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Where to Watch/Listen Leading Up to Fall Stars Weekend 2019
Events / TravelThis weekend, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships prep season will have its near-grand finale, with 20 Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifying races scheduled from Friday, Oct. 4, to Sunday, Oct. 6 (one final race is set for Oct. 9).
Domestic races will be held at Keeneland Race Course, which kicks off its fall meet on Friday with a three-day Fall Stars Weekend and will feature nine preps from Friday to Sunday; at Belmont Park, which hosts four qualifying preps on Saturday and Sunday; and Santa Anita Park, host of this year’s World Championships on Nov. 1-2, which offers one “Win and You’re In” race on Saturday and one on Sunday.
NBC Sports will televise four of Keeneland’s Challenge Series races on two broadcasts. On Saturday, the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (a “Win and You’re In” prep for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile) and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (a qualifier for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) will be broadcast live during a show on NBCSN from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Eastern. On Sunday, the action moves to NBC, which will present a live broadcast of the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (a Challenge Series qualifier for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff) and the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) during a show airing from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Belmont Park’s Breeders’ Cup qualifiers will be broadcast live on NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” show airing nationally on FS2 and on various regional channels. The weekend hours on FS2 for “America’s Day at the Races,” presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy, and Claiborne Farm, are Saturday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Eastern (featuring the Champagne Stakes, a prep for the TVG Juvenile) and Sunday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Eastern (featuring the Frizette Stakes [a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies], the Flower Bowl Stakes [a prep for the Maker’s Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf]), and the Futurity Stakes [a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint].
In addition to NBC Sports’ and NYRA’s coverage, all domestic Breeders’ Cup prep races will air live on TVG as part of their comprehensive package. TVG is also the only live broadcast outlet for Friday’s Breeders’ Cup preps at Keeneland, highlighted by the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (a qualifier for the Juvenile Fillies) and for Santa Anita’s two Challenge Series races, including Saturday’s Santa Anita Sprint Championship (a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint). In addition to the domestic preps, TVG will also provide live coverage of five "Win and You're In" qualifying races from Longchamp Racecourse on Sunday, headlined by the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a prep for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
An additional highlight of October’s racing coverage is the “Today at Keeneland” program, a live broadcast airing on TVG2 throughout the meet as well as on Keeneland.com and other online outlets. The 30-minute show airs at 11:30 a.m. Eastern on race days throughout the meet and is hosted by TVG analysts Gabby Gaudet and Scott Hazelton.
A highlight of the week’s radio coverage is “The Winner’s Circle” podcast presented The Stronach Group. The upcoming podcast airs Saturday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. Eastern on SB Nation Radio (subscribe and access past episodes via Apple Podcasts here) and is hosted by Bram Weinstein, with racing analysis from retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. The scheduled featured guests for the Oct. 5 podcast are NBC Sports turf writer Tim Layden and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., whose colt Math Wizard won the Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby.
Here’s a guide to television and racing coverage for a busy week leading up to Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland and the rest of the Breeders’ Cup prep races:
TV Schedule
Date |
Program |
Time |
Network |
Oct. 4 |
Broadcast of live racing from Keeneland including the Darley Alcibiades Stakes and the Stoll Keenan Ogden Phoenix Stakes |
Keeneland first post 1:05 p.m. |
|
Oct. 5 |
Broadcast of live racing from Belmont Park, Keeneland, and Santa Anita including the First Lady Stakes and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes from Keeneland and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship from Santa Anita |
Belmont first post 12:20 p.m.; Keeneland first post 1:05 p.m.; Santa Anita first post 3:30 p.m. |
|
Oct. 5 |
“America's Day at the Races” broadcast live from Belmont Park including the Champagne Stakes |
2:30 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
Oct. 5 |
Live broadcast of the Shadwell Turf Mile and the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity from Keeneland |
5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. |
|
Oct. 6 |
Broadcast of live racing from Longchamp Racecourse, Belmont Park, Keeneland, and Santa Anita Park including the Indian Summer Stakes from Keeneland, the Speakeasy Stakes from Santa Anita, and five Challenge Series races from Longchamp |
Longchamp first post 8:15 a.m.; Belmont Park first post 12:45 p.m.; Keeneland first post 1:05 p.m.; Santa Anita Park first post 3:30 p.m. |
|
Oct. 6 |
“America's Day at the Races” broadcast live from Belmont Park including the Flower Bowl Stakes, the Frizette Stakes, and the Futurity Stakes |
2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. |
|
Oct. 6 |
Live broadcast of the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes and the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes from Keeneland |
4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
Radio Schedule
Date | Program | Time | Network |
Oct. 1 | At The Races with Steve Byk: NYRA's Andy Serling, Horse Health, and more | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
Oct. 2 | At The Races with Steve Byk: eNicks' Pedigree Expert Sid Fernando, Tourney Talk, and more | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
Oct. 2 | Red Brand Radio | 3 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 2 | Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 3 | At The Races with Steve Byk: Shedrow Confidential with Steve Haskin, Vegas Racebook with Richard Eng, and more | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
Oct. 3 | Red Brand Radio | 3 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 3 | Brisnet.com Call-In Show | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 4 | At The Races with Steve Byk: Weekend Preview with Daily Racing Form correspondents and other guests | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
Oct. 4 | Red Brand Radio | 3 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 4 | Weekend Stakes Preview Presented by NYRA Bets | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 5 | Equine Forum Show | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 5 | "The Winner's Circle," presented by The Stronach Group, with host Bram Weinstein, analyst Gary Stevens, and featured guests Tim Layden and Saffie Joseph Jr. | 10 a.m. | SB Nation Radio |
Oct. 5 | Breeders' Cup Challenge Day Presented by Red Brand Fence and Breeders' Cup, featuring broadcasts of Breeders' Cup preps and other races from Keeneland and Belmont Park | 4 p.m.-6 p.m. | HRRN |
Oct. 6 | Broadcast of the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes and the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes from Keeneland | 5 p.m.-6 p.m. | HRRN |
Note: All times listed are Eastern