Where to Watch/Listen: Huge Derby Prep Weekend Ahead

Events / Travel
Horses round the far turn at picturesque Keeneland Race Course. (Eclipse Sportswire)

After an action-packed final weekend of March in horse racing, this upcoming Easter holiday weekend continues the momentum with three major Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve qualifying races on Saturday, April 3, each offering a total of 170 points.

At Keeneland, champion Essential Quality headlines the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, while other top-flight contenders will square off in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct and the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park. All three races distribute Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 basis.

The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Wood Memorial, and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will be televised by NBC Sports as part of their “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series during a two-hour program airing on NBCSN and beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. The broadcast will feature NBC Sports’ award-winning horse racing team including analysts Randy Moss and retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey.

The Wood Memorial will also be broadcast live on NYRA-produced America’s Day at the Racesshow presented by Claiborne Farm and America's Best Racing. “America’s Best Racing” will run three days in a row this week on FS2 starting Thursday, April 1, showcasing racing from Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park – check the below schedule for air times.

Racing at Keeneland – starting on the track’s opening day of Friday, April 2 – will be televised on TVG as part of their usual comprehensive racing coverage including Santa Anita Park and other tracks. Keeneland is dark on Easter Sunday.

A busy week of live streaming coverage is headlined by ABR’s “Santa Anita Park: Road to the Derby Live!” on Saturday, April 3. Hosts Dan Tordjman, Bram Weinstein and Ren Carothers will take viewers right up to post time for the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in an immersive second-screen experience that allows fans and bettors to interact in real-time. Scheduled guests are ESPN's Chris Fallica, Equibase's Ellis Starr, and Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi. The show will be live streamed on ABR’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels and also on Santa Anita Park’s Facebook and Twitter channels with a start time of 5:30 p.m. ET.

On Thursday, April 1, the popular “La Trifecta” show returns at 8 p.m. ET. Presented en Espanol, the show is hosted by Darwin Vizcaya, Claudia Spadaro, and Annise Montplaisir. It airs on ABR’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels.

ABR's “Always Be Racing” live streaming show returns this Friday, April 2. Hosted by BlackJack Fletcher and Danielle Moinet, the show begins at 3 p.m. ET. “Always Be Racing” can be viewed on ABR's Facebook and Twitter channels as well as BlackJack's Twitter account and Danielle's Twitter account.

ABR's “The Winner’s Circle” returns for its usual Monday timeslot of 11 a.m. ET with a show on April 5. Presented by NYRA and NYRA Bets and hosted by Bram Weinstein and Dan Tordjman, “The Winner’s Circle” will recap the previous weekend's action, look ahead to upcoming major races, and feature interviews with the sport’s leading figures. “The Winner’s Circle” can be viewed on ABR’s Twitter and Facebook channels and Bram Weinstein’s Twitter channel. Archived episodes of “The Winner’s Circle” will be available as podcasts via Apple and Spotify.

Here's a rundown of television, live streaming, and radio coverage for the upcoming week:

TV/Live Streaming Schedule

Date

Program

Time

Network/Social Media

April 1

"America's Day at the Races"

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

FS2

April 1

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

April 1

"La Trifecta"

8 p.m.

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

April 2

"America's Day at the Races"

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

FS2

April 2

Live coverage of horse racing including opening day at Keeneland

post time varies

TVG

April 2

"Always Be Racing"

3 p.m.

Facebook and Twitter

April 3

"America's Day at the Races" including live broadcast of the Wood Memorial

1 p.m.-7 p.m.

FS2

April 3

Santa Anita Park: Road to the Derby Live!

5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

April 3

Live broadcast of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Wood Memorial, and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby

5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

NBCSN

April 3

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

April 5

"The Winner's Circle"

11 a.m.

Facebook and Twitter

April 5

Live coverage of horse racing

post time varies

TVG

Note: All times listed are Eastern

Radio Schedule

Date Program Time Network
April 1 At The Races with Steve Byk 9 a.m. Thoroughbred Radio Network
April 1 Race Day on HRRN Presented by TwinSpires 3 p.m. HRRN
April 1 Brisnet Call-in Show 6 p.m. HRRN
April 2 At The Races with Steve Byk 9 a.m. Thoroughbred Radio Network
April 2 Race Day on HRRN Presented by TwinSpires 3 p.m. HRRN
April 2 Weekend Stakes Preview Presented by NYRA Bets 6 p.m. HRRN
April 3 Equine Forum Show 8 a.m. HRRN
April 3 Off to the Races on The Racing Biz Radio Network 10 a.m. ESPN 950 AM
April 5 Thoroughbred Post with Les Salzman 5 p.m. www.WEQSN.com

Note: All times listed are Eastern

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