“Night School,” created and hosted by Horse Player NOW, will launch this year’s 40-program run Feb. 28.
The online fan education program, offered on Mondays in 2011, will move to Tuesdays, organizers said Feb. 15. The first Tuesday of each month will be focused on newcomers to the game.
There also will be several handicapping seminars on Thursday and Friday nights to preview major racing events of the weekend.
More than 375,000 viewers watched Night School last year. The program, available at websites of more than 35 racetracks and other industry organizations, begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time and runs through Nov. 13.
Churchill Downs Inc. has joined as a founding title sponsor. Others are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Keeneland, and Daily Racing Form.
Night School is a live blog with instructional videos, downloadable study materials, and personal interaction between the students and instructors. The program is archived.
Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk of Horse Player NOW are the lead instructors The Feb. 28 kickoff event will feature a look at the run to the Triple Crown.
Among the session advertisers already committed to supporting Night School this year are West Point Thoroughbreds, Larry Rivelli Racing Stable, AmWest Entertainment, HRTV, and the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program.