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. All 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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After several weeks where racing was relegated to only a handful of tracks, several prominent venues started their meets last month, including Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park. This week, another major track opens as Belmont Park begins its shortened spring/summer meet on Wednesday, June 3. For the first time in history, the Belmont Stakes will kick off the Triple Crown when it is held on June 20.

The Belmont Stakes was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 6, and as a substitute NBC will air a special remembrance of American Pharoah’s thrilling 2015 Belmont win on its main channel at 4 p.m. ET, titled “Finally the One: American Pharoah’s Run to the Triple Crown.”

Belmont Park will offer four graded stakes on the first Saturday of its meet, including the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter Handicap, but the marquee event on June 6 occurs on the left coast as the road to the re-ordered Triple Crown kicks into high gear with the 83^rd Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Santa Anita will also run the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks and the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 6.

Racing at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs will be featured on Fox Sports show "America’s Day at the Races," starting on Belmont’s opening day of June 3. 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.

This Saturday, NBCSN continues its simulcast of TVG's “Trackside Live," which shows live racing from Santa Anita Park and other tracks. The Santa Anita Derby will be featured in the simulcast from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET. "Trackside Live" will also air on its home network, and TVG will show live racing from racetracks around the country as per usual starting earlier each day as part of its package. 

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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.

The guests for Saturday, June 6 are former NBA player, current basketball analyst and horse racing fan Rex Chapman and racing analyst Matt Bernier.

America’s Best Racing also continues its weekly "Thursday Night Live" show on its Facebook Live channel. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET on June 4 for this week's show, which will delve into the world of professional horse racing photographers. Hosted by ABR’s Penelope Miller, the show welcomes photogs Nicole Marie, Eric Kalet, Alex Evers, and Ceclila Gustavsson.

And finally, ABR will also be hosting a special “Santa Anita Derby Live” streaming show on June 6 on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. The show will begin at 6 p.m. ET and be hosted by Dan Tordjman, Matt Bernier, Ally Vance and Bram Weinstein.

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