NBC Sports Announces 2017 BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE Schedule
By: A.A. Cristi Apr. 11, 2017
The Breeders' Cup and NBC Sports Group today announced the 2017 "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, presented by Lane's End Farm and America's Best Racing" television schedule of 11 live programs featuring 17 qualifying races and other major STAKES on the road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
This year's Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, now in its fourth year on NBC and NBCSN, has been enhanced by the addition of the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) from Churchill Downs on June 17, the first U.S. "Win and You're In" for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic; the Arlington Million (G1) from Arlington International Racecourse in suburban Chicago on August 12, and the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) from Del Mar race track of San Diego on August 19. Del Mar is the home of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, November 3-4, which will also be televised live by NBC Sports Group.
The TVG Pacific Classic is expected to be the much anticipated return of defending Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Arrogate, rated No. 1 in the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings, who is currently being rested following spectacular wins this year in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January and the Dubai World Cup (G1) last month.
Over the years, outstanding winners of the Arlington Million, and its companion race for fillies and mares, the Beverly D. (G1), have qualified to compete in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1), respectively.
Putting the spotlight on premier racetracks across the country, the 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series begins on Belmont STAKES Day, June 10, with the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the Ogden Phipps (G1) from Belmont Park, and continues with live telecasts of American fixtures throughout the summer with, among others, the Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (G1) from Monmouth Park and the Whitney (G1), the Travers STAKES (G1) and the Woodward (G1) from Saratoga Race Course. The series concludes in October with the Shadwell Mile (G1) and Juddmonte Spinster (G1) from Keeneland Race Course and the Jockey Club Gold Cup from Belmont Park.
"In conjunction with our partners at NBC Sports, we look forward once again showcasing the biggest stars in our sport competing in the highest quality of races throughout the summer and fall leading to the World Championships," said Craig Fravel, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. "We greatly appreciate NBC's expanded commitment and expertise in covering Thoroughbred racing, and express our gratitude for the support of our presenting sponsors of the Challenge series in Lane's End Farm and America's Best Racing."
"We are excited to present Breeders' Cup Challenge Series coverage from Belmont STAKES Day all the way through to the Breeders' Cup World Championships," said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports Group. "As the home of horse racing, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is integral to our live racing coverage in 10 of 12 months this year."
In addition, several NBC Sports Regional Networks will present replays of select races after their initial telecasts on NBC and NBCSN.
Below is the 2017 "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win And You're In" schedule on NBC and NBCSN. Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races are listed in bold. (All Times Eastern)
The schedule is also available online here.
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Track | Network |
| Sat., June 10 | 3 p.m. | Ogden Phipps H. | Belmont Park | NBCSN |
| Sat., June 10 | 5 p.m. | Metropolitan Mile | Belmont Park | NBC |
| Sat., June 17 | 8:30p.m. | Stephen Foster | Churchill Downs | NBCSN |
| Sat., June 17 | 8:30p.m. | Fleur De Lis | Churchill Downs | NBCSN |
| Sat., July 8 | 4:30 p.m. | Belmont Sprint Championship | Belmont Park | NBC |
| Sat., July 8 | 4:30 p.m. | Belmont Oaks | Belmont Park | NBC |
| Sat., July 8 | 4:30 p.m. | TBD Stakes | Belmont Park | NBC |
| Sun., July 30 | 5 p.m. | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth Park | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 5 | 5 p.m. | Whitney H. | Saratoga Racecourse | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 5 | 5 p.m. | Test S. | Saratoga Racecourse | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Arlington Million | Arlington Park | NBCSN |
| Sat., Aug. 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Beverly D. | Arlington Park | NBCSN |
| Sat., Aug. 19 | 8 p.m. | TVG Pacific Classic | Del Mar | NBCSN |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | 4:30 p.m. | Travers S. | Saratoga Racecourse | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | 4:30 p.m. | Sword Dancer S. | Saratoga Racecourse | NBC |
| Sat., Aug. 26 | 4:30 p.m. | TBD Stakes | Saratoga Racecourse | NBC |
| Sat., Sept. 2 | 6 p.m. | Woodward S. | Saratoga Racecourse | NBCSN |
| Sat., Sept. 2 | 6 p.m. | Spinaway S. | Saratoga Racecourse | NBCSN |
| Sat., Oct. 7 | 5 p.m. | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | Keeneland | NBC |
| Sat., Oct. 7 | 5 p.m. | Shadwell Mile | Keeneland | NBC |
| Sat., Oct. 7 | 5 p.m. | Jockey Club Gold Cup | Belmont Park | NBC |
| Sun., Oct. 8 | 5 p.m. | Dixiana Bourbon S. | Keeneland | NBCSN |
| Sun., Oct. 8 | 5 p.m. | Juddmonte Spinster S. | Keeneland | NBCSN |
The complete 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series schedule will be released on Wednesday, April 12.
About NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), Golf Channel, nine NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and NBC Sports Digital. NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, Royal & Ancient, Churchill Downs, NYRA, Breeders' Cup, Premier League, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, INDYCAR and many more.
About Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships. The Breeders' Cup also administers the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships, consisting of 13 Grade I races with purses and awards totaling more than $28 million, will be held November 3-4 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. The Breeders' Cup culminates with the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic, named the Longines World's Best Horse Race in 2016 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders' Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube
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