Horse Racing

THREE WEEKS TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC SPORTS’ “ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY” FEATURES THE ARKANSAS DERBY LIVE THIS SAT., APRIL 10 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

April 8, 2021 By admin Leave a Comment

NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss Join Ahmed Fareed

Arkansas Derby Is Final Major Derby Prep Race and Last of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 8, 2021 – With three weeks until the running of the 147^th Kentucky Derby, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the $1 million Arkansas Derby this Saturday, April 10 at 7 p.m. ET from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Arkansas Derby concludes NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons and is the final major Derby prep race. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the top four finishers. Three winners of the $1 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, including Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015. Concert Tour (EVEN), who is trained by Bob Baffert and won Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes in March, headlines the field along with Brad Cox’s Caddo River (7-2). With a win in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Baffert would earn his seventh career Derby victory, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most ever by a trainer. Concert Tour’s owners Gary West and Mary West also owned Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who has won the Arkansas Derby twice, and Randy Moss.

NBCSN will also present highlights of the Count Fleet Sprint on Saturday, featuring Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Whitmore.

Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:

Race	Date	Time (ET)
Arkansas Derby	Sat., April 10	7 p.m.

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–

ONE MONTH TO KENTUCKY DERBY: LIVE COVERAGE OF WOOD MEMORIAL, BLUE GRASS STAKES & SANTA ANITA DERBY THIS SAT., APRIL 3 AT 5:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

April 1, 2021 By admin

NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Saturday’s “Triplecast” Is Third of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 1, 2021 – With one month to the running of the 147^th Kentucky Derby, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby this Saturday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. ET. This weekend’s “triplecast” continues NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons. NBC Sports will present the 147^th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Saturday’s live coverage begins from Aqueduct Racetrack with the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, New York’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race which has had 11 winners go on to win the Derby. The 5-2 morning line favorite is #4 Risk Taking, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Chad Brown.

In addition, the $800,000 Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, is expected to feature undefeated 3-5 morning line favorite Essential Quality, who was named 2020’s Champion two-year-old male.

Rounding out Saturday’s show is the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, the signature West Coast prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Headlining the field is Medina Spirit, trained by Hall-of-Famer Bob Baffert, who has won the Santa Anita Derby a record nine times.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s triplecast coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who won each Triple Crown race twice, Randy Moss, and insights analyst Steve Kornacki, who will be at his Big Board to analyze the Kentucky Derby points standings as qualifying for the Run for the Roses enters its final weeks. Reporters Laffit Pincay III and Britney Eurton will be on-site in Santa Anita, Matt Bernier will be in New York, and Kenny Rice will report from Keeneland.

NBCSN will also present highlights of Saturday’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” races from across the country.

Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:

Race	Date	Time (ET)
Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby	Sat., April 3	5:30 p.m.
Arkansas Derby	Sat., April 10	7 p.m.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS’ “ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY” COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH THE FLORIDA DERBY LIVE THIS SAT., MARCH 27 AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

March 25, 2021 By admin

NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss Join Ahmed Fareed

Florida Derby Is Second of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 25, 2021 – As the 147^th Kentucky Derby approaches, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the $1 million Florida Derby this Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. ET from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Florida Derby continues NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Five weeks ahead of the May 1 running of the Kentucky Derby, the Grade 1 Florida Derby awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the top four finishers. 15 Florida Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, more than any other prep race. Spielberg (4-1), who is trained by Bob Baffert, is the favorite in the 11-horse field. With a win in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Baffert would earn his seventh career Derby victory, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most ever by a trainer. 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law placed first in last year’s Florida Derby.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who has won the Florida Derby three times, and Randy Moss.

NBCSN will also present highlights of Saturday’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” race, the Gulfstream Park Oaks, as well as 100-point Derby prep races the UAE Derby from Dubai and the Jeff Ruby Steaks from Turfway Park.

Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:

Race	Date	Time (ET)
Florida Derby	Sat., March 27	6 p.m.
Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby	Sat., April 3	5:30 p.m.
Arkansas Derby	Sat., April 10	7 p.m.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS BEGINS “ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY” COVERAGE WITH THE LOUISIANA DERBY LIVE THIS SAT., MARCH 20 AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

March 17, 2021 By admin

NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss Join Britney Eurton

Louisiana Derby Marks First of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races

Saturday’s Coverage Includes Interview with Trainer Bob Baffert from his Barn in Santa Anita as he Prepares for Kentucky Derby

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 17, 2021 – With the Kentucky Derby less than 50 days away, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the $1 million Louisiana Derby this Saturday, March 20 at 6 p.m. ET from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Louisiana Derby kicks off NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons on NBCSN. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Exactly six weeks ahead of the May 1 running of the Kentucky Derby, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby marks the first prep race awarding Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the top four finishers. John Velazquez, who rode 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, rides Proxy (7-2) in the eight-horse field.

Britney Eurton hosts Saturday’s coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who has twice won the Louisiana Derby, and Randy Moss.

Saturday’s coverage will include an interview with trainer Bob Baffert from his barn in Santa Anita as he prepares several top contenders for the Kentucky Derby. With a win in this year’s Derby, Baffert would earn his seventh career Kentucky Derby victory, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most ever by a trainer.

NBCSN will also present the Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday, one of the major prep races on the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks.”

Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:

Race	Date	Time (ET)
Louisiana Derby	Sat., March 20	6 p.m.
Florida Derby	Sat., March 27	6 p.m.
Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby	Sat., April 3	5:30 p.m.
Arkansas Derby	Sat., April 10	7 p.m.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS $4 MILLION PEGASUS WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP INVITATIONAL SERIES THIS SAT., JAN. 23 LIVE AT 4:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

January 21, 2021 By admin

Host Ahmed Fareed Joined by Jerry Bailey, Randy Moss, Britney Eurton, and Matt Bernier

Show Includes Two JockeyCams in Each Race & Special Performance by Musician Aloe Blacc

NBC’s Live Coverage of the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series will be streamed on NBCSports.com & the NBC Sports app

STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 21, 2021 – NBC Sports presents horse racing’s first major event of the year, the $4 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida this Saturday, Jan. 23, live at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

2020 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, will break from the #4 post and will be joined in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) by Code of Honor (9-2), who placed 2nd in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, and Tax (5-1), who won the G3 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream in his last start. Headlining the 1 3/16th mile Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) is the Todd Pletcher-trained Colonel Liam, and the California-based Anothertwistafate.

In its fifth year, the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series will include the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), to be contested by the expected 12-horse field on the dirt at 1-1/8 miles, and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). The horses in both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational will compete free of any medications on race day this year. The medication-free format was introduced by 1/ST RACING for the 2020 Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series and reflects 1/ST HORSE CARE’s ongoing commitment to horse and rider safety and care.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s coverage from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., alongside analyst Randy Moss. Hall of Fame jockey and analyst Jerry Bailey will join the broadcast remotely from his home in Florida, and reporters Britney Eurton and Matt Bernier will report on-site from Gulfstream Park.

Saturday’s broadcast will feature helmet JockeyCams on two riders during each race and will provide a thrilling “second screen experience” giving fans at home a real-time view of what it is like to be a jockey riding in two of North America’s richest Thoroughbred horse races.

The broadcast will also showcase the Pegasus “blue” carpet, and celebrity and live entertainment event elements from Gulfstream Park. The show will feature a special performance by musician Aloe Blacc, and local singer and America’s Got Talent semifinalist Yoli Mayor will sing the National Anthem.

NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM channel 211 will carry live coverage of the event.

All coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

For more information about the Pegasus World Cup, visit www.pegasusworldcup.com and follow @PegasusWorldCup #RunWithUs on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please visit www.1st.com.

TIZ THE LAW, MAXIMUM SECURITY & AUTHENTIC HEADLINE $6 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC THIS SATURDAY, NOV. 7 AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

November 4, 2020 By admin

NBC Sports Presents 10.5 Live Coverage Hours of the Richest Two Days in Horse Racing – The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky

Coverage Begins Tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN with “Betting the Breeders’ Cup”; Live Race Coverage Begins Friday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN & Saturday, Nov. 7 at Noon ET on NBCSN

Coverage Streamed Live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

STAMFORD, Conn. – Nov. 4, 2020 – NBC Sports this weekend presents 10.5 hours of live coverage of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships – the richest two days in horse racing – with $31 million in prize money at stake in 14 races. Highlighting the coverage is the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic this Saturday, Nov. 7, live from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Highlighting Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic field:

- Tiz the Law: 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner, trained by Barclay Tagg
- Authentic: 2020 Kentucky Derby winner trained by Bob Baffert;
- Maximum Security: Finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified; now trained by Baffert
- Improbable: Trained by Baffert; won his past three Grade 1 races in 2020
- Tom’s d’Etat: Owned by New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and named after her late husband, Tom Benson; won 2019 Clark Stakes (Grade 1) and 2020 Stephen Foster Stakes (Grade 2). Benson’s Saints visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following day, on Sunday Night Football, this Sunday, Nov. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

Live coverage of the 37^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships begins tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN with handicapping special “Betting the Breeders’ Cup.” Live racing coverage begins Friday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by 4.5 live hours on Saturday, Nov. 7, beginning at Noon ET on NBCSN and continuing on NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET.

“The Breeders’ Cup is perhaps the only sport in which the product on the field has actually benefitted from the pandemic,” said analyst Randy Moss. “Because many racetracks were closed in the spring, horses couldn’t run as often, and now they are fresher and healthier in November than ever before. Now if only there were fans in the seats.”

“At last, the Breeders’ Cup is upon us, and in this crazy year there is no more fitting venue to host it than Keeneland in all its fall splendor,” said analyst Jerry Bailey, a five-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. “The highlight will certainly be the Classic, with a very deep and competitive field headed by Bob Baffert, who brings a strong trio led by Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.”

2020 BREEDERS’ CUP TELEVISION SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES ET)
Date	Time	Event	Network
Thurs., Nov. 5	2 p.m.	Betting the Breeders’ Cup	NBCSN
Fri., Nov. 6	2 p.m.	Breeders’ Cup World Championships	NBCSN
Sat., Nov. 6	Noon	Breeders’ Cup World Championships	NBCSN
Sun., Nov. 7	2:30 p.m.	Breeders’ Cup Classic	NBC

COMMENTATORS: Ahmed Fareed hosts coverage this weekend at Keeneland, joined by analyst and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who owns 15 Breeders’ Cup wins; analyst Randy Moss; host/reporter Laffit Pincay III and reporter Nick Luck; analyst/handicapper Eddie Olczyk and handicapper Matt Bernier, and reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers, and Britney Eurton. NBC’s Triple Crown race caller Larry Collmus will call all of the Breeders’ Cup races. Thursday afternoon’s “Betting the Breeders’ Cup” special features Pincay, Luck, Olczyk, Eurton, and Bernier.

Programming highlights include:

- Unique perspectives from the track through multiple live jockey cams and jockey and trainer mics
- Actress and model Kate Upton will be featured before the Classic on NBC
- Athletes/Celebrities including Upton, Bo Derek, Joel McHale, Jack McBrayer, Brian Baumgartner, Chris Long, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, pitcher for the 2020 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Lexington, Kent. native Walker Buehler, and more make their Breeders’ Cup Classic picks
- NBC Sports’ Tim Layden delivers an essay sharing his perspective on racing in 2020
- Available now on NBCSports.com, Layden writes about Meg Levy, a breeder once saved by horses, who has now dedicated her life to saving them
- A feature on 2020 Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver with owner Peter Callahan, who named Swiss Skydiver for his granddaughter after she went skydiving over the Swiss Alps
- Access to 80+ cameras – nearly double last year
- Fan Cam – Joining Fan parties from around the world
- Most broadcast network coverage since 2005

NBC Sports’ coverage of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is produced by Lindsay Schanzer and Billy Matthews, and directed by Kaare Numme. The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001. Executive producer and president, production, NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood.

BREEDERS’ CUP COVERAGE ON COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM, NBC SPORTS APP & PEACOCK

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast. NBC Sports.com, the NBC Sports app, and Peacock – NBCUniversal’s streaming service – will provide a full race replay of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships consists of 14 races over two days at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and features a total of $31 million in purses and awards. The culminating event of the Breeders’ Cup, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is contested at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, for 3-year-olds and older. Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

–NBC SPORTS–

SPECIAL MIDWEEK BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES “WIN AND YOU’RE IN” RACE, TOMORROW, WED., OCT. 7 LIVE AT 4 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

October 6, 2020 By admin

Live Coverage from Keeneland Features JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes; Winner Earns Automatic Berth into Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Race Streamed Live on NBCSports.com & the NBC Sports app

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 6, 2020) – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber’s Spanish Loveaffair leads tomorrow’s JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) for 2-year-old fillies on turf at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., live on NBCSN at 4 p.m. ET. The winner of the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine, which drew 11 starters, will earn an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Tomorrow’s telecast, produced in association with TVG, marks the 11^th and final program in this year’s “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 37^th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland, scheduled for Nov. 6-7 and airing on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

Reporting and commentary for the telecast will be provided from Keeneland by TVG’s Todd Schrupp, Matt Bernier, Caton Bredar, Gabby Gaudet, Britney Eurton and Caleb Keller. Simon Bray will be providing commentary from home.

Spanish Loveaffair, a bay daughter of 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Karokontie (JPN), has won both her starts at Gulfstream Park. Spanish Loveaffair is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who won this race in 2016 with La Coronel. After breaking her maiden at 1 mile by an eye-popping 11 lengths on July 23, Spanish Loveaffair returned on Aug. 29 to win the 1-mile Sharp Susan Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths as the 1-2 favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Spanish Loveaffair and will break from post position 10.

Among the challengers to Spanish Loveaffair is the Brad Cox-trained Aunt Pearl (IRE). In her lone start on Sept. 1 at Churchill Downs, Aunt Pearl, a bay daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE), set the early pace in a 1-mile race and drew off by 5 lengths. Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber and The Elkstone Group, Aunt Pearl will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 7.

Another impressive debut winner is Don Alberto Stable’s Ingrassia. Trained by Chad Brown, who has won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf three times, Ingrassia overcame a bumpy start in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga on Aug. 19 and steadily worked her way to the front to win by a nose. A daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Ingrassia will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 5.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Ben Rollins and Shelia Rollins’ Beautiful Star, a daughter of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow, who was fifth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 7. Adam Beschizza has the mount and will break from post position 4. Asmussen also will send out Kentucky Downs debut maiden winner Arm Candy for the partnership of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Kurz Equine Investments. Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride from post position 6.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and features a total of $31 million in purses and awards. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–

“RIDERS UP” DOCUMENTARY FEATURING NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST SPORTS BUBBLE AT SANTA ANITA PARK TO PREMIER ON NBCSN

October 1, 2020 By admin

Santa Anita, CA (October 1, 2020) – 1/ST announced today the television premier of “Riders Up”, a 30-minute documentary film showcasing Santa Anita Park, and how the company’s premier Thoroughbred horse racetrack venue in Southern California successfully created North America’s first sports bubble amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The original film, created and shot by the Hennegan Brothers, has been formatted for television and will air on NBCSN on Friday, October 2 at 6:00pm ET. A second airing of the documentary will take place on NBCSN on Saturday, October 3 at 12:30pm ET, preceding the live broadcast of the 145th Preakness Stakes on NBC at 4:30pm ET.

“Riders Up” highlights how the horseracing community at Santa Anita Park came together within days of the original coronavirus pandemic lockdown to form a self-contained ecosystem that allowed hundreds of backstretch workers, jockeys and essential racing personnel to keep the horses safe and active while protecting themselves, their livelihoods and the community.

For more information on Santa Anita Park and to watch a preview of “Riders Up” please visit www.santaanitapark.com or on Facebook @SantaAnitaPark.

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About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX, Betmix, Monarch and XBTV brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including, The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. For more information please visit www.1st.com.

About NBC Sports Group

NBC Sports Group serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBCSN, Golf Channel, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Audio Network and NBC Sports Digital, which includes NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com, GolfChannel.com, the digital assets of the NBC Sports Regional Networks, Rotoworld, the NBC Sports Talk franchise, multiple apps, and two transactional sports businesses, GolfNow and SportsEngine, and two direct-to-consumer products – NBC Sports Gold and GolfPass. NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, INDYCAR, PGA TOUR, The R&A, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, Tour de France, French Open, and many more.

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS 145th PREAKNESS STAKES THIS SAT., OCT. 3 AT 4:30 PM ET ON NBC

September 30, 2020 By admin

Kentucky Derby Winner Authentic Headlines Field as Trainer Bob Baffert Aims for Record Eighth Preakness Victory

Musician Wyclef Jean to Perform Live from Pimlico on Saturday’s Broadcast

Saturday’s Coverage from Pimlico Includes the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-Year-Old Fillies & A Feature on Baffert’s 2020 Kentucky Derby

Special Riders Up Documentary, This Friday at 6 p.m. ET & Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN Highlights Racing at Santa Anita in Early Days of Pandemic

This Weekend’s Horse Racing Coverage Begins Friday on NBCSN with TVG Trackside Live at 4 p.m. ET & Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series at 5 p.m. ET; Coverage Continues Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 30, 2020 – NBC Sports presents the 145th Preakness Stakes this Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC live from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD.

This year’s Preakness Stakes moved from May 16, and is the final race of the 2020 Triple Crown, marking the first time since 1931 that the Triple Crown races have not been run in the traditional Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes-Belmont Stakes sequence. In addition, this year’s Preakness Stakes has been designated as a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 on NBC. This Saturday’s coverage also includes the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for three-year-old fillies.

Trainer Bob Baffert aims to win a record eighth Preakness Stakes with 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (the 9-to-5 morning line favorite) headlining the field, which also includes Art Collector (5-to-2), who was considered a Derby favorite before a minor foot problem prevented him from entering, and Swiss Skydiver (6-to-1), who can become the first filly to win the Preakness since 2009 (Rachel Alexandra).

Saturday’s coverage will include two jockey cams to provide unique on-track perspective, along with enhanced audio through a mic’d up trainer and jockey. The show will also contain a feature on Baffert’s 2020 Kentucky Derby experience, including a half-hour span in which Thousand Words was scratched prior to the race after flipping in the paddock and Authentic knocking down Baffert down post-race in the winner’s circle. Thousand Words (6-to-1) is also running in the Preakness on Saturday.

Musician and actor Wyclef Jean, a three-time Grammy Award winner, will perform at Pimlico with a symphony orchestra and call Riders Up.

This weekend’s horse racing coverage begins Friday with TVG Trackside Live at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by two races on the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” telecast at 5 p.m. ET from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.

On Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN will televise three automatic Breeders’ Cup qualifying races — the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, the Bourbon Stakes and the Indian Summer Stakes — from Keeneland as part of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing.”

At 6 p.m. ET on Friday and 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, NBCSN will present Riders Up, a special documentary highlighting racing at Santa Anita Park at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary was filmed and produced by The Hennegan Brothers, who are multiple Eclipse Award-winning directors.

SOCIALLY-DISTANCED COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports’ coverage of the Preakness Stakes features host Ahmed Fareed and analyst Randy Moss from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Hall of Fame jockey and analyst Jerry Bailey and handicapper Eddie Olczyk join from their respective homes, while reporters Britney Eurton and Kenny Rice and race caller Larry Collmus will be on-site at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The Preakness Stakes is produced by Lindsay Schanzer and directed by Kaare Numme. The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001. Executive producer and president, production, NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood.

Highlights of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes coverage on NBC include:

- The 96^th running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Saturday on NBC.
- A feature on Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby, which included a half-hour span in which Thousand Words, who is competing in this weekend’s Preakness Stakes, was scratched after flipping in the paddock, leading to the broken wrist of assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. After winning the Derby, Authentic then acted up in the winner’s circle, causing Baffert to fall.
- Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss remotely go “around the barns” to meet the contenders of the 145th Preakness Stakes.
- Reporter/handicapper Matt Bernier reports from Keeneland Race Course, and looks ahead to the upcoming Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland on NBC and NBCSN.
- Two jockey cams to provide unique on-track perspective.
- One jockey and one trainer will be mic’d.

THIS WEEK’S NBC SPORTS HORSE RACING SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES ET)
Date	Time	Event	Network
Fri., Oct. 2	4 p.m.	TVG Trackside Live	NBCSN
Fri., Oct. 2	5 p.m.	Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series	NBCSN
Sat., Oct. 3	4:30 p.m.	Preakness Stakes	NBC
Sun., Oct. 4	4:30 p.m.	Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series	NBCSN

PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE ON COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM, NBC SPORTS APP & PEACOCK

NBC SPORTS RADIO PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE

In partnership with Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), NBC Sports Audio Network will present two hours of live Preakness Stakes race coverage beginning Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. ET featuring host Mike Penna and analyst Bobby Neuman. The broadcast will include a simulcast of the live race call by NBC Sports’ Larry Collmus. This is the sixth consecutive year HRRN and NBC Sports have teamed to produce radio coverage of the Triple Crown, which will be available throughout North America on SiriusXM satellite radio (channels 219 on Sirius and 201 on XM) along with terrestrial affiliates throughout the United States. Live streaming can also be accessed at NBCSports.com, and the HRRN website.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS’ LIVE BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES COVERAGE CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND ON NBCSN

September 17, 2020 By admin

Live NBCSN Coverage from Canada Features Ricoh Woodbine Mile Saturday at 5 p.m. ET and Natalma Stakes Sunday at 4 p.m. ET

2019 Preakness Stakes winner War of Will leads Woodbine Mile for automatic berth into FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJFLive Coverage

Will be Streamed on NBCSports.com & the NBC Sports app

TORONTO (Sept. 17, 2020) – Woodbine Racetrack in Canada will be the site of three Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying races on turf during NBCSN telecasts on Saturday and Sunday as a part of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing.”

This Saturday, Sept. 19, from 5-6 p.m. ET, the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will headlines the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) for an automatic berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1).

On Sunday, from 4-6 p.m. ET, 2-year-olds will be in action in the $250,000 Summer Stakes (G1), with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), and 2-year-old fillies will battle in the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) for a “Win and You’re In” starting position into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

This weekend’s programs, produced in association with TVG, mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., scheduled for Nov. 6-7 on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

Reporting and commentary for both telecasts will be provided by Todd Schrupp, Simon Bray, Britney Eurton, Christina Blacker, Matt Bernier and Jason Portuondo.

Live coverage will also be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

The Woodbine Mile and the Breeders’ Cup have long been connected. Each of the last 10 Woodbine Mile winners went on to run in the Mile. Three of them won both races in the same year: Hall of Famer Wise Dan (2012-2013) and World Approval (2017). Three other winners at Woodbine were second and one finished third in the Mile, while Mile winners, Court Vision (2010) and Tepin (2016), completed the double in different years.

Gary Barber’s War of Will, the 2-1 morning line favorite, proved his ability on dirt as a 3-year-old last year and has shown his versatility since being moved to the turf this season by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

War of Will, ridden by Rafael Hernandez, finished a close fifth in his seasonal debut in May in Santa Anita’s Shoemaker Mile (G1), also a “Win and You’re In” for the Mile, before winning Keeneland’s Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) on July 10. War of Will, who was also ninth in last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), is 5-for-16 lifetime, and a Woodbine Mile win would put him at or near the top of the North American turf division.

Among the top challengers in the race is Blue Heaven Farm’s Starship Jubilee, a former claimer, who will look to join Ventura and Tepin as only the third female to win the Woodbine Mile. The 7-year-old daughter of Indy Wind is a seven-time graded stakes winner for trainer Kevin Attard and is 6-for-13 over the Woodbine turf, which includes a win in last year’s E.P. Taylor (G1). Starship Jubilee, ridden by Justin Stein, is 18-for-37 lifetime and 4-for-5 this year, with a win over 2018 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Sistercharlie (IRE) in Saratoga’s Ballston Spa (G2) in July. Starship Jubilee enters off a fourth-place finish in the Aug. 23 Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Klaravich Stables’ Value Proposition comes north for trainer Chad Brown. A 4-year-old son of Dansili (GB), who is 3-for-5 lifetime, Value Proposition, ridden by Luis Contreras, will look to break through for his first career stakes win. In his last start, he finished third in the Poker Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on July 4.

Casse also has entered Live Oak Plantation’s 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding March the Arch, ridden by Patrick Husbands, who comes into the race with a 2 ¼-length victory over Admiralty Pier in the Aug. 15 King Edward Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.

Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford’s Admiralty Pier, a 5-year-old gelded son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner English Channel, won the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in February. A five-time winner for trainer Barbara Minshall, Admiralty Pier will be ridden by Steven Bahen.

Shifting to Sunday’s “Win and You’re In” 2-year-old qualifying races, Casse may have a top prospect in the 1-mile Summer Stakes with Gretzky the Great. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gretzky the Great, an Ontario-bred son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist, won the 6 ½-furlong Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 23. Mike Rutherford’s American Monarch, a son of 2015 Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner American Pharoah, and Peter Brant, Robert LaPenta and Woodford Racing’s Secret Potion, 1-2 finishers in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga on Aug. 8, also have been entered.

The 1-mile Natalma, figures to be wide open, with Charles Fipke’s Lady Speightspeare, an impressive debut winner over the turf on Aug. 22 for trainer Roger Attfield, eliciting the most promise. Also of interest are the first two finishers in the Aug. 23 Catch a Glimpse Stakes at Woodbine, where Wertheimer and Frere’s Alda, trained by Graham Motion, defeated Hoolie Racing Stable’s Dreaming of Drew, trained by Minshall, by a nose.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, will be held on November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and features a total of $31 million in purses and awards. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT AMERICA’S BEST RACING

America’s Best Racing is a multimedia fan development and awareness-building platform designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at americasbestracing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

–NBC SPORTS–