The agreement extends ESPN's two major live racing series on ESPN and ESPN2: "Citgo Racing To The Kentucky Derby," a nine-show series featuring the key prep races for the VISA Triple Crown, and the "Road To The World Thoroughbred Championships," a 17-show series of prep races from the U.S., Canada, and Europe for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

The agreement also renews ESPN's event programming for each of the VISA
Triple Crown races, 40-plus hours that includes live telecasts of stakes on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes undercards; live telecasts of the Kentucky Derby post-position draw and Preakness post-position draw; live telecasts of the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan and Acorn Stakes on the Friday preceding each Triple Crown event; and other live programming, including pre- and post-race coverage.

The extension also covers the recently revamped weekly magazine show, "Long John Silver's Wire To Wire," formerly known as "RaceHorse Digest," and event programming such as the annual Eclipse Awards show.

"At a time when a sustained, cohesive television presence is a competitive must for all major league sports, we are excited to continue our long-term partnership with ESPN and the ESPN family of networks," NTRA commissioner Tim Smith said. "This long-term commitment from ESPN gives us the ability to recruit additional corporate marketing partners for horseracing."