The National Thoroughbred Racing Association unveiled its spring 2002 television schedule for Thoroughbred racing and outlined the full complement of programming planned for next year.
The complete schedule, to be released in 2002, will reflect three more hours of live coverage on ESPN, and a broader overall presentation of stakes to include major events from each of the eight divisions that lead to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on NBC. Some foreign races will be incorporated into the summer/fall programming for the "Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships."
In addition to the telecasts on the ESPN family of networks, NTRA-produced programming will air in 2002 on CBS and CNBC.
Here's the schedule up to the May 4 Kentucky Derby on NBC:
NTRA SPECIAL:
Feb. 24, ESPN2, 11 p.m. to midnight, Eclipse Awards
CITGO RACING TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY:
Feb. 16, ESPN, 6-6:30 p.m., Fountain of Youth Stakes
March 10, ESPN2, 6-7 p.m., Louisiana Derby and El Camino Real Derby
March 16, ESPN, 5-6 p.m., Florida Derby
March 17, ESPN2, 4-5 p.m., Gotham Stakes and San Felipe Stakes
March 23, ESPN2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Lane's End Spiral Stakes
April 6, ESPN, 5-6 p.m., Santa Anita Derby and Illinois Derby
April 13, ESPN, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Wood Memorial Stakes and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
April 20, ESPN2, 6-7 p.m., Coolmore Lexington Stakes and Federico Tesio Stakes
April 28, ESPN2, 2-3 p.m., Triple Crown Special
TRIPLE CROWN WEEKS ON ESPN AND ESPN2
April 29, ESPN2, 11 a.m.-noon, and ESPN, 1-1:30 p.m., Run For The Roses
April 30, ESPN2, 11 a.m.-noon, and ESPN, 1-1:30 p.m., Run For The Roses
May 1, ESPN2, 11:00 a.m.-noon, and ESPN, 1-1:30 p.m., Run For The Roses
May 1, ESPN, 5-6 p.m., Kentucky Derby draw
May 2, ESPN2, 11 a.m.-noon, and ESPN, 1-1:30 p.m., Run For The Roses
May 3, ESPN2, 7-11:00 a.m., Breakfast At Churchill Downs
May 3, ESPN2, 11 a.m.-noon, Run For The Roses
May 3, ESPN2, 3-5 p.m., 2Day At Churchill Downs
May 3, ESPN2, 5-6 p.m., Kentucky Oaks
May 3, ESPN2, 8:30-9 p.m., Handicapping the Derby
May 4, ESPN2, 9 a.m.-noon, Breakfast At Churchill Downs
May 4, ESPN2, noon-2:30 p.m., 2Day At The Kentucky Derby
May 4, ESPN, 2:30-5 p.m., Kentucky Derby Special
May 4, ESPN2, 6:30-7 p.m., The Kentucky Derby 2002
TRIPLE CROWN PREVIEW ON NBC
April 13, NBC, 4:30-6 p.m., Triple Crown Preview