FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 27th, 2019
FIVE WEEKS ‘TIL THE KENTUCKY DERBY: NBCSN PRESENTS EXCLUSIVE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE FLORIDA DERBY THIS SAT., MARCH 30 AT 6 P.M. ET
Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss Join Ahmed Fareed on Florida Derby Telecast
NBC Sports’ Live Coverage of $12 Million Dubai World Cup Streams on NBCSports.com & the NBC Sports app on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET
New Episode of Road to the Kentucky Derby Magazine Series Debuts This Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 27, 2019 – As the May 4 running of the 145th Kentucky Derby approaches, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the $1 million Florida Derby this Saturday, March 30 at 6 p.m. ET from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Earlier in the day at 11 a.m. ET, NBC Sports will present exclusive live coverage of the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app from Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Grade 1 Florida Derby is a key Kentucky Derby prep race, awarding qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the top four finishers. 15 Florida Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, more than any other prep race. Hidden Scroll is the likely betting favorite, but he’ll face stiff competition from Code of Honor, Bourbon War, and Maximum Security in one of the strongest prep race fields this year.
Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s Florida Derby coverage on NBCSN, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who won the Florida Derby three times, and Randy Moss. Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.
The $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup is expected to feature 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Gunnevera, 2018 Florida Derby winner Audible, and 2018 Belmont Stakes second-place finisher Gronkowski.
Also streaming live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app from Meydan Racecourse will be the $6 million Group 1 Dubai Turf, and the $6 million Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.
Following Saturday’s coverage of the Florida Derby, NBC Sports, in partnership with Churchill Downs, presents a new episode of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, the second of four 30-minute episodes highlights the story of Chuck Zacney, owner of 2005 favorite Afleet Alex, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The episode also features a behind-the-scenes visit with veteran jockey Mike Smith, who won the Triple Crown last year on Justify. Produced by Churchill Downs, the episodes provide viewers with an inside look at the extensive preparations for the first leg of the Triple Crown.
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.
–NBC SPORTS–
