With California Chrome on track to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, NBC is expanding its planned coverage of the Belmont Stakes next week. NBC/NBCSN will provide 16 hours of coverage of the final leg of the Triple Crown. It begins with a documentary next Wednesday, “California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion” on NBCSN at 6:30 p.m. ET.
It transitions to various programming devoted to this year’s Triple Crown plus pre-race coverage on Friday and all day Saturday on both NBCSN and NBC.
The usual horse racing crew led by Bob Costas, Josh Elliott, Tom Hammond, Laffit Pincay, Larry Collmus and others will be on-site in Elmont, NY for the coverage.
Here’s NBC’s announcement on the expanded coverage of the Belmont.
NBC SPORTS GROUP DOUBLES BELMONT STAKES PROGRAMMING AS CALIFORNIA CHROME RUNS FOR HISTORY
NBC Sports Group Presents 16 Hours of Programming Culminating with the 146th Running of the Belmont Stakes Saturday, June 7, at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Special Documentary California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion Debuts Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSNSTAMFORD, Conn. – May 28, 2014 – NBC Sports Group presents 16 hours of programming surrounding the 146th Belmont Stakes – more than double the number of hours initially scheduled – beginning next Wednesday, June 4.
On Saturday, June 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, California Chrome runs for history, aiming to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Coverage begins Wednesday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion, a special 30–minute documentary narrated by Bob Costas, detailing the story of an unlikely team of horsemen in co-owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin coming together with trainer Art Sherman and jockey Victor Espinoza to take their horse to the brink of the Triple Crown.
Coverage continues with Belmont Classics Thursday, June 5, at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with a look at past Belmont Stakes winners including three consecutive Triple Crown upsets: 2002 winner Sarava (beat Triple Crown hopeful War Emblem), 2003 winner Empire Maker ridden by NBC analyst and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey (topped Triple Crown contender Funny Cide), and 2004 winner Birdstone (beat Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones). Belmont Classics continues at 6:30 p.m. ET with a look at 2011 winner Ruler on Ice, 2012 winner Union Rags, and 2013 winner Palace Malice.
On Friday, June 6, at 5 p.m. ET, NBCSN presents Belmont Stakes Access featuring live race coverage of the True North and Belmont Gold Cup, as well as Belmont Stakes news, interviews and analysis. Later Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET respectively, NBCSN presents special one-hour looks back at California Chrome’s victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Race coverage on Saturday, June 7, begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, continues at 4:30 p.m. ET with the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes on NBC, and is followed by a post-race show at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Following is a full schedule of NBC Sports Group’s Belmont Stakes programming:
THE BELMONT STAKES
Date Time Event Network Weds., June 4 6:30 p.m. California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion NBCSN Weds., June 4 10:30 p.m. California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion (Encore) NBCSN Thurs., June 5 5:30 p.m. Belmont Classics (2002 Winner Sarava, 2003 Winner Empire Maker, 2004 Winner Birdstone) NBCSN Thurs., June 5 6:30 p.m. Belmont Classics (2011 Winner Ruler on Ice, 2012 Winner Union Rags, 2013 Winner Palace Malice) NBCSN Thurs., June 5 7:30 p.m. California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion NBCSN Fri., June 6 3:30 p.m. California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion NBCSN Fri., June 6 4 p.m. Belmont Classics (2002 Winner Sarava, 2003 Winner Empire Maker, 2004 Winner Birdstone) NBCSN Fri., June 6 5 p.m. Belmont Stakes Access NBCSN Fri., June 6 8 p.m. California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion NBCSN Fri., June 6 8:30 p.m. 140th Kentucky Derby NBCSN Fri., June 6 9:30 p.m. 139th Preakness Stakes NBCSN Fri., June 6 10:30 p.m. Belmont Access (Encore) NBCSN Sat., June 7 Midnight California Chrome: The Unlikely Champion NBCSN Sat., June 7 2:30 p.m. Belmont Prep NBCSN Sat., June 7 4:30 p.m. The 146th Belmont Stakes NBC Sat., June 7 7 p.m. Belmont Post-Race Show NBCSN
That is all.
