This mission prioritizes transparency and ethical care, laying the groundwork for a more humane, modern, and self-sustaining sports ecosystem in which spectators become stakeholders and fans become advocates.
The Problem No One Could Solve
Harness racing has long been in decline. Reliant on casino and state subsidies, the sport has struggled to stay relevant in a fast-evolving digital world. While other sports evolved to attract younger fans, horse racing lagged behind.Calderone believes the problem isn’t the sport. Instead, it’s how horse racing has been presented.
“They’ve tried changing the betting options, the purse structures, and the marketing slogans, but they never changed how the fan connects with the experience. That’s where they lost the next generation.” In his view, the sport wasn’t broken — it was a missed opportunity. The industry had failed to evolve into a business model that could emotionally and economically connect with modern audiences and unlock new, scalable revenue through deeper fan engagement.Not a Fix — a 180-Degree Shift
Calderone views FreeRaceHorse.com as a total reinvention of the sport. At its core is the radical idea of free fractional ownership. Without cost, paperwork, or complexity, any fan can claim a stake in a real harness racehorse. And with that comes a level of full, immersive access no other sport has ever delivered. Fans follow their horses through every moment, from livestreams from the horses’ stalls, paddocks, and training sessions to AI-powered interactions that allow fans to engage directly with their horse’s personality. The platform empowers fans with interactive decision-making opportunities, including naming the horse, training, and choosing workout routines. Finally, deep, 5 K-produced storytelling brings the sport’s culture, characters, and stakes to life.
“It’s not just about your horse. It’s about the world these animals live in, the people who care for them, and the emotional stakes that build between every race. It’s dramatic, it’s funny, it’s exciting, and most of all, it’s captivating. It’s everything sports entertainment should be.”
Calderone believes no other sport can offer this level of direct, meaningful engagement between fans and the athletes at its core. Where others simulate ownership through fantasy apps and passive platforms, FreeRaceHorse.com delivers real stakes, real access, and real storytelling to create an emotionally powerful and commercially untapped fan-to-sport connection.
