FanDuel TV host apologizes for tweet that appeared to excuse equine deaths
Update: Rudulph will not be appearing on FanDuel pending review.
FanDuel Television host Ken Rudulph apologized Tuesday for his tweet that appeared to excuse equine deaths as part of a sport he compared to professional wrestling.
Formerly known as TVG, FanDuel TV is an American sports betting-oriented digital cable and satellite television network that primarily airs live coverage of horse racing.
In the tweet, Rudulph compared horse racing to WWE and reality shows.
“Horse racing needs to stop pretending and just be what it is,” said Rudolph on Monday in a now deleted tweet. “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.”
After an outcry over the tweet, Rudulph apologized on Tuesday.
“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,” Rudulph tweeted. “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.”
Rudulph went on to say that, “At NO POINT am I advocating for or supporting horse fatalities. I don’t even know how that became part of this.”
Rudulph has been an on-air host with FanDuel since September of 2022 when TVG was rebranded as FanDuel. He had been with TVG since 1999.
This story was originally published May 16, 2023 at 3:09 PM.
