FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 6th, 2023
SANTA ANITA DERBY AND BLUE GRASS STAKES LIVE THIS SATURDAY AT 4 P.M. ET ON NBC AND PEACOCK
Saturday Marks Four Weeks to the “Run for the Roses” on Saturday, May 6
Hall of Fame Jockey Jerry Bailey, Randy Moss, Steve Kornacki, Britney Eurton and Kenny Rice to Join Host Ahmed Fareed During Two-Hour Program
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 6, 2023 – NBC Sports presents live coverage of the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) this Saturday, April 8, live at 4 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock from 1/ST’s Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The Santa Anita Derby, which is part of the 1/ST RACING TOUR, and Blue Grass Stakes are both key prep races leading into the 149th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6.
National Treasure, who finished third in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and 2023 San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner Practical Move are expected to be contenders in the 1 ⅛-mile Santa Anita Derby. 2023 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Tapit Trice and 2023 Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Raise Cain are expected to lead the 11-horse field in the 1 ⅛-mile Blue Grass Stakes.
The Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass Stakes will both award a total of 200 Kentucky Derby qualification points, with 100 going to the winners of each race.
The Shakertown (G2) from Keeneland Race Course will also be presented live Saturday on NBC and Peacock.
Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s coverage alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who won each Triple Crown race twice, and Randy Moss, and insights analyst Steve Kornacki, who will be at his Big Board to analyze the Kentucky Derby points standings as qualifying for the “Run for the Roses” enters its final month. Reporters Britney Eurton and Kenny Rice will be on-site at Santa Anita and Keeneland, respectively.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.
NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING
NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series.
ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP & 1/ST
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.
–NBC SPORTS–
