Francesca Le Donne Photo

FOX Sports partners with NYRA and The Stronach Group to present 'FOX Sports Saturday At The Races'

by Eddie Motl; Pat McKenna; David Joseph

Key Triple Crown prep races at Aqueduct Racetrack, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park headline live broadcasts

FOX Sports, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and The Stronach Group today announced a partnership to present FOX Sports Saturday At The Races, a new live racing television program sponsored by Claiborne Farm. Airing on FS2, the telecasts begin on February 3 and continue over six Saturdays in February and March, culminating with a 3 ½ hour show on March 31 headlined by the Grade 1 Florida Derby. 

FOX Sports Saturday At The Races will offer national coverage of marquee racing from Aqueduct Racetrack, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park highlighted by coverage of several key Triple Crown prep races including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, the Grade 3 Gotham, the Grade 2 San Felipe and the Grade 3 Withers.

"FOX Sports Saturday At The Races is going to be essential viewing for anyone following the Triple Crown trail. These races have produced four of the last five Kentucky Derby champions, including the last two winners, and have jump-started the three-year-old campaigns of legends from Secretariat to California Chrome," said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Research, League Operations & Strategy. "We look forward to presenting the best of the road to the Triple Crown, with the best team of handicappers in the business."

"We're excited to partner with FOX Sports to highlight great thoroughbred racing from across the country," said Tim Ritvo of The Stronach Group. "FOX Sports Saturday At The Races will showcase many of the top three-year-olds leading up to the Triple Crown. We're look forward to being part of these great broadcasts."

"FOX Sports Saturday At The Races will provide fans across the country with an unprecedented level of national coverage of the best racing on the road to the Triple Crown," said Tony Allevato, President of NYRA Bets and Executive Producer of NYRA TV. "Thanks to FOX Sports and our partners at The Stronach Group, FS2 will shine a light on the best racing from Aqueduct, Gulfstream, and Santa Anita throughout the next two months."

Hosted by Greg Wolf, FOX Sports Saturday At The Races will include commentary and analysis from a combination of FOX Sports, NYRA and XBTV personalities including Paul LoDuca, Andy Serling, Maggie Wolfendale, Gabby Gaudet, Acacia Courtney, Richard Migliore and Michelle Yu.

In conjunction with the telecasts of FOX Sports Saturday At The Races, NYRA will host a Cross County Pick 4 featuring races at Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Santa Anita. The popular multi-track, multi-race wager will have a 50-cent minimum bet. 

2018 schedule for FOX Sports Saturday At The Races: 

February 3:

• 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST
• Featured Races:
  • Grade 2 Holy Bull, Grade 2 Forward Gal, and Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream Park
  • Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack

February 10:

• 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Featured Races:
  • Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf, and Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park

March 3:

• 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Featured Race:
  • Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park

March 10:

• 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST
• Featured Races:
  • Grade 3 Gotham, Grade 3 Tom Fool, and Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct Racetrack
  • Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park
  • Silks Run at Gulfstream Park

March 24:

• 4:00 p.m to 6:30 p.m.
• Featured Races:
  • Grade 3 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park
  • Maddie May at Aqueduct Racetrack

March 31:

• 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST
• Featured Races:
  • Grade 1 Florida Derby, Grade 2 Hardacre Mile, Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, Grade 2 Honey Fox, and Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream Park