| | August 24, 2000
ESPN and ESPN2 have reached an agreement with Triple Crown Productions and
NTRA productions to continue its surrounding coverage of the Triple Crown
race series, featuring the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont
Stakes, through 2005. Steve Risser, ESPN vice president, programming, Tom
Meeker, President of Triple Crown Productions and Churchill Downs, Inc., and
Jim Wilburn, president of NTRA Productions, announced the agreement.
As part of the pact, the networks will continue to provide the extensive
programming leading up to each Triple Crown race - a minimum 44 hours over
the three-race series - as in the previous agreements with the tracks.
Highlights of returning live coverage will include the Kentucky Derby and
Preakness Stakes Post Position Draws and Handicapping Shows, Breakfast at
Churchill Downs and Breakfast at the Preakness, the Kentucky Oaks, the
Black-Eyed Susan, Belmont Stakes Special, and Belmont Post Race Highlights.
In addition, the new agreement will include live coverage of the Acorn
Stakes from Belmont.
"We are extremely pleased to continue our relationships with the three
Triple Crown tracks and NTRA productions, and to build a new relationship
with Triple Crown Productions," said Risser. "This agreement will provide
ESPN's viewers with the extensive horse racing coverage they have become
accustomed to receiving."
"For many years, horse racing has benefited from its association with the
ESPN brand," Meeker said. "ESPN's commitment to the events surrounding the
Derby, Preakness and Belmont as well as their commitment to the prep races
leading up to the Triple Crown have been an integral part of the expansion
of racings audience. This new, long-term partnership between the Triple
Crown and ESPN will be a major force in our continued efforts to grow the
horse racing industry."
"We produce hundreds of hours of television during the year, but the
Triple Crown events stand out as the highlights of our schedule," Wilburn
said. "We look forward to continuing to enhance our coverage in showcasing
these premier races."
ESPN and ESPN2 team up to provide the best in thoroughbred horse
racing coverage, including NTRA Racing to the Kentucky Derby, NTRA Racing to
the Breeders' Cup, NTRA 2Day At the Races, and Racing Across America, plus
Quarter Horse Racing on 2Day at the Races and Quarter Horse Specials.
ESPN and ESPN2 also combine to televise horse events from horseshow jumping to
rodeo competitions. ESPN offers the most comprehensive horse racing news
coverage with top programming shows including America's Horse and Racehorse
Digest. ESPN Classic provides historical races from the Run For the Crown,
Run For the Roses and Thoroughbred Classics races series.
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