnership with international and North American based sports integrity monitoring agencies to identify any potentially illicit activity occurring within our racing or sportsbook platforms. Pending a full review of this matter, Mr. Rudulph will not be appearing on FanDuel TV.”
Rudulph was the first person to appear on-air for TVG when it launched in 1999 and hosted some of the biggest races broadcast by the network from its Southern California base. He departed in 2011, going back to his home town of Sacramento to host the popular “Good Day Sacramento” on the CBS television affiliate KMAX/KOBR.
Rudulph returned to TVG in August 2019 to host the “Morning Line” program and has been seen in a variety of settings in the ensuing years in studio and at various tracks.
FanDuel said it would not be offering additional comment on the matter.
The post FanDuel Takes Host Rudulph Off The Air Over Social Media Comments appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
