Training for Tahoe: Brian and his Famous Fans Airs Sunday, 4 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – August 3, 2011 – NBC Sports presents live coverage of the 86^th edition of harness racing’s “Greatest Race,” the Hambletonian from the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., Saturday 3-4 p.m. ET. The Hambletonian is one of America’s oldest sporting events dating back to 1926, showcasing legendary Standardbred horses.

The Hambletonian is the richest horseracing event of its kind with a $1.5 million purse. The Oaks, which will also be aired live, will highlight the best three year-old fillies.

As part of the broadcast, NBC Sports will present a feature on Pastor Stephen, who will run in the Hambletonian. He is named for Rev. Stephen Heinzel-Nelson, pastor of the Allentown Presbyterian Church where one of Pastor Stephen’s owners, Jimmy Takter, is a parishioner. In addition to honoring Reverend Heinzel-Nelson, Takter and the horse’s other owners have decided to give 5 percent of Pastor Stephen’s earnings this year to support development projects in the African nation of Malawi.

Tom Hammond, Gary Seibel, Kenny Rice and Donna Brothers call the action.

# # #

TRAINING FOR TAHOE: BRIAN AND HIS FAMOUS FANS, SUNDAY, 4 P.M. ET

NBC Sports presents “Training for Tahoe: Brian and His Famous Fans,” airing this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. Brian Baumgartner of NBC’s “The Office” goes into training with elite athletes as he prepares for his athletic moment at the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament. Blake Griffin, Apolo Ohno, Aaron Rogers, Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan and Ndamukong Suh join in on no-holds barred training and comedy as we watch Brian try to keep up in his quest to save strokes before facing the cameras in Lake Tahoe.

8 Hours of Live Coverage Over 7 Weekends from Saratoga Begins Saturday on NBC With Coverage of the Coaching Club American Oaks

“Summer at Saratoga” Series Includes 8 Hour-Long Shows; 5 on VERSUS and 3 on NBC, Including Famed Travers Stakes on August 27

NEW YORK – July 19, 2011 – The NBC Sports Group’s seven straight weekends of “Summer at Saratoga” live horse racing from Saratoga Race Course begins this Saturday, 5-6 p.m. ET on NBC with coverage of the Coaching Club American Oaks, a race for three-year-old fillies expected to include graded stakes winners Buster’s Ready, It’s Tricky, Plum Pretty, Joyful Victory, and Royal Delta.

COMMENTATORS: Saturday’s coverage will be hosted by Tom Hammond alongside Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, handicapper Mike Battaglia and reporter Kenny Rice. NBC will take the race call from the Saratoga track announcer, the legendary Tom Durkin.

ABOUT THE BROADCAST: The NBC Sports broadcast will feature live coverage of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and one undercard race. Coverage will include a feature on John Velazquez, who won the Kentucky Derby aboard Animal Kingdom, and last year, won the Coaching Club American Oaks aboard Devil May Care. There will also be a feature on the long, storied history of horse racing at Saratoga.

NBCSports.com will feature highlights and features from every race, plus online-only features by NBC Sports and Versus’ on-air talent.

In May, The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the NBC Sports Group announced a partnership to broadcast “Summer at Saratoga,” the most extensive live national television coverage of racing from Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., over seven weekends this summer beginning this Saturday and including the famed $1 million Travers Stakes on August 27.

NBC SPORTS GROUP SUMMER AT SARATOGA COVERAGE (All Times ET)

July 23, Coaching Club American Oaks, 5-6 p.m., NBC
July 30, Diana and Jim Dandy, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 6, Whitney and Test, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 7, Vanderbilt and Honorable Miss, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 13, Sword Dancer, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 20, Alabama, 5-6 p.m., NBC
Aug. 27, Travers and King’s Bishop, 5-6 p.m., NBC
Sept. 3, Woodward and Forego, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS

Saratoga Race Course was named one of the world’s top 10 venues of the 20^th century by Sports Illustrated. From late July through Labor Day, many of the sport’s top owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses gather in Saratoga Springs for the premier thoroughbred racing meet in the country. First held in 1863, the Saratoga meet now draws more than 20,000 passionate racing fans to the track on a daily basis.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. This year marked the first time that all three races were broadcast on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001.

NYRA: Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2010, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totals more than $8.7 million. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including http://www.belmontstakes.com/

http://www.belmontstakes.com/” href=”http://www.belmontstakes.com/”>www.belmontstakes.com, and http://www.facebook.com/thenyra

http://www.facebook.com/thenyra” href=”http://www.facebook.com/thenyra”>Facebook, http://twitter.com/nyranews

http://twitter.com/nyranews” href=”http://twitter.com/nyranews”>Twitter, and –NBC SPORTS GROUP–

6.8 Million Watch Belmont on NBC, Most in Non-Triple Crown Year Since NBC Last Broadcast the Race in 2005

Race Portion up 44% and Pre-Race up 81% From Last Year on ABC

NEW YORK – June 14, 2011 – NBC Sports first broadcast of the Belmont Stakes since 2005, which was won by 24-1 long shot Ruler on Ice, drew 6.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched Belmont in a non-Triple Crown year since NBC last broadcast the Belmont in 2005, according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

The NBC Sports Group presented 6.5 hours of Belmont Stakes coverage (4.5 hours on VERSUS and two hours on NBC), the first time the entire Triple Crown was broadcast on one network since 2005.

• The race portion of the Belmont (6:08-6:55 p.m. ET) drew 6.8 million viewers, 44 percent higher than last year’s race portion on ABC (4.7 million from 5:24-7:10 p.m. ET, and the most in a non-Triple Crown year since NBC last broadcast the Belmont in 2005 (7.7 million).

• • The 6.8 million viewers ties 2001 as the second most-watched Belmont race in a non-Triple Crown year since at least 1994.

• • The viewership is also up three percent from the Belmont in 2009 when jockey Calvin Borel attempted to make history by becoming the first jockey to win the Triple Crown on two different horses (6.8 million vs. 6.6 million).

• The pre-race (5-6:08 p.m. ET), bolstered by a two-hour Belmont Access show on VERSUS that preceded the NBC broadcast drew 3.4 million viewers, up 81 percent over last year’s pre-race on ABC (1.9 million viewers), and the most for a non-Triple Crown year since 2006 (3.8 million on ABC).

• The Belmont race earned a national household rating of a 4.3/10, up 43 percent from last year (3.0/7 on ABC) and just off the 2009 rating of 4.4/11.

BELMONT STAKES VIEWERSHIP RATINGS SINCE 1994 (Race Portion):

2011, 6.8 million, NBC
2010, 4.7 million, ABC
2009, 6.6 million, ABC (Borel going for unprecedented jockey Triple Crown)
2008, 13.1 million, ABC (Triple Crown at stake – Big Brown)
2007, 4.9 million, ABC
2006, 5.0 million, ABC
2005, 7.7 million, NBC
2004, 21.9 million, NBC (Triple Crown at stake – Smarty Jones)
2003, 15.7 million, NBC (Triple Crown at stake – Funny Cide)
2002, 12.4 million, NBC (Triple Crown at stake – War Emblem)
2001, 6.8 million, NBC
2000, 4.3 million, ABC
1999, 9.3 million, ABC (Triple Crown at stake – Charismatic)
1998, 9.1 million, ABC (Triple Crown at stake – Real Quiet)
1997, 8.2 million, ABC (Triple Crown at stake – Silver Charm)
1996, 4.0 million, ABC
1995, 5.1 million, ABC
1994, 5.9 million, ABC

TOP 10 OVERNIGHT RATINGS FOR BELMONT STAKES:

1. Ft. Myers, 8.7/17
T2. Louisville, 8.6/18
T2. Baltimore, 8.6/18
4. Hartford, 8.1/15
T5. New York, 7.4/16
T5. Buffalo, 7.4/17
7. West Palm Beach, 7.2/13
8. Nashville, 7.1/13
T9. Tampa, 6.8/15
T9. Providence, 6.8/13

The Belmont success follows strong viewership for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the first year since 2005 that NBC broadcast all three Triple Crown races.

14.5 MILLION WATCH KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC Sports’ coverage this year’s Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including last year’s Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

8.8 MILLION WATCH PREAKNESS STAKES: NBC Sports coverage of the Preakness Stakes drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of five percent over last year’s race and the second most-watched Preakness in five years, topped only by the much-hyped boys vs. girls showdown in 2009 when filly Rachel Alexandra – with jockey Calvin Borel – beat Mine That Bird, which Borel rode to victory in the Kentucky Derby.

- NBC SPORTS GROUP -

Coverage of NBC Sports Group’s First Belmont Stakes Since 2005 Begins Friday at 4 p.m. ET on VERSUS and Culminates with 143^rd Belmont Stakes on NBC, Saturday at 5 p.m. ET

Kentucky Derby Winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes Winner Shackleford Headline Field

“I think it’s pretty cool they have a rematch at Belmont because both of these horses were deserving winners of their races.” – NBC’s Mike Battaglia on Animal Kingdom and Shackleford

NEW YORK – June 8, 2011 – Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford headline the field as the NBC Sports Group presents 6½ hours of coverage of the 143^rd running of the Belmont Stakes, the final stage of horse racing’s Triple Crown, from Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., beginning Friday at 4 p.m. ET on VERSUS and culminating with the Belmont Stakes Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.

This marks only the 22^nd time that both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners face off at the Belmont, and the first since Giacomo and Afleet Alex battled at Belmont in 2005.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports coverage of the 143^rd Belmont Stakes is co-hosted by Bob Costas and Tom Hammond alongside two-time Preakness winner Gary Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Larry Collmus; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers.

Added for this year’s expanded coverage are Laffit Pincay, III, son of Hall-of-Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., to host the coverage on VERSUS; veteran horse racing analyst Randy Moss; and the Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman.

FEATURES AND STORYLINES: The features that the NBC Sports Group are preparing for its Belmont coverage include:

• A “Tale of the Tape” – Animal Kingdom vs. Shackleford.
• Animal Kingdom jockey John Velazquez and his relationship with legendary jockey Angel Cordaro.
• Shackleford trainer Dale Romans “Family Affair” with horse racing.
• Donna Brothers demonstrating the effect of “kickback” on the horses and jockeys.

PRODUCTION TEAM: The coverage of the Belmont Stakes will be produced by Fred Gaudelli and directed by Drew Esocoff, NBC Sports’ Emmy Award-winning “Sunday Night Football” production team. The VERSUS coverage will be produced by Rob Hyland, who has worked on the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001 and also produces NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football, and directed by Doug Grabert. The executive producer of NBC Sports and VERSUS is Sam Flood who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.

BELMONT STAKES COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS GROUP

Friday, Belmont Classics, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS

Friday, Live from Belmont, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS

• Includes Poker Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap

Saturday, Live from Belmont, 3-5 p.m., VERSUS

• Includes Just a Game, True North Handicap and Woody Stephens

Saturday, Belmont Stakes, 5-7 p.m., NBC

• Includes Manhattan Handicap

Saturday, Belmont Wrap-up, 7-7:30 p.m., VERSUS

STREAM THE BELMONT LIVE ON NBCSPORTS.COM: As it has for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, NBCSports.com will provide live streaming of the Belmont Stakes. In addition to hearing Larry Collmus’ race call live, users can choose to watch Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom on an isolated camera.

NBC SPORTS HANDICAPPER MIKE BATTAGLIA ON ANIMAL KINGDOM VS. SHACKLEFORD: “I think it’s pretty cool they have a rematch at Belmont because both of these horses were deserving winners of their races. Animal Kingdom ran great in the Derby and he just couldn’t beat Shackleford in the Preakness. I think these are two good horses. The mile-and-a-half would probably be to Animal Kingdom’s benefit over Shackelford’s and the pace for Shackleford over Animal Kingdom because there’s really not a lot of speed in here so Shackleford might have things his own way on the front end. I think it’s going to be interesting. I give Animal Kingdom the slight edge over Shackleford just because of the distance.”

BATTAGLIA ON WHO COULD CHALLENGE THESE HORSES: “Santiva showed some speed in the past and he could get out there with them and maybe even Stay Thirsty. Another interesting horse is Master of Hounds, the horse of Aidan O’Brien’s that went right back to Ireland after the Derby. I’ve watched his Derby race a couple of times and I thought he ran a pretty good race. This horse is definitely bred for the distance. They’re sending him back over here for the Belmont and they must have a reason to think that he can get this mile-and-a-half. He’s very dangerous, probably the most dangerous of the horses other than the Derby and the Preakness winners. The there is Mucho Macho Man, but he kind of fell off in the Preakness so he’d really have to make a comeback and there’s Nehro. I’m still not exactly sure about his ability to win. He’s had a lot of runner-up efforts but he doesn’t seem to want to win.”

BATTAGLIA ON WHO IS IN THE MONEY: “Animal Kingdom, Shackleford and Master of Hounds are my top contenders.”

TRIPLE CROWN RATINGS INFO:

NBC AND BELMONT STAKES: NBC Sports broadcast the Belmont from 2001-05, including three straight years in which the Belmont had a Triple Crown at stake. The 2004 Belmont featuring Smarty Jones racing for the Triple Crown was seen by 21.9 million viewers, the most for a Belmont broadcast since Seattle Slew captured the elusive Triple Crown in 1977.

14.5 MILLION WATCH KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC Sports’ coverage this year’s Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including last year’s Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

8.8 MILLION WATCH PREAKNESS STAKES: NBC Sports coverage of the Preakness Stakes drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of five percent over last year’s race and the second most-watched Preakness in five years, topped only by the much-hyped boys vs. girls showdown in 2009 when filly Rachel Alexandra – with jockey Calvin Borel – beat Mine That Bird, which Borel rode to victory in the Kentucky Derby.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is now the exclusive home to Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. This marks the first time that all three races will be on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001.

Since its involvement in the Triple Crown, NBC Sports has been honored with 11 Eclipse Awards for its thoroughbred racing coverage, Preakness (2002-03-05-06-08), Kentucky Derby (2007), Belmont (2004) and Breeder’s Cup (2001). Additionally, NBC Sports has won three Eclipse Awards in the features category: 2002 on War Emblem (Preakness broadcast), 2005 Afleet Alex (Kentucky Derby broadcast) and 2009 Mine That Bird (Preakness broadcast), and the 2005 and 2006 Preakness broadcasts were nominated for the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Special.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

Coverage From Pimlico Begins Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET on VERSUS and Culminates with the 136^th Preakness Stakes on NBC on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET

Kentucky Derby Winner Animal Kingdom Headlines Field in Middle Jewel of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown

NBC Sports Group’s Triple Crown Coverage Continues with the Belmont Stakes June 11

“I think he will win here. He’s the best horse and I think he’s in a good spot.” – NBC Sports’ Mike Battaglia on Animal Kingdom

“Absolutely. Totally.” – NBC Sports’ Neumeier on if Animal Kingdom can challenge for the Triple Crown

NEW YORK – May 19, 2011 – Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom leads the field as the NBC Sports Group presents 6½ hours of coverage of the 136^th running of the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., beginning tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET on VERSUS and culminating with the Preakness Stakes Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

With a win Saturday at the Preakness, Animal Kingdom will head to the Belmont in hopes of becoming the first to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed, with jockey Steve Cauthen, in 1978. NBC Sports Group coverage of the Belmont Stakes begins Friday, June 10.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports coverage of the 136^th Preakness Stakes is co-hosted by Bob Costas and Tom Hammond alongside two-time Preakness winner Gary Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller and Baltimore native Larry Collmus; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers.

Added for this year’s expanded coverage are Laffit Pincay, III, son of Hall-of-Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., to host the coverage on VERSUS; veteran horse racing analyst Randy Moss; and the Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman.

FEATURES AND STORYLINES: The features NBC Sports Group is preparing for its Preakness coverage include:

• A look at Animal Kingdom trainer Graham Motion.
• Bob Costas live interview with Animal Kingdom owner Barry Irwin.
• Norman Asbjornson trainer Chris Grove, a trainer with Maryland roots and a touching family story. His father, a former jockey, is the Maryland state racing steward and his 12-year old Noah son lost his leg to bone cancer at age four.
• Dialed In – with a win in the Preakness, the horse will earn the biggest payday in North American racing history ($6.1 million).
• Jockey Robby Alborado and his difficult Derby week.

PRODUCTION TEAM: The coverage of the Preakness Stakes will be produced by Fred Gaudelli and directed by Drew Esocoff, NBC Sports’ Emmy Award-winning “Sunday Night Football” production team. The VERSUS coverage will be produced by Rob Hyland, who has worked on the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001 and also produces NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football, and directed by “NHL on NBC” director Jeff Simon. The executive producer of NBC Sports and VERSUS is Sam Flood who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.

PREAKNESS STAKES ON THE NBC SPORTS GROUP

Tomorrow, Preakness Classics, 3-4 p.m., VERSUS

Tomorrow, Black Eyed Susan Stakes, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS

• Will also air the Ms. Preakness Pink Warrior

Saturday, Live from Pimlico, 2:30-4:30 p.m., VERSUS

• Including races 8, 9, 10 LIVE

Sat. May 21, Preakness Stakes, 4:30-6:30 p.m., NBC

Sat. May 21, Preakness Wrap-up, 6:30-7 p.m., VERSUS

THE HANDICAPPERS

NBC Sports handicappers Neumeier and Battaglia, who correctly picked Animal Kingdom to win the Kentucky Derby, provided their thoughts on the Preakness in separate interviews and surprisingly came to similar conclusions about the race. Their answers are below:

THE PREAKNESS ACCORDING TO NEUMEIER: “Animal Kingdom should be the favorite based on a sensational performance in the Kentucky Derby, and the only real question about him is, can he bounce back with a short 14 day period? I think that his job will be easier than the Derby because the field is smaller, and because there’s more front speed to line up for him to shoot at. The addition of Flashpoint, who’s a front-runner, and Dance City, along with Shackleford, will ensure a rapid pace that should be favorable to Animal Kingdom’s running style.

THE PREAKNESS ACCORDING BATTAGLIA: “I think there’s actually more speed, more early speed, in the Preakness than the Derby because of Flashpoint. It looks to me like Flashpoint, going from the three hole, will have to go in the front and Shackleford, who made the pace in the Derby, he’s going to try to probably start out second or third in this one instead of going out and running and getting ahead. The race sets up great for another late run by Animal Kingdom. He was so impressive in the Derby that I think it comes down to, ‘will he handle the track here at Pimlico?’ If he does, I think he ought to win. “

BATTAGLIA ON ANIMAL KINGDOM’S AT THE PREAKNESS: “I think he will win here. He’s the best horse and I think he’s in a good spot.

NEUMEIER ON WHO CAN CHALLENGE ANIMAL KINGDOM: “There are a number of other newcomers that should be respected. First and foremost, I think Sway Away, who comes out of the Arkansas Derby and that has proven to be one of the best preps, is going to be in a mid-pack position. The question is, can he finish strongly? Mucho Macho Man, great story in the Derby and ran very, very well and he would be my second choice. Our reports are that the horse looks great. Dialed In ran a decent final 1/8 and will benefit from the pace that appears to be very hot in the race. I would say it’s Animal Kingdom’s race to lose and my next two would be Sway Way and/or Mucho Macho Man.”

BATTAGLIA ON WHO CAN CHALLENGE ANIMAL KINGDOM: “It’s hard to leave Dialed In out. Even though he didn’t hit the bullet in the Derby, I think that he can bounce back. I like the Derby horses. I like Mucho Macho Man and Shackleford and I think those are the ones that I’m kind of going to key in on. Maybe Dance City for the one new shooter, but the horses coming out of the Derby, I think will run well again.”

BATTAGLIA ON DANCE CITY: “He comes out of the Arkansas Derby and Nehro only beat him a length and a half. He was reluctant at the gate that day and was causing all kinds of problems at the gate and got into a little bit of trouble. He doesn’t need to be in front; although he is a speed horse, but you always have to respect Pletcher when he brings one of these horses in and of the new shooters I think he’s probably the best new shooter to run well.”

CAN ANIMAL KINGDOM WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN?

BATTAGLIA: “You never know about that mile-and-a-half and coming back. That’s a tough thing to do to come back with the third leg of the Triple Crown. Belmont Park is a completely different type of track. They call it big sandy for a reason and we’ve seen a lot of Triple Crown hopes dashed there, so it’s definitely not going to be an easy task for him to win the Triple Crown. I definitely think he’s got a shot because I think he’s going to win this week and we just have to see how he comes up to Belmont, but I definitely think he’s got a shot.”

NEUMEIER: “Absolutely. Totally. His race in the Derby was sensational. Every speed figure measurer gave that a very strong number. We’ll see what the Preakness number is if he wins there. Should Animal Kingdom win the Preakness then you have a situation where he’s running for history and it would be an amazing story and he would be a major threat for a Triple Crown.”

NEUMEIER ON ANIMAL KINGDOM SHIPPING TO PIMLICO ON SATURDAY MORNING: “This is Graham Motion’s home. He trains about an hour from Pimlico. At the Preakness, all of the Stakes horses are in that one barn, so there’s a lot of commotion in that one barn, trainers, owners, press who are working at that barn so there’s a tremendous amount of attention that’s focused on that one area which the Stakes barn area at the Preakness. Had Motion come in here with Animal Kingdom Tuesday or Wednesday there’d be fuss, attention and distractions maybe for him and the horse. Hopefully he won’t get a flat tire and there will be little traffic.”

BATTAGLIA ON ANIMAL KINGDOM SHIPPING TO PIMLICO ON SATURDAY MORNING: “I think Graham Motion really knows what he’s doing. He’s keeping him comfortable. Of course we’d like to see him in that number one stall, but I think Graham is doing the right thing and you can’t fault him for that at all. He’s going to ship him the day of the race and horses do that all the time. It’s not big deal at all and I think he’s doing the right thing there.”

PREAKNESS A RATINGS SUCCESS ON NBC:

Since NBC Sports began broadcasting the Preakness in 2001, every Preakness telecast on NBC over that period attracted more viewers than any Preakness telecast on ABC in the previous seven years. Viewership for the Preakness is up an average of 69% in the 10 years on NBC compared to the previous seven years on ABC.

Link to the past 10 years of the Preakness Stakes on NBC Sports: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/24467851#24467851

PREAKNESS ON NBC (2001-2010)

Year Viewers

2010 8.4 million
2009 10.9 million
2008 7.9 million
2007 8.4 million
2006 10.1 million
2005 9.3 million
2004 11.6 million
2003 8.6 million
2002 9.2 million
2001 8.7 million

PREAKNESS ON ABC (1993-2000)

Year Viewers

2000 5.5 million
1999 4.9 million
1998 5.2 million
1997 6.9 million
1996 5.1 million
1995 4.7 million
1994 6.5 million
1993 7.0 million

14.5 MILLION WATCH KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC Sports’ coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including last year’s Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

Link to NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby and hear Larry Collmus call the race: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/42944611#42944611

STREAM THE PREAKNESS LIVE ON NBCSPORTS.COM: NBCSports.com for the first time ever will provide live streaming of the Preakness Stakes. In addition to hearing Larry Collmus’ race call live, users can choose to watch Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom on an isolated camera.

“HEALTHY WEEK” ON NBCUNIVERSAL: NBC Sports kicks off NBCUniversal’s second annual “Healthy Week” this weekend during NBC Sports’ broadcast of the Preakness Stakes. The “Healthy” feature will profile how jockeys stay fit and in shape for their sport.

As part of its company-wide health initiative, “Healthy at NBCU,” designed to inform and activate audiences around health and wellness. “Healthy Week” leverages the breadth of trusted names and brands across the NBCUniversal portfolio to provide consumers with today’s most pressing health-related news, and encourage them to adopt healthier habits in their daily routine.

8 Hours of LIVE Coverage Over 7 Weekends from Saratoga Begins July 23 on NBC

VERSUS Presents 5 Hour-Long Shows; NBC to Broadcast 3 Shows Including Famed Travers Stakes on August 27

NEW YORK – May 12, 2011 – The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the NBC Sports Group today announced a partnership to broadcast “Summer at Saratoga,” live racing from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., over seven weekends this summer beginning on July 23 and including the famed $1 million Travers Stakes on August 27. The announcement was made by C. Steven Duncker, NYRA Chairman and Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and VERSUS. This agreement marks the most extensive live national television coverage of racing from Saratoga Race Course.

“This is a unique opportunity to expand our coverage of thoroughbred racing with these great races from Saratoga, a truly iconic venue,” said Miller. “This partnership with NYRA cements the NBC Sports Group’s commitment to the sport which already includes long-term deals for the Triple Crown with Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, in addition to the Preakness and Belmont.”

“We are elated to partner with the NBC Sports Group for this landmark agreement,” said Duncker. “Year after year, Saratoga Race Course is synonymous with the best thoroughbred racing in the country, and the NBC Sports Group is the perfect family of networks to bring this experience to a national audience. By first uniting the Triple Crown races, and now covering the Saratoga meet in a manner never done before, NBC has demonstrated an incredible commitment to thoroughbred racing and we are proud to be a part of their team.”

NBC SPORTS GROUP SUMMER AT SARATOGA COVERAGE (All Times ET)

July 23, Coaching Club American Oaks, 5-6 p.m., NBC
July 30, Diana, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 6, Whitney, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 7, Vanderbilt, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 13, Sword Dancer, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Aug. 20, Alabama, 5-6 p.m., NBC
Aug. 27, Travers, 5-6 p.m., NBC
Sept. 3, Woodward, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS

Saratoga Race Course was named one of the world’s greatest sporting venues by Sports Illustrated. From late July through Labor Day, many of the sport’s top owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses gather in Saratoga Springs for the premier thoroughbred racing meet in the country. First held in 1863, the Saratoga meet now draws more than 20,000 passionate racing fans to the track on a daily basis.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. This marks the first time that all three races will be on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001.

NYRA: Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2010, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totals more than $8.7 million. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com. You can also follow NYRA on social media platforms Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

NBCU Marketing Council Designates Derby a “Cross-Channel Priority”

TODAY Show Segments Live from Churchill Downs Starting Thursday

Features and Segments from NBCUniversal Properties Including CNBC, Access Hollywood, Weather Channel, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, E!, Style, iVillage, Daily Candy

NEW YORK – May 3, 2011 – The NBC Sports Group will present 14½ hours of Kentucky Derby coverage beginning tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET on VERSUS and culminating with the 137^th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 7 beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

The shared vision of Churchill Downs and NBC Sports’ successful ‘Big Event Strategy’ to assemble the broadest possible audience led to the 2010 Kentucky Derby being the most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years, in addition to the year prior which was the most-watched Derby in 20 years. Last year’s Kentucky Derby averaged 16.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Kentucky Derby since 1989 when Sunday Silence won (18.5 million).

In the 10 years that Churchill Downs and NBC Sports have been together the event has experienced remarkable growth. The Kentucky Derby is now seen by 7.4 million more viewers than the last Kentucky Derby broadcast by ABC in 2000 (16.5 million vs. 9.1 million, up 51 percent).

CROSS-CHANNEL PRIORITY: Kentucky Derby coverage on NBC and VERSUS has been identified by NBCUniversal’s Marketing Council as a cross-channel priority. It is receiving the benefit of extensive promotion across NBCUniversal’s 20 channels and more than 40 websites. Also, once again this year, a host of NBCUniversal properties will participate in promoting the food, fashion, celebrity and entertaining spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby.

Below is a summary of the NBCU properties that are supporting the Kentucky Derby:

TODAY Show: The TODAY Show, the No. 1 morning news show (averaging 6 million viewers/week), is featuring Derby segments highlighting the food, fashion, celebrity and entertaining elements of the Derby everyday this week. Al Roker and Jenna Wolfe will be live from Churchill Downs Thursday, Friday and Saturday and their coverage will include interviews with NBC Sports horse racing analyst Gary Stevens and reporter Donna Brothers, who last year in a live interview with Roker was thrown from her horse and became a viral hit.

The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee (4^th hour): For the second straight year, Hoda and Kathie Lee are featuring a Derby trip giveaway contest for the fan who creates the most interesting Derby hat. The contest began Wednesday, April 27 and concludes this Wednesday. Viewers are asked to send in pictures of their originally-created hats, and one viewer will be selected to win a trip for two to the Derby. KLG and Hoda are promoting the contest through the show, on TODAYShow.com and through their Facebook page and Twitter accounts.

TodayShow.com: TodayShow.com is featuring a special Derby video player for viewers to replay all the Today Show Derby segments that are running throughout the week.

Weekend Today: The No. 1 weekend morning news show will air live segments from the Derby this weekend with Jenna Wolfe featuring interviews with NBC Sports talent on Saturday and scheduled to interview the winning connections on Sunday.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Jimmy Fallon and his creative team developed a Derby sketch that will premiere in Saturday’s Derby coverage on NBC. Fallon also created pre-Derby coverage that will air in his show this week.

Access Hollywood and AH Live: Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood Live will highlight the Derby in a segment featuring Derby attendee and Celebrity Apprentice’s Niki Taylor shopping for her hat for Derby weekend. In the past years, Access shopped with Paris Hilton and Tinsley Mortimer as they prepared for the Derby.

CNBC: CNBC’s sports-business reporter, Darren Rovell, will report live from Churchill Downs all day Friday.

WEATHER CHANNEL: Al Roker and Stephanie Abrams will broadcast live from the Derby Friday and Saturday morning with “Wake Up with Al.” Abrams will also host “Your Weather Today” and “Weekend View” from the Derby.

E!: E! News is featuring Derby segments this week, including hat shopping with Sports Illustrated model and Derby attendee, Marisa Miller, and an interview with Jordin Sparks, who will perform the National Anthem at the Kentucky Derby.

Eonline.com is the premiere destination for breaking entertainment news and celebrity inside information to over six million unique users per month and will feature five distinct Derby-themed photo galleries each day of Derby week.

Style: MyStyle.com premieres Derby-themed photo galleries each day of Derby week and will also feature a Derby Day photo gallery with up-to-the minute Derby pictures from Churchill Downs.

Local Media & Comcast sports nets: Feature clips from NBC Sports Group’s Kentucky Derby coverage are being distributed to all 235 affiliates as well as the 11 CSN’s this week. NBC is also producing a satellite media tour with Betsy Berns, horse racing expert.

IVillage: iVillage, the essential digital brand for women, which reaches over 30 million unique visitors per month, will celebrate this year’s Derby by hosting a “Derby Yourself” application on its thriving Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ivillage), where fans can enter to win a fabulous new wardrobe and accessories from Vineyard Vines’ brand-new Kentucky Derby collection. Users can visualize themselves at the historic Churchill Downs race by creating their own avatar and dressing them in the height of Derby fashion, with fancy clothes, outrageous hats and all the accessories perfect for watching the event that marks the official start of the racing season.

DailyCandy: DailyCandy.com will feature Derby editorial content on its homepage each day of Derby Week and feature Derby fashion in their new feature, “Round-Ups.” In addition, a Derby-themed “Party Time” section will be featured in all DailyCandy editions and links to Derby content in DailyCandy Local and Everywhere emails will be present all week.

Swirl by DailyCandy: DailyCandy’s sister sample sale site, Swirl, launched a Derby-inspired sale this week featuring spring dresses, hats and other Derby attire. DailyCandy and Swirl content will link with iVillage Derby content.

NBC SPORTS GROUP KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE (All Times ET):

KENTUCKY DERBY – 14½ Hours

Today, Derby Classics – Smarty Jones, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS

Today, Kentucky Derby Draw, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS

Tomorrow, May 5, Derby Classics – Barbaro, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS

Tomorrow, May 5, Live from Churchill Downs, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS

Fri. May 6, Derby Classics – Mine That Bird, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS

Fri. May 6, Kentucky Oaks, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS

Sat. May 7, Live from Churchill Downs, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., VERSUS

Sat. May 7, Kentucky Derby, 4-7 p.m., NBC

Sat. May 7, Kentucky Derby Wrap-up, 7-7:30 p.m. VERSUS