The horse racing world like all other areas of society continues to make changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and public health crisis. Most racetracks currently operating are doing so without spectators, and have instituted strict safety screening protocols for essential employees who are already on the grounds to provide daily care for horses. Charities are ramping up services to help track workers during these hard times, including the Race Track Chaplaincy, New York Division, while many other organizations including the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation are redirecting resources to support medical efforts to combat the spread of the virus and support backstretch workers. (All proceeds from the Old Smoke T-shirt on sale below will go to the TJC Safety Net Foundation.)

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Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., takes center stage this week as the 2020 Triple Crown begins in unprecedented fashion. The 152^nd Belmont Stakes will be held Saturday, June 20, as the first race in the Triple Crown for the first time in history, followed by the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in September and the Preakness Stakes in October.

NBC Sports will show the Belmont Stakes during a broadcast Saturday, from 2:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on NBC. The show, anchored by Mike Tirico and featuring analysis from Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, will include features on Belmont Stakes horses and personalities and also show four other races at Belmont Park, including the Jaipur Invitational Stakes Presented by America's Best Racing, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Turf Sprint. Features scheduled for the program include a visit with the connections of leading Belmont contender Tiz the Law, an essay from turf writer Tim Layden, a virtual tour around the country to check out fans watching the Belmont Stakes from home, and a discussion of trainer Bob Baffert’s eventful spring.

Racing at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs will be featured on Fox Sports show "America’s Day at the Races," running from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21. The program will air for an extended time on Belmont Stakes Saturday, before and after NBC's broadcast. Air times for "America's Day at the Races" are on either FS1 or FS2 according to the schedule below. The show will also air on MSG+ and on regional Fox outlets Prime Ticket and Fox Sports San Diego – check NYRA’s website for those dates and times.

Following the Belmont Stakes broadcast, NBCSN continues its simulcast of TVG's “Trackside Live," which shows live racing from Santa Anita Park and other tracks – check the schedule below for air dates and times. "Trackside Live" will also air on its home network, and TVG will show live racing from tracks around the country as per usual starting earlier each day as part of its package. 

Due to the COVID-19 delay, Belmont week 2020 coincides with the elite Royal Ascot meet in England, which includes four Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” preps. The five-day meet begins Tuesday, June 16 at Ascot Racecourse and wraps up on Belmont Stakes Saturday, June 20. NBCSN will provide extensive coverage of the first four days of the meet, and NBC will broadcast Saturday’s races in the morning before its Belmont Stakes coverage kicks in. See the schedule below for air times.

A don’t-miss highlight of this weekend’s radio coverage is “The Winner’s Circle,” America’s Best Racing’s podcast presented by NYRA Bets. The show, hosted by Bram Weinstein, airs at 10 a.m. ET on Saturdays through Nov. 7 on SB Nation Radio. Subscribe to "The Winner's Circle" on Apple Podcasts to listen to archived episodes.

Guests for the June 20 "Winner's Circle" podcast are: NBC Sports' Mike Tirico, who will anchor Saturday's Belmont Stakes broadcast; NBC Sports' Eddie Olczyk, handicapper for Saturday's Belmont Stakes broadcast; and Dean Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, which co-owns Belmont Stakes contender Sole Volante.

America’s Best Racing is also providing extensive online streaming content this week leading up to the Belmont Stakes. Its “Thursday Night Live” show begins at 7:30 p.m. ET June 18 on ABR’s Facebook and YouTube channels, and will gather cast members from the reality show "Horseplayers" for a reunion. Lastly, ABR will host a special “Belmont Stakes Live” show streaming on Twitter and Facebook June 20 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Here’s a rundown of television and radio coverage for the upcoming weekend.

TV/Livestream Schedule

Note: All times listed are Eastern

Radio Schedule

Note: All times listed are Eastern