Thoroughbred Racing on Fox Sports

Last updated
Thoroughbred Racing on Fox Sports
Genre Horse racing telecasts
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time120 minutes or until race ends
Production company Fox Sports
Original release
Network Fox
Release1998 (1998) –
2000 (2000)
Network Fox
Fox Sports 1
Fox Sports 2
Release2014 (2014) –
present

Thoroughbred Racing on Fox Sports is the de facto title for a series of horse races events whose broadcasts are produced by Fox Sports, for Fox, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 television networks in the United States. The flagship program for the series is America's Day at the Races.

Contents

History

1998–2000

Fox Sports first began covering thoroughbred racing in 1998 with a multi-year deal for the Santa Anita Derby. [1] Fox Sports expanded its coverage in 1999 through a partnership with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Fox aired 11 races as part of the partnership, branded as NTRA Champions on Fox. [2] The partnership did not return in 2001. [3] [4] [5]

2014–2020

Fox Sports returned to horse racing in 2014 with a two-year agreement with The Jockey Club for up to 10 races on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes. [6]

In 2016, Fox Sports reached an agreement with the New York Racing Association (NYRA) for coverage of 40 summer races from Saratoga Race Course on Fox Sports 2. The races were branded as Saratoga Live. [7] [8] In 2017, the Fox Sports expanded its NYRA races to include races from Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park, branded as Aqueduct Live and Belmont Park Live respectively. [9]

In August 2017, the NYRA extended its summer agreement with Fox Sports through 2020. [10] In November 2018, the NYRA and Fox Sports reached a new agreement that made Fox Sports the year-round television home for NYRA races from Saratoga and Belmont, featuring more than 600 hours of horse racing. [11]

In 2019, the NYRA and Fox debuted America's Day at the Races, which has become their flagship horse racing show. [12] Also in 2019, through its partnership with the NYRA, the Fox network began airing the Travers Stakes, its first horse race since NTRA Champions on Fox races in 2000. [13] Also through its partnership with the NYRA, in 2020, Fox Sports 1 began airing the Saudi Cup. [14]

2021–present

In March 2021, Fox Sports and the NYRA announced an extension to their rights deal through 2030. As part of the agreement, Fox Sports will air 700 hours of coverage each year from Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. The Travers Stakes will continue to air on Fox. Fox also acquired a 25% stake in NYRA Bets. [15] In 2022, Fox Sports reached an agreement with the NYRA for the rights to the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the horse racing triple crown, through 2030. [16]

Recently, Fox has aired more races on its main network. In 2022, Fox aired the Jim Dandy Stakes. [17] In 2023, Fox aired the Wood Memorial Stakes [18] and reached an agreement with the Breeders' Cup Challenge to air the Fourstardave Handicap. [19] Beginning July 22, 2023, Fox aired 6 straight weeks of races branded as Fox Saratoga Saturday. [20]

In 2024, Fox announced an expanded agreement with the NYRA to air races from Monmouth Park Racetrack. [21]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "FOX'S BRAND EXTENSION SEES THEM INK SANTA ANITA DERBY DEAL". Sports Business Journal. December 1, 1997. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Fox Sports: NTRA Champions". Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  3. ↑ Mitchell, Eric (April 26, 1999). "The last, best chance for racing". Sports Business Journal . Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ Mullen, Liz (October 30, 2000). "Thoroughbred series may leave Fox, run its course on CBS instead". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Eric (August 8, 2000). "FOX Could Cut Coverage In Half". BloodHorse. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Fox Sports 1 adds horse-racing to programming". USA Today. August 8, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ Williams, Stephen (June 8, 2016). "FOX Sports to air Saratoga races". The Daily Gazette . Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ Dougherty, Pete (July 21, 2016). "Where to find Saratoa Race Course coverage on TV". Times Union . Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ "NYRA Expands Partnership with Fox Sports". The Blood-Horse. July 21, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "NYRA and FOX Sports announce multi-year extension to broadcast Saratoga Live" (Press release). NYRA. August 24, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "FOX Sports, NYRA agree to new TV deal". The Daily Gazette. November 29, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ "America's Day At The Races Returns On Fox Sports". Paulick Report. February 7, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  13. ↑ "2019 RUNHAPPY TRAVERS TO AIR ON FOX BROADCAST NETWORK" (Press release). Fox Sports Press Pass. April 11, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  14. ↑ King, Byron (February 26, 2020). "Maximum Security, McKinzie Head $20 Million Saudi Cup". America's Best Racing. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ Ourand, John (March 25, 2021). "Fox-NYRA extension highlights wagering strategy". New York Business Journal . Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Belmont Stakes moving to FOX Sports in 8-year deal". Associated Press. January 5, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ "FOX to Televise Jim Dandy, Vanderbilt July 30". The Blood-Horse. July 29, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ "FOX to Air Wood Memorial for First Time". The Blood-Horse. April 5, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Announces 2023 Challenge Series 'Win and You're In' TV Schedule". America's Best Racing. May 11, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  20. ↑ "FOX Saratoga Saturday to debut July 22" (Press release). NYRA. July 19, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Monmouth Park, NYRA Bets And FOX Sports To Partner On Television And Sponsorship deal" (Press release). Monmouth Park. May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
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