NBC Sports, FS2 to present 4 ½ hours of live Whitney Day coverage
by Pat McKenna
Whitney Day, one of the centerpieces of the 2018 meet at Saratoga Race Course, will see 4 ½ hours of live coverage across NBC Sports and FS2 on Saturday. The coverage will kick off on FS2 at 1:30 p.m. ET with a special, expanded edition of Saratoga Live. NBCSN will then air the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney and the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test as part of a national broadcast from 5-6 p.m.
The 91st running of the Whitney will top a blockbuster day of racing featuring five total stakes including the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya, the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure and the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose.
Originating live from Saratoga Race Course, the NBCSN broadcast will be hosted by Nick Luck and include racing analysis and insights from Randy Moss, retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, Brittney Eurton and NBC handicapper Matt Bernier.
Saratoga Live features a broadcast team that includes host Greg Wolf, handicapper Andy Serling, analysts Paul Lo Duca and Gabby Gaudet, paddock analyst Maggie Wolfendale, trainer Tom Amoss and track announcer Larry Collmus.
On Whitney Day, Saratoga Live will debut a feature story to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr Fager's historic 1968 campaign, one that included a victory in that years Whitney while carrying 132 lbs. The three-minute feature tells the story through the lens of Richard Aller, a former Dodger Stadium peanut vendor and school teacher who has devoted much of his life to highlighting Dr. Fager's '68 campaign.
Earlier this week, NYRA announced a special Whitney Day $500,000 single-ticket payout for the NYRA Bets Late Pick 5. Available exclusively to NYRA Bets members across the country, the enhanced payout is triggered if an existing account holder is the sole winner of the NYRA Bets Late Pick 5. The Whitney Day NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 will start in Race 7, with an approximate post of 4:34 p.m., and conclude in Race 11, the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure.
The 2018 season at Saratoga Race Course continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 3.
Gambling Problems? The New York Racing Association encourages responsible wagering. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you care about, help is available 24 hours a day. Scan here to talk with someone now about your gambling. Or call toll-free 1-877-8-HOPE-NY.