Just as it did for “Summer at Saratoga”, the NBC Sports Group has announced today a fall horse racing series that will take place over two weekends from the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY. Versus will air most of the races with NBC Sports coming in for the last weekend of racing. This “Autumn at Keeneland” series will mark the 75th Anniversary of the track which has been key to the history of horse racing.
The races to be aired include the Shadwell Turf Mile and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. We have a look at what will be aired as the NBC Sports Group will air the races in a two week span starting on October 7.
KEENELAND AND NBC SPORTS GROUP PARTNER FOR “AUTUMN AT KEENELAND” SERIES
4 Hours of Live Coverage Over 2 Weekends from Keeneland Begins October 7 on VERSUS
NEW YORK – August 18, 2011 – Keeneland Association and the NBC Sports Group today announced a partnership to broadcast “Autumn at Keeneland,” live racing from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., over two weekends this fall beginning on October 7 on VERSUS and culminating with an hour-long live broadcast of Keeneland’s 75th Anniversary on October 15 on NBC. The announcement was made by Nick Nicholson, President and CEO of Keeneland and Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and VERSUS.
Keeneland, which is a national historic landmark, conducts world-class Thoroughbred racing every April and October, with the autumn meet kicking off with FallStars Weekend—a stellar lineup that includes nine graded stakes over three days.
“We can think of no better way to celebrate our anniversary season than with our friends at NBC,” said Nicholson. “They have done an outstanding job with their coverage of Summer at Saratoga, and anytime we can showcase quality racing on a national level, it’s good for our entire sport.”
“Keeneland is one of the true iconic venues in horse racing,” said Miller. With the great results we had from this year’s Triple Crown and the tremendous response we are getting from our Summer at Saratoga package, to be able to add Autumn at Keeneland further cements the NBC Sports Group as the home of horse racing.”
NBC SPORTS GROUP AUTUMN AT KEENELAND COVERAGE (All Times ET)
Friday, October 7, 5-6 p.m., ET, VERSUS
- Featuring the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) and $175,000 Stoll Keenon Odgen Phoenix Stakes (G3)
Saturday, October 8, 5-6 p.m., ET, VERSUS
- Featuring the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and $400,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1)
Sunday, October 9, 5-6 p.m., ET, VERSUS
- Featuring the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) and $100,000 Bourbon (G3)
Saturday, October 15, 5-6 p.m. ET, NBC
- Featuring the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary (L)
Founded as a model racetrack in 1936, Keeneland also is the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company. Fueled by the success of the sales, Keeneland has contributed more than $18 million back to the industry and community through the years.
That will do it.
