Where to Watch/Listen: Whitney Stakes Week 2020

Events / Travel
Jockeys at the 2020 Saratoga meet. (Eclipse Sportswire)

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.)

Racing is in full swing at the Saratoga Race Course meet in upstate New York, occuring on a Wednesday-Sunday weekly schedule of racing that will continue through Labor Day. Saratoga’s Saturday card is highlighted by two Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” preps: the Whitney Stakes, which offers the winner a guaranteed berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic; and the Personal Ensign Stakes, which grants the winner a berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Saratoga’s meet, which will be held without spectators, will be covered in its entirety on the Fox Sports show "Saratoga Live." Air times for "Saratoga Live" 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.

There are also two “Win and You’re In” races held at Del Mar in Southern California over the weekend: the Bing Crosby Stakes on Saturday (a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint); and the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Sunday (a qualifier for the Longines Distaff). The Bing Crosby will be featured during a three-hour broadcast on NBCSN from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

The Bing Crosby, as well as the Clement Hirsch on Sunday and all other Del Mar races, will also be shown on TVG as part of their comprehensive on-site coverage of Del Mar’s entire summer meet.

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 MaillouxEmily 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 and YouTube and on Anita's Twitter account starting at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET.

A new ABR live streaming show debuts on Friday, July 31. Titled "La Trifecta," the show features analysis from Claudia Spadaro, Darwin Vizcaya and Annise Montplaisir. It’s available on ABR’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages and on Annise's Twitter account.

On Saturday, ABR and Breeders' Cup present the second installment of "Breeders' Cup Live." The show, hosted by Dan Tordjman and Ren Carothers, 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 and YouTube pages and on ABR's Facebook Live, YouTube and Twitter pages. This Saturday's edition focuses on the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga and other "Win and You're In" races and is a three-hour live streaming program beginning at 3 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.

Guests for the Aug. 1 "Winner's Circle" podcast are NYRA handicapper and "Saratoga Live" analyst Andy Serling and Fox Sports' television and radio host Joy Taylor

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

TV/Livestream Schedule

Date

Program

Time

Network

July 29

"Saratoga Live"

1 p.m.-6 p.m.

FS2

July 29

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

July 30

"Saratoga Live"

1 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

FS2

July 30

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

July 30

"Woodbine Live" presented by America's Best Racing

6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Facebook Live and YouTube

July 30

Woodbine's "Racing Night Live"

6 p.m.-8 p.m.

YouTube

July 30

"Betting After Dark"

10 p.m.

Facebook Live and YouTube

July 31

"Saratoga Live"

1 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

FS2

July 31

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

July 31

"La Trifecta"

7 p.m.

Facebook Live, Twitter and YouTube

Aug. 1

"Saratoga Live"

1 p.m.-3 p.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. on FS1, 3 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on FS2

FS1 and FS2

Aug. 1

"Breeders' Cup Live"

3 p.m.

Facebook Live, YouTube and Twitter

Aug. 1

Live coverage of the Bing Crosby Stakes and other races

7 p.m.-10 p.m.

NBCSN

Aug. 1

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

Aug. 2

"Saratoga Live"

1 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS1, 4-6:30 p.m. on FS2

FS1 and FS2

Aug. 2

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

Note: All times listed are Eastern

Radio Schedule

Date Program Time Network
July 29 At The Races with Steve Byk 9 a.m. Thoroughbred Radio Network
July 29 Red Brand Radio 3 p.m. HRRN
July 29 Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton 6 p.m. HRRN
July 30 At The Races with Steve Byk 9 a.m. Thoroughbred Radio Network
July 30 Red Brand Radio 3 p.m. HRRN
July 30 Brisnet Call-In Show 6 p.m. HRRN
July 31 At The Races with Steve Byk 9 a.m. Thoroughbred Radio Network
July 31 Red Brand Radio 3 p.m. HRRN
July 31 Weekend Stakes Preview Presented by NYRA Bets 6 p.m. HRRN
Aug. 1 Equine Forum Show 8 a.m. HRRN
Aug. 1 Off to the Races on The Racing Biz Radio Network 10 a.m. ESPN 950 AM
Aug. 1 "The Winner's Circle" presented by NYRA Bets, with host Bram Weinstein and guests Andy Serling and Joy Taylor 10 a.m. Sports Map Radio
Aug. 1 Live coverage of Saratoga racing 1 p.m. ESPN 104.5 the Team Radio
Aug. 1 Broadcast of the Whitney Stakes 5 p.m.-6 p.m. HRRN
Aug. 2 Live coverage of Saratoga racing 1 p.m. ESPN 104.5 the Team Radio

Note: All times listed are Eastern

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