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.)

Click image to purchase shirt.

Racing’s main event this upcoming weekend is the 151^st Runhappy Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The “Mid-Summer Derby,” usually held in late August, has added significance this year as it’s been moved to Aug. 8 and made a qualifying points prep for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Sept. 5.

The Travers will be broadcast nationwide on FOX as part of the “Saratoga Live” broadcast, airing from 5 to 6:30 p.m. ET. “Saratoga Live” will also be shown on both FS1 and FS2, alternating between those channels Saturday, and as usual the show will air from Wednesday to Friday and also on Sunday. Saratoga’s Travers undercard on Saturday is highlighted by the Ballerina Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November.  

"Saratoga Live" 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.

Racing from Del Mar and other tracks will be shown on TVG from Wednesday-Sunday as part of their usual daily package.

On Thursday evening, America’s Best Racing continues its live-streaming program in partnership with Woodbine focusing on Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing at the Ontario track, a favorite venue for horseplayers. "Woodbine Live" is hosted by ABR’s Dan Tordjman along with Ashley Mailloux, Emily Gullikson and Robert Reid Jr. and will be shown on ABR’s Facebook Live and YouTube pages. The live-streaming show coincides with Woodbine’s own "Racing Night Live" program, which is available for viewing on The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada and in the U.S. will be shown on ABR’s YouTube channel.

Also on Thursday, ABR presents "Betting After Dark" after the Woodbine programs. The show features gambling analysis from sports bettor Anita Marks and horse racing analyst Ashley Mailloux. Anita and Ashley will be taking a look at the action coming up on Saturday at Saratoga and other tracks. It will be livestreamed on ABR's Facebook Live and YouTube and on Anita's Twitter account starting at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET.

ABR's new streaming show broadcast in Spanish and English, "La Trifecta," continues on Fridays. The show features analysis from Claudia Spadaro, Darwin Vizcaya and Annise Montplaisir. It’s available on ABR’s Facebook Live, Twitter, and YouTube pages and on Annise's Twitter account.

On Saturday, ABR and Breeders' Cup present another installment of "Breeders' Cup Live." The show, hosted by Dan Tordjman, Ren Carothers, and Matt Bernier, will present streaming coverage of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series action. Guests will include handicappers, analysts, jockeys and other racing personalities. "Breeders' Cup Live" streams on the Breeders' Cup World Championships Facebook Live, YouTube and Twitter pages and on ABR's Facebook Live, YouTube and Twitter pages. This Saturday's edition focuses on the Travers and other key races and is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.

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 Sports Map Radio. Subscribe to "The Winner's Circle" on Apple Podcasts to listen to archived episodes.

The Aug. 8 "Winner's Circle" podcast will feature analysis from Gary Stevens, Dan Tordjman, and Matt Bernier, and also featured guest “Cousin Sal” Iacono, co-host of Lock It In on FS1 and the Against All Odds Podcast and a regular on his cousin Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

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