FOX Sports to broadcast major stakes races in 2014
New York, NY (Sports Network) – The Jockey Club has reached an agreement with FOX Sports to have important thoroughbred stakes races broadcast beginning next year on FOX Sports 1. The new sports network goes on the air starting Saturday, Aug. 17.
“The Jockey Club is thrilled to be joining forces with FOX Sports to showcase many of this country’s most prestigious races before a national television audience,” said The Jockey Club Chairman Ogden Mills Phipps. “Increasing the national television presence of Thoroughbred racing continues to be a key component of our fan retention and development efforts under the America’s Best Racing banner, and it will be gratifying to see Thoroughbred racing alongside Major League Baseball, college basketball, college football, NASCAR, and UFC events on the new FOX Sports 1.”
The new series, containing 10 shows, will get underway on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 with the Donn Handicap and Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap from Gulfstream Park. Each program will have two stakes races each.
“We’re proud to partner with The Jockey Club and to place a bet on the future of Thoroughbred racing,” said John Entz, FOX Sports Executive Vice President of Production and Executive Producer. “FOX Sports 1 is all about making sports more fun, and few events in sports are as much fun as a day at a great racetrack. Our partnership with The Jockey Club highlights the elements that make horse racing fun: the power and grace of the Thoroughbred, the challenging puzzle of handicapping, and the social aspect of a day at the races. We look forward to showcasing the highest level of competition in one of the most storied of all sports.”
While the complete schedule of races to be broadcast in 2014 will be released at a later date, host tracks will include Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Santa Anita Park, Woodbine, Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct.
Categorized in: Horses