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.)

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On July 4, Belmont Park hosts the $500,000 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap as the anchor of an Independence Day racecard that also features four other graded stakes. The Met Mile is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, held during the 37th World Championships this November at Keeneland.

NBC Sports will show the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap during a live broadcast Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on NBC.

Racing at Belmont Park will be featured on the Fox Sports show "America’s Day at the Races," running from Thursday, July 2 to Sunday, July 5. 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.

For daily television coverage, TVG is the go-to channel as it shows live racing from tracks around the country as part of its comprehensive programming schedule.

Starting this Thursday, July 2, America’s Best Racing launches a 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 and Emily Gullikson and will be shown on ABR’s Twitter and Facebook 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 launches another evening betting show after the action at Woodbine is over. ABR's "Betting After Dark" 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 Belmont Park and share their bets for the Runhappy Met Mile and other races. It will be livestreamed on YouTube starting at approximately 10:15 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 SB Nation Radio. Subscribe to "The Winner's Circle" on Apple Podcasts to listen to archived episodes.

Guests for the July 4 "Winner's Circle" podcast are apprentice jockey and veterinarian Ferrin Peterson, who will ride at Monmouth Park this summer, and restaurateur Jeff Ruby.

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