NBC Sports to Add More Derby-Season Coverage in 2019
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In March, NBCSN will debut the first of four 30-minute Road to the Kentucky Derby episodes
NBC Sports will expand its horse racing programming in 2019, including a collaboration with Churchill Downs on a new magazine-style series and the addition of a pair of crucial prep races.
In partnership with Churchill Downs, NBC Sports will debut a new Road to the Kentucky Derby series this spring, leading up to NBC's coverage of the 145th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 4.
In March, NBCSN will debut the first of four 30-minute Road to the Kentucky Derby episodes that will showcase the stars of the sport, telling the stories behind the horses and the legendary race. Produced by Churchill Downs, the episodes will provide viewers with an inside look of the extensive preparations for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Keith Wetzler, executive producer of broadcast at Churchill Downs, will produce the series.
In addition, NBC Sports will add the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) to its lineup of 2019 Triple Crown prep races on NBCSN next spring. The first episode of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series will debut following the Louisiana Derby March 23.
NBCSN is home to the six biggest prep races in 2019, leading up to NBC Sports' coverage of the "Run for the Roses" at Churchill on the first Saturday in May. A month of prep-race coverage on NBCSN begins with the Louisiana Derby, followed one week later by the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) March 30. Racing continues on NBCSN with "triplecast" coverage of the Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2), the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 6, before the Arkansas Derby April 13.
NBC Sports' coverage of the 2019 horse racing season begins with the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26 at 4:30 pm ET on NBC.
NBC Sports Group's 2019 Kentucky Derby prep race schedule
(All Times ET)
| March 23 | 5:30 p.m. | Louisiana Derby | NBCSN |
| March 30 | 6 p.m. | Florida Derby | NBCSN |
| April 6 | 5:30 p.m. | Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes & Santa Anita Derby | NBCSN |
| April 13 | 7 p.m. | Arkansas Derby | NBCSN |
| May 4 | 4 p.m. | Kentucky Derby | NBC |