Known as “Neumy” to friends and fans, Neumeier – a graduate of Syracuse University – had been doing play-by-play for the World Hockey League's Hartford Whalers when he became a reporter and sports anchor for Boston's Channel 4 in 1981, a position he held for 20 years.

In the 1980s, Neumeier – an avid horse racing fan and sharp handicapper – began working for Breeders' Cup on a newsfeed that distributed news and personality features nationally to local TV channels.

In 1990. Neumeier joined the NBC Sports broadcast team for the Breeders' Cup, and his reporting and interview skills went into play almost immediately on a tragic day at Belmont Park when three horses died on track, Shaker Knit and Mr. Nickerson in the Sprint and champion filly Go For Wand in the Distaff. He played a similar role during the challenging post-race coverage of Barbaro's ultimately fatal injury in the 2006 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

“It was very similar in terms of the raw emotion that was palpable from the patrons and the people on the track and surrounding the track,” Neumeier told Houston Chronicle columnist David Barron after the 2006 Preakness. “Professionally, we've been there before, and unfortunately, it's not a pleasant experience. But we're trained to handle it.”

Neumeier continued his reporting during racing telecasts (while also doing hockey play by play on Boston radio), but it was his handicapping and on-camera bantering with others, from the late eccentric horseplayer from England, John McCririck, to Mike Battaglia, Eddie Olczyk and others. Neumeier took his handicapping seriously and backed up his opinions at the windows.

He had two publicized health setbacks, the first coming in 2009 when he was taken to a Louisville hospital after collapsing at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. Five years later, he suffered a stroke just days before the 2014 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. He recovered from both incidents, most notably coming back from the stroke to win an NTRA sponsored media handicapping tournament held in conjunction with the National Horseplayers Championship in January 2015. Neumeier was back on the air for the 2015 Triple Crown.

Breeders' Cup issued the following statement about Neumeier's passing: “We were very saddened to learn today of the passing of Bob Neumeier. Bob was a big part of the NBC Breeders' Cup World Championships broadcasts for many years as a handicapper, reporter and analyst. Bob brought his expertise of Thoroughbred racing and a great sense of humor to every show.  We extend our sincere condolences to Bob's wife Michele and to his extended family.”

A longtime member of our NBC Sports family has passed away.

Bob Neumeier was a fixture for decades on the New England sports scene and was a staple of our Triple Crown and horse racing coverage.

We will all miss Bob “Neumy” Neumeier. pic.twitter.com/ePWN30GOs4

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 24, 2021

Bob Neumeier was the consummate professional in TV, radio and as a horseplayer. His knowledge and wry delivery made him a favorite of sports fans – but he was even more beloved by those who knew him or worked with him. “Neumy” was one of the nicest guys in any room he inhabited.

— Randy Moss (@randy_moss_TV) October 24, 2021

Very sad, like so many who knew him, to learn of the passing of Bob Neumeier, who was one of the nicest people you'd ever meet, a joy to work with, and someone who genuinely rooted for you to succeed… especially at the windows! He loved horses, hockey, golf, and people. RIP

— Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) October 24, 2021

Broadcasting legend & former NBC Sports Boston colleague Bob Neumeier sadly passed away at the age of 70@MichaelSHolley & @tomecurran share how much Neumy meant to them pic.twitter.com/lbARHFYhx5

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) October 24, 2021

The post ‘Consummate Professional’ Bob Neumeier Passes; Played Key Role On Major Racing Telecasts appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, America's Day at the Races will return Saturday on FS1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature live racing from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, including two stakes, the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt and the $150,000 Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile, 70 yards on the dirt.

Both stakes also have implications for major races this May. The Lecomte is a Kentucky Derby qualifier, offering 10-4-2-1 points to the top-four finishers, while the Silverbulletday is a Kentucky Oaks qualifier, offering 10-4-2-1 points to the top-four finishers.

Racing fans and horseplayers can also look forward to five more telecasts of America's Day at the Races in January, along with 16 broadcasts scheduled for February and March.

America's Day at the Races
January 2021
(All times Eastern)

Saturday, January 16: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS1);
Friday, Jan. 22: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Jan. 23: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Jan. 24: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. on FS2 & 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on FS1);
Saturday, Jan. 30: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. on FS2, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on FS1 & 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on FS2); and,
Sunday, Jan. 31: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. (FS2)

America's Day at the Races
February 2021
(All times Eastern)

Saturday, Feb. 6: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Feb. 13: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Feb. 14: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Monday, Feb. 15 (Presidents' Day: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Feb. 20: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Feb. 21: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Feb. 27: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2); and,
Sunday, Feb. 28: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2)

America's Day at the Races
March 2021
(All times Eastern)

Saturday, Mar. 6: 4:30p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Mar. 7: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, Mar. 13: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, Mar. 14: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, March 20; 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (FS2);
Sunday, March 21: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (FS2);
Saturday, March 27: 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (FS2); and,
Sunday, March 28: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2).

NYRA will announce the complete spring schedule for America's Day at the Races later in 2021.

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration during the summer of 2016 with the launch of Saratoga Live airing on FS2. In November of 2018, NYRA and FOX Sports announced a new long-term television programming deal to make FOX Sports the year-round national television home for NYRA racing.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast throughout the year on NYRA's YouTube channel, which boasts more than 63,000 subscribers. NYRA's YouTube channel hosts race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack continues through Sunday, March 21. For the current broadcast schedule and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com.

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The 2020 retrospective will air at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT on Saturday. To watch a one-minute preview, click here.

 The first Kentucky Derby prep race of the year will be held at Aqueduct on New Year's Day with the $150,000 Jerome Stakes for 3-year-old hopefuls going one mile. Swill, tabbed as the 7-5 morning favorite for trainer Brad Cox, will take on four rivals with jockey Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. The bay son of Munnings was last seen finishing fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. The Jerome Stakes offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers.

On Saturday, Todd Schrupp, Christina Blacker and Britney Eurton will be live on site at Santa Anita for a nine-race card featuring two graded stakes races – the $200,000 San Gabriel (G2) and the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3). The Sham Stakes will feature a field of five newly minted 3-year-olds who will be competing for points towards a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) including two for trainer Bob Baffert – Medina Spirit and Life is Good. Baffert won this race in 2020 with Authentic who went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Sham Stakes (G3) offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers.

Gulfstream Park has an eleven-race card featuring five stakes races scheduled for Saturday. The featured tenth event, the $100,000 Mucho Macho Stakes, has drawn a field of ten 3-year-olds including graded stake winner Mutasaabeq for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Luis Saez. Owned by Shadwell Stable, the son of Into Mischief will switch back to dirt after a tenth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

In addition to opening weekend from Santa Anita, Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park, TVG will be featuring racing from Fair Grounds, Tampa Bay Downs and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

The post TVG’s Year In Review Special To Focus On Impact Of COVID-19 On Horse Industry appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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