(Edited press release)
The 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 6-7 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., will receive nine hours of live television coverage, including 2 1/2 hours on ABC. The 26th running of the Breeders’ Cup will feature 14 races over two days on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.
The Friday, Nov. 6, programming runs from 3:30-7 p.m. ET with six Breeders’ Cup Championship races. On Saturday, Nov. 7, coverage will continue with ABC airing the races from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET and ESPN from 3:30-7 p.m ET.
ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile will simulcast live the ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts.
Joe Tessitore will host the telecasts with analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss. Kenny Mayne will work with handicapper Hank Goldberg. Jeannine Edwards, Jay Privman, and Caton Bredar (on horseback) will serve as reporters. Nick Luck is the European horse analyst and Tom Rinaldi will conduct personality interviews. Bill Nack and Rick Reilly will contribute essays and features, while Trevor Denman will call the races. Chris Connelly will provide celebrity interviews.
ESPN's coverage will include 40 cameras, all in high definition. Among the planned features are:
--Jockey Kent Desormeaux's year--Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert
--Rick Reilly learns to call a horse race
--The difference in how horses from the USA and Europe are trained
--Bill Nack’s vignettes on every horse in the Classic