Radio Show Kentucky Racing Spotlight to Debut Feb. 9

Kentucky Racing Spotlight with Louie Rabaut, a weekly radio show sponsored by the Kentucky HBPA, debuts this Friday on sports market-leader ESPN Louisville's 680AM/105.7FM.

The Kentucky racing-centric program, for which the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association is the presenting sponsor, will air at 6 p.m. ET most weeks and can also be accessed live and via replay podcast at espnlouisville.com and on the ESPN Louisville, iHeart and iTunes apps. The pre-recorded show will launch on Thursday evenings during "The Horse Racing Happy Hour" podcast hosted by Rabaut and Mike Gandolfo.

Kentucky Racing Spotlight will air during the Turfway Park, Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs meets, with Rabaut interviewing topical racing participants and previewing the weekend's major stakes across the country. When Inside Churchill Downs begins its broadcast season, Kentucky Racing Spotlight will move to 7 p.m.

The Kentucky HBPA also is now sponsoring the Friday racing segment on Rabaut & Co., Rabaut's week-day 10 a.m.-noon ET sports-talk show on ESPN 680/105.7. That segment will cover Kentucky's five thoroughbred tracks year-round, including Keeneland and Churchill Downs. In addition, the Kentucky HBPA will be a major sponsor when Rabaut & Co. airs live from Churchill Downs throughout Kentucky Derby Week, including Kentucky Oaks and Derby Day.

Said Rabaut: "I'm excited to start our work on the Kentucky Racing Spotlight. This show is special to me, as the Commonwealth has been so kind to me, and to our family, since we settled here 15 years ago. I can't wait to help showcase the horses, horsemen, and all those that make this industry the greatest in the world."

"We're excited about having additional programming about horse racing on such a popular mainstream sports outlet as ESPN Louisville," said Alex Foley, the Kentucky HBPA's executive director. "Among other things, Kentucky Racing Spotlight will mean extra exposure for Turfway Park's $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, which last year produced Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's and had Derby winner Rich Strike in 2022. We also are thrilled to be a sponsor for Louie's Derby Week coverage on his regular ESPN Louisville show. This is all part of the Kentucky HBPA's commitment to promoting horse racing in general and Kentucky horsemen and horses in particular."