The ESPN family of television networks will devote a record 9 1/2 hours to coverage of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships from Monmouth Park.
For the first time in its history, the Breeders' Cup will take place over two days, with three races being added to what had been a one-day, eight-race program. The race portions of ESPN's coverage will be Friday, Oct. 26, from 4-6 p.m. EDT on ESPN2, when the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile will all have their inaugural runnings.
ESPN will take over Saturday, Oct. 27, from noon to 7 p.m. ET, with coverage of the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), and Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
In addition, ESPN2 will air a handicapping show Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 4:30-5 p.m. EDT.
ESPN's coverage of the races will include 28 High Definition cameras, including two car-mounted cameras that will move along with the field during races, shooting from inside the rail. In addition, there will be aerial coverage from an overhead blimp, and virtual displays on the course that will mark yardage to the finish line.
Joe Tessitore will host the race telecasts with a bevy of analysts, including Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss. Trevor Denman will call the races.
In addition to the live coverage of the races, both days of Breeders' Cup contests will be simulcast live on ESPN360.com, which will also offer the draw Oct. 23. ESPN.com will offer full editorial coverage of the races. The event will also be broadcast on ESPN International in the Atlantic, Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand), and Latin America Networks as well as on TSN in Canada. ESPN Radio will offer news and information from Monmouth Park.
Feature stories planned for the television shows include subjects Joe Talamo, the 17-year-old riding sensation who has the mount on undefeated Nashoba's Key (Filly & Mare Turf); Carl Nafzger and Calvin Borel (Street Sense); and European trainer Aidan O'Brien (Dylan Thomas, George Washington, and Excellent Art).