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Thursday, June 18th, 2020

“WE HAVE A SUPERSTAR THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE ON SATURDAY” – HALL OF FAME JOCKEY JERRY BAILEY ON 152ND BELMONT STAKES, THIS SAT. AT 2:45 PM ET ON NBC

“Essentially, this is the biggest event in sports in four months…the last time that one of these American Classic events was held.” – Mike Tirico on Belmont Stakes

9 Consecutive Hours of Live Sports on NBC This Saturday (9am-6pm ET)

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 18, 2020 – NBC will broadcast the 152^nd Belmont Stakes this Saturday, June 20 at 2:45 p.m. ET, capping nine consecutive hours of live sports on the network. Coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET with the biggest event in British horse racing – the Royal Meeting in Ascot, England – and continues at Noon ET with Premier League coverage.

Following are comments on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes from NBC Sports’ announce team – which will provide socially-distanced coverage (details below). For a transcript of NBC Sports’ Belmont Stakes conference call, click here.

“We have a superstar that we’re going to see on Saturday…Tiz the Law has been the best three-year-old since January…and he remains that. He would have been favored in whatever Triple Crown race we ran first.” – Analyst Jerry Bailey, Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Belmont Stakes winner

“Essentially, this is the biggest event in sports in four months. You go back to four months ago, February 16th was the Daytona 500 and the NBA All-Star Game, and that was the last time that one of these American Classic events was held.” – Host Mike Tirico

“I’m just happy to get back in the saddle again…it’s really going to be fun to get the band back together on Saturday, even if we’re going to be at a minimum six feet apart and at a maximum 1,200 miles apart.” – Analyst Randy Moss

“Coming from a family involved in the industry, to be able to be up and running in the afternoon has meant the world to those involved. It’s exciting to be a part of this unique 2020 edition of the Triple Crown, and I’m very grateful that the New York Racing Association has allowed us to be on-site to give that unique perspective.” – Reporter Britney Eurton

“The obvious is what’s going to be different, not having any people in the stands. But what’s going to be very much the same is once the gate opens…we’re going to anticipate who’s going to win and the excitement of that. Leading up to it, there’s some great stories.” – Reporter Kenny Rice

“This year’s race is going to look and sound different than the ones in the past. Normally, I’d be calling the race from way up top, but I’m going to be down on the third floor calling where the crowd used to be, which is going to be kind of neat…It’s going to be a unique and great way to kick off this year’s Triple Crown.” – Race caller Larry Collmus

“A lot of my handicapping in many ways is done the day before, a couple of days before, but then you have to take into consideration weather, how the track is playing, is there a certain element on the turf course or on the dirt track that is maybe more suitable to different horses…but it’s all a part of the so-called new normal that we’re working under right now, and I’m looking forward to it.” – Handicapper Eddie Olczyk

SOCIALLY-DISTANCED COMMENTATORS:  NBC Sports’ coverage of the Belmont Stakes features host Mike Tirico and analyst Randy Moss from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Belmont Stakes winner Jerry Bailey joins the broadcast from his home in Florida, and handicapper Eddie Olczyk from his home in Chicago. Reporters Britney Eurton and Kenny Rice, and race caller Larry Collmus will be on-site at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Nick Luck will host NBC’s Saturday Royal Ascot coverage on-location in the U.K.

The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001 and serves as the lead producer on his 25th Triple Crown race. The Belmont Stakes is directed by Pierre Moossa. Lindsay Schanzer produces NBC Sports’ Royal Ascot coverage. Hyland, Moossa, and Schanzer will all be handling their roles from NBC Sports Group’s facility in Stamford. Executive producer and president, production, NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood.

THIS WEEK’S NBC SPORTS HORSE RACING SCHEDULE (All Times ET)

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.

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