FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 11th, 2013

THE “ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY™” SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND WITH THE TOYOTA BLUE GRASS STAKES AND THE ARKANSAS DERBY

Live Coverage Begins with the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Saturday, 4:30-6 p.m. ET on NBC, and Continues with the Arkansas Derby, Saturday, 6-7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

NEW YORK – April 11, 2013 – Live coverage of the Road to the Kentucky Derby™, a series of major prep races for the 2013 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands, continues this Saturday with the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., (4:30-6 p.m. ET on NBC) and the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., (6-7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network). The Road to the Kentucky Derby™ is a collaboration of The Jockey Club and the NBC Sports Group.

 Tom Hammond will host the coverage from Keeneland Race Course. He will be joined by analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey; reportersDonna BrothersKenny RiceMike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier (from Oaklawn Park).

 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY 

All races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby™ series fall into the highest tier on Churchill Downs’ new points system to determine starters for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, on NBC. The points system features 36 stakes races overall and 17 marquee events for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that comprise a 10-week run up to the first Saturday in May.

 Saturday, April 13, 4:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC), 6-7 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland Race Course), Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)

Host: Tom Hammond

Analysts: Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey

Reporters: Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers, Mike Battaglia, Bob Neumeier (from Oaklawn Park)

 

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–ABOUT THE JOCKEY CLUB–

THE JOCKEY CLUB: The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred racing and breeding, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms, among others. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.

–ABOUT NBC SPORTS GROUP—

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup, which was broadcast on NBC from 1984-2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when the NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown. In 2012, the NBC Sports Group presented 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network.

NBC Sports Group is the home to “Summer at Saratoga,” and, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series that provides live coverage of six major prep races for the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

The NBC Sports Network Channel Finder is located at nbcsports.msnbc.com.