Drone Services for Horse Racing Events

Overview

Media, Creative Design & AV Production

Elmont, New York, United States; Saratoga Springs, New York, United StatesPosted 21 days agoDeadline: May 7th, 2026

Fit Score

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SUMMARY

RFP for licensed drone operations to provide live aerial coverage of horse racing events in New York over a one-year contract.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a business entity operating for at least 3 years
Must have at least 3 years of experience performing similar services
Must have at least 2 years of experience in live sports or horse racing events
Must employ pilots with a valid FAA-issued UAS license
Must maintain a bodily injury and property damage insurance policy of at least $5,000,000
Must be able to provide two FAA-licensed drone pilots per live race day
Must be able to provide coverage at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course
Must disclose any conflicts of interest with NYRA board members or management

BUDGET

Estimate

$100,000 – $250,000

CONTRACT DURATION

12 months

TIMELINE

Deadline for submission of questions: April 23rd, 2026

Circulation of responses: April 30th, 2026

Submission of bids: May 7th, 2026

QUESTION DEADLINE

April 23rd, 2026

Issuing Agency

The New York Racing Association, Inc.

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DESCRIPTION

The organization seeks a vendor to provide professional drone services for live aerial coverage of horse racing events for both broadcast and official purposes. Certified drone pilots and a fully licensed and insured drone operations company are required for this project.

The coverage involves managing two drones: one drone will follow the horses at a distance of 50–100 feet behind at an altitude of approximately 75 feet, while the second drone will operate 25–50 feet inside the track oval at an altitude of 25–30 feet. Race days typically begin at 1pm and end at 6pm, though timings may vary by season. The contract period is set for one year, and all bidder questions must be submitted by April 23, 2026.

This RFP is issued for events in New York and focuses on capturing high-quality aerial footage for live broadcast and official documentation.

Source attribution

This Settle analysis is based on the issuing organization’s public RFP listing.