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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The upcoming week is highlighted by the opening of two iconic racetracks for their summer meets. Del Mar kicks off on Friday, July 10 and will hold its usual summer meet through early September that features the best horse racing on the West Coast. However, like most racetracks Del Mar will not allow spectators.

In Kentucky, Keeneland Race Course will hold a special five-day summer meet from Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12. The meet features 10 graded stakes races that were supposed to be held during its traditional April meet, which was cancelled due to COVID-19. On Saturday, July 11, Keeneland will host the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, an important prep race for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

TVG is the go-to network for racing at Keeneland and Del Mar, broadcasting every race from both meets. Their comprehensive Keeneland coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. ET each day of live racing with “Today at Keeneland” on TVG2 hosted by Scott Hazelton and Gabby Gaudet. On Sunday, TVG’s “Trackside Live” will be shown on NBCSN from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET featuring racing from Keeneland and Del Mar.

Keeneland will also stream its entire card on its website and YouTube page, and it is offering extensive “Keeneland at Home” resources to fans to access since they will not be allowed at the track.

Racing for the closing weekend at Belmont Park will be featured on the Fox Sports show "America’s Day at the Races," running from Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12. 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.

On Thursday, July 10, 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 and Emily Gullikson and will be shown on ABR’s Facebook Live and Twitter 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 Belmont Park and share their bets for the Blue Grass Stakes, Ruffian Handicap 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 11 "Winner's Circle" podcast are 2015 National Horseplayers Championship winner and "America's Day at the Races" analyst Jonathon Kinchen and TVG's Gabby Gaudet.

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