Watch: Millions of Fans Can Experience Kentucky Derby Thrill Sitting at Home as Iconic Partnership Renews

From 8-bit classics like Contra to modern AAA games like Grand Theft Auto V and Cyberpunk 2077, the gaming industry has come a long way. Even the advent of metaverses has opened up boundless opportunities that may be attained by every person in the world. The official Kentucky Derby has also adopted the technology, teaming up with Third Time Games’ Photo Finish LIVE for the second year in a row to provide a virtual experience of the Kentucky Derby to the millions of fans who follow the event worldwide.

Photo Finish LIVE tweeted that their second annual virtual Kentucky Derby was a huge success. The 3D recreation of the Run for the Roses is just as exciting as the real thing at Churchill Downs, so it’s no surprise that this video went viral among equestrian aficionados.

Kentucky Derby going virtual

Sports fans love EA Sports’ simulation games, which include F1 23, FIFA 23, NHL 23, and many more. However, fans of horses have had to wait for the famous studio to create a game about the sport. But in 2021, with the release of Third Time Games’ game Photo Finish LIVE, they shook up the web3 gaming industry. They developed a horse racing game where users from all around the globe could buy, raise, race, and sell virtual horses in exchange for real-world cash prizes.

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Third Time Games and NBC Sports teamed up for the second year in a row to produce a 3D recreation of the Kentucky Derby. Using their technology, Photo Finish LIVE, they were able to accurately simulate the Churchill Downs racetrack and the 20 horses that were participating in it. Everything about this virtual race, from the regulations to the horses, is the same as any other. Since there is no possibility of disqualification due to any incident that might occur in a real race, this also raises the probability of individuals wagering on virtual horses. As can be seen from the tweet, the virtual race was a huge success as well.

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Mage, the underdog, won the 2023 Kentucky Derby, shocking oddsmakers who had Tapit Trice and Angel of Empire labeled as the favorites. With the integration of the Derby into a video game, equestrian lovers will be able to watch not one but two ‘Run for the Roses’ in the same year.