Where to Watch/Listen Leading Up to a Crucial Derby Prep Saturday

March 3rd, 2020

The Tampa Bay Derby crowd in 2018. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

The Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve gets crowded this Saturday, with three prep races scheduled around the country that offer valuable qualifying points to the Derby: the $400,000, Grade 2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs; the $400,000, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park; and the $300,000, Grade 2 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Each prep offers Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 scale.

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Saturday’s graded stakes activity is heavy aside from the Kentucky Derby preps, highlighted by the 84^th running of the $600,000, Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

The three Kentucky Derby preps will be televised on the FOX Sports program “America’s Day at the Races” presented by America’s Best Racing, which airs nationally this Saturday on FS2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern. These races, along with the Big ‘Cap, will also be shown live on TVG as part of their comprehensive, coast-to-coast coverage.

A highlight of this week’s radio schedule is the season premiere of “The Winner’s Circle,” America’s Best Racing’s podcast presented by NYRA Bets. The show, hosted by Bram Weinstein and featuring analysis from Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, airs at noon ET for the next five weeks and then every Saturday at 10 a.m. from April 11 through Nov. 7 on SB Nation Radio. Subscribe to "The Winner's Circle" on Apple Podcasts to listen to archived episodes.

Featured guests on the season premiere podcast are author and columnist Joel Stein, whose new book “In Defense of Elitism” is available here; and turf writer and America’s Best Racing contributor Tom Pedulla who previews the upcoming two months of Kentucky Derby prep races.

Here’s a rundown of television and radio coverage leading up to March 7’s big day in racing:

TV Schedule

Date	Program	Time	Network
March 7	"America's Day at the Races," featuring live coverage of the Gotham Stakes, the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, and the San Felipe Stakes	5:30-7 p.m.	FS2
March 7	Live coverage of racing from Aqueduct, Tampa Bay Downs, and Santa Anita Park	Tampa Bay Downs first post 12 p.m.; Aqueduct first post 1:30 p.m.; Santa Anita Park first post 3 p.m.	TVG

Note: All times listed are Eastern

Radio Schedule

Date	Program	Time	Network
March 4	At The Races with Steve Byk: eNicks' Sid Fernando, Tourney Talk with Pete Fornatale, and more	9 a.m.	Thoroughbred Radio Network
March 4	Red Brand Radio	3 p.m.	HRRN
March 4	Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton	6 p.m.	HRRN
March 5	At The Races with Steve Byk: Shedrow Confidential with Steve Haskin, Vegas Racebook with Richard Eng, and more	9 a.m.	Thoroughbred Radio Network
March 5	Red Brand Radio	3 p.m.	HRRN
March 5	Brisnet Call-in Show	6 p.m.	HRRN
March 6	At The Races with Steve Byk: Weekend Preview with Daily Racing Form correspondents, Brisnet's Ed DeRosa, and other guests	9 a.m.	Thoroughbred Radio Network
March 6	Red Brand Radio	3 p.m.	HRRN
March 6	Weekend Stakes Preview Presented by NYRA Bets	6 p.m.	HRRN
March 7	Equine Forum Show	8 a.m.	HRRN
March 7	Off to the Races on The Racing Biz Radio Network	10 a.m.	ESPN 950 AM
March 7	"The Winner's Circle" presented by NYRA Bets, with host Bram Weinstein, analyst Gary Stevens, and featured guests Joel Stein and Tom Pedulla	noon (season premiere)	SB Nation Radio