NBC to Broadcast Central Bank Ashland (G1)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 21, 2012) – CNBC will provide live coverage of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on Saturday, April 14, as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series presented by The Jockey Club and NBC Sports Group.
Keeneland will host the one-hour telecast from 6-7 p.m., which features the Toyota Blue Grass, Keeneland’s signature Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, as well as the Arkansas Derby (G1) from Oaklawn Park.
The $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), a premier prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), will be carried live on NBC as part of its Saturday, April 7, racing coverage. The telecast, which will air from 4:30-6 p.m. ET, also will carry the Wood Memorial (G1) from Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
“We are very proud to partner with The Jockey Club and NBC in their efforts to showcase quality racing to a national audience,” said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson. “NBC’s broadcast crew is second to none in terms of their passion and knowledge of racing, providing colorful commentary and insight for fans at all levels of the game.”
Keeneland teamed with the NBC Sports Group in 2011 to produce Autumn at Keeneland, live racing coverage over two weekends during the historic track’s 75th anniversary fall race meet. In 2010, NBC broadcast the Toyota Blue Grass as part of its inaugural Road to the Kentucky Derby series.
The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to racing’s Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Keeneland’s 2012 spring race meet will be held April 6-27. Sixteen stakes worth $3.625 million will highlight the spring meet, led by five Grade 1 stakes – the Toyota Blue Grass, Central Bank Ashland, Vinery Madison, Maker’s 46 Mile and Jenny Wiley.
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