The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's "Emirates Airline Countdown to the Breeders' Cup" presents six live races Oct. 7 on ESPN2. Highlighting the show are the final Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) tune-up races for Bernardini and Lava Man. They are expected to meet in the $5 million Classic Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
Scheduled for Saturday's telecast are three grade I races from Belmont Park: the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup; the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational; and the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes. Also on tap are a pair of grade I contests from Keeneland Race Course: the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile and the $500,000 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity. Rounding out the program is the Grade II, $500,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap from Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
Hosting from Belmont will be Kenny Mayne, joined by analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss, reporter Jeannine Edwards, and handicapper Hank Goldberg. Reporting from Keeneland will be Joe Tessitore and Quint Kessenich. Jay Privman will be on the scene at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.Oct. 7, 4:30-6:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN2:
Race, Division, Track
Jockey Club Gold Cup, Classic, Belmont Park
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, Turf, Belmont Park
Vosburgh Stakes, Sprint, Belmont Park
Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap, Classic, Oak Tree at Santa Anita
Lane's End Breeders' Futurity, Juvenile, Keeneland
Shadwell Turf Mile, Mile, Keeneland
Oct. 14, 4-6 p.m., ESPN:
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, F/M Turf, Keeneland
First Lady Stakes, F/M Turf, Keeneland
Frizette Stakes, Juvenile fillies, Belmont Park
Champagne Stakes, Juvenile, Belmont Park
Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, Turf, Newmarket
International Segment, All, Europe/Dubai