​America's Day at the Races to feature stakes action from Oaklawn Park and Aqueduct Racetrack

by Keith McCalmont

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air 23.5 hours of coverage Thursday through Sunday, with stakes action at Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park.

Presented by America’s Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America’s Day at the Races will broadcast live racing action this week highlighted by a lucrative Arkansas Derby Day card on Saturday from Oaklawn Park as well as a trio of stakes events from the Big A.

Broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races (all times Eastern): 

Thursday, April 8

FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 9

FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 10

FS1: 1 – 3:00 p.m.

FS2: 3 – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 11

FS2: 1 – 4:00 p.m.

FS1: 4 – 6:30 p.m.

The 85th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby [Race 12, 7:41 p.m.] will air on NBSCN as part of a live national broadcast from 7 – 8:00 p.m. The nine-furlong test, offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is led by Gary and Mary West’s undefeated Grade 2 Rebel-winner Concert Tour for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. One race prior, Oaklawn offers the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in Race 11 [7:05 p.m.], a six-furlong event for 3-year-olds and up topped by reigning champion sprinter Whitmore, who seeks his fourth Count Fleet win in his fifth consecutive appearance when taking on familiar foe C Z Rocket.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Arkansas Derby Day card on FS2 will showcase exciting stakes action from the Hot Springs, Arkansas oval, including the $250,000 Carousel, a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares in Race 6 [3:55 p.m.] headlined by multiple graded stakes winner Frank’s Rockette; and the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile for older horses in Race 9 [5:49 p.m.] featuring $1.8 million earning multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards taking on division stalwarts Long Range Toddy and Wells Bayou.

Live racing from Aqueduct is highlighted by a pair of stakes on Saturday, including the $100,000 Top Flight Invitational Handicap, a nine-furlong dirt route for older fillies and mares; and the $100,000 Danger’s Hour, a one-mile turf test for older horses.

Sunday’s Big A stakes action offers the $100,000 Plenty of Grace at one-mile for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 65,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.