NYRA/Coglianese Photo

2019 Runhappy Travers to air on FOX Broadcast Network

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and FOX Sports today announced that the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers will be carried live on the FOX Broadcast Network as part of a special one-hour telecast on Saturday, August 24 at 5 p.m. ET from historic Saratoga Race Course. 

Travers Day 2019 expands on the commitment FOX Sports has made to NYRA and marks the first time since 1999 that horse racing can be seen on the airwaves of the FOX Broadcast Network.

First held in 1864, the Travers is the most prestigious stakes race for 3-year-olds outside of the Triple Crown series and the traditional centerpiece of the annual Saratoga meeting. The race is named for William R. Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course who won the inaugural running in 1864 with a horse named Kentucky.

"Travers Day is the greatest day of racing's greatest meet, and our team can't wait to come to Saratoga to present both the Runhappy Travers on FOX and a full afternoon of graded stakes racing on FS2," said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Research, League Operations & Strategy.

Always one of the biggest and most anticipated days on the racing calendar, the 150th Runhappy Travers will be one of six Grade 1 stakes on Travers Day, which includes the Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer, the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign, the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy and the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina. These major stakes races leading up to the Travers will air on an expanded edition of Saratoga Live on FS2. 

"FOX has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to air the 150th running of the Runhappy Travers on the network that is home to some of the biggest events in all of sports," said Tony Allevato, President of NYRA Bets & Executive Producer for NYRA TV. "We're looking forward to a fantastic Travers show featuring the best broadcast team in the sport matched with the technological innovations and creativity found on FOX." 

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration during the summer of 2016 with the launch of the critically-acclaimed Saratoga Live airing on FS2. In November of 2018, NYRA and FOX Sports announced a new long-term television programming deal to make FOX Sports the year-round national television home for NYRA racing. As a result of this groundbreaking deal, FOX Sports will broadcast 500 hours of thoroughbred racing from NYRA tracks in 2019 including coverage of nearly every race day at Belmont and Saratoga. 

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation's wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets.  Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships.  FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports' digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform, Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports' portfolio are FOX's interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

About the New York Racing Association (NYRA)

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) holds the exclusive franchise to conduct thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State's thoroughbred industry, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact to New York State. 

Over the course of 219 days of live racing in 2018, NYRA generated more than $2.1 billion in all-sources wagering handle with paid attendance exceeding 1.7 million for the fifth consecutive year.