The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and FOX Sports announced Wednesday the return of Saratoga Live, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning television show providing in-depth coverage and analysis of the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.
Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, Saratoga Live will provide full card coverage of nearly every race day to a national audience on the FOX Sports family of networks beginning Thursday, July 15. The 2021 summer meet, which will mark the return of fans to Saratoga following the lifting of COVID-19 protocols in New York State, will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28.
Season six of Saratoga Live will offer fans the most extensive and comprehensive coverage yet with more than 220 hours of live programming during the 2021 summer meet, which runs from Thursday, July 15 through Labor Day, Monday, September 6. With the exception of Whitney Day, Runhappy Travers Day and Labor Day weekend, which feature a first post time of 12:30 p.m., Saratoga Live will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Building on their commitment to showcase the finest racing the sport has to offer, FOX broadcast network (FOX) will present a special Opening Weekend show on July 17 highlighted by the 83rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana. For the third consecutive year, FOX will air the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28 as part of 6.5 hours of Runhappy Travers Day coverage on FOX and FOX Sports.
“Nothing tops a summer day at Saratoga,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics. “With the world's greatest racing meet back in front of full crowds, we couldn't be more excited to celebrate with an opening weekend special on FOX featuring the Diana Stakes. Our expanded coverage across FS1 and FS2, bookended with the Runhappy Travers in August, gives horseplayers a full summer of action and highlights our unique partnership with NYRA.”
NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration in 2016 during the first season of Saratoga Live, when FS2 aired 80 hours of live coverage of the summer meet. Since then, coverage of horse racing on FOX Sports has grown considerably each year. In 2020, FOX Sports aired more than 700 hours of horse racing coverage and analysis on its family of networks.
In addition to daily national coverage on FOX Sports, 2021 will see the addition of SNY as a regional NYRA broadcast partner. SNY viewers can look forward to eight consecutive weekends of racing from Saratoga, with coverage of Saratoga Live to kick off on Saturday, July 17 and continuing Saturdays and Sundays through August 29.
“The continued growth and expanded reach of Saratoga Live reflects the sustained excellence of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer. “It's our privilege to present the most extensive and comprehensive racing coverage in the country on FOX Sports and SNY, and we are looking forward to a spectacular summer at the Spa.”
In March, FOX Sports and NYRA announced an expanded partnership agreement that established FOX Sports as the official wagering partner of NYRA Bets and extends FOX Sports' television rights agreement with NYRA through 2030. The new agreement ensures at least 700 hours of horse racing coverage on FOX Sports and guarantees that the Runhappy Travers will air on FOX through 2030.
Saratoga Live will again feature a talented broadcast team leveraging a diverse set of experiences to entertain, educate and inform viewers. In 2021, that group includes hosts Greg Wolf and Laffit Pincay III, with analysis and handicapping from Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Courtney, Andy Serling, Paul Lo Duca, Jonathon Kinchen and Michelle Yu. Viewers can look forward to commentary and insights from Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Following his debut as NYRA track announcer in 2020, John Imbriale will again handle the race calling duties at Saratoga.
In yet another expansion to the Saratoga Live schedule, 2021 will see the addition of Saratoga's weekly steeplechase events to the coverage. Generally held as the first race of the card on Wednesdays or Thursdays, these National Steeplechase Association offerings include premier races such as the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial and the Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard (formerly the New York Turf Writers Cup). Joining the Saratoga Live broadcast team in 2021 for steeplechase racing analysis will be Joe Clancy, publisher of the Saratoga Special.
The current 2021 Saratoga Live broadcast schedule can be found at www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.
For more information about the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, please visit NYRA.com.
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