NBC Sports Group and the New York Racing Association have come out of the gate with a deal for eight hours of horse racing coverage from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. this summer.
Via the "Summer at Saratoga" package from July 23 through Sept. 3, NBC will air three hours from the famed track, including the $1 million Travers Stakes on August 27; national cable network Versus will offer five. Financial terms of the deal, which provides coverage in the 5 p.m. (ET) hour, were not disclosed.
NBC holds the rights to the sports Triple Crown, with Versus providing additional coverage, as it did with the Kentucky Derby.
"This is a unique opportunity to expand our coverage of thoroughbred racing with these great races from Saratoga, a truly iconic venue," said Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and Versus in announcing the deal. "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."
Noted NYRA chairman C. Steven Duncker: "We are elated to partner with the NBC Sports Group for this landmark agreement. 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:
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
