NBC Sports Airs ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY Tonight

Live coverage of the ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY, a series of major prep races for the 2013 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands, begins with the Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., and the Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La., this Saturday, 6-7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a collaboration of The Jockey Club and the NBC Sports Group.

Laffit Pincay, III will host NBC Sports Network's coverage this Saturday from Gulfstream Park. He will be joined by analyst Randy Moss; reporter Christina Blacker of HRTV; and NBC's race-caller Larry Collmus. Katie Mikolay, in-house reporter for Fair Grounds Race Course, will report on the Louisiana Derby.

ABOUT THE BROADCAST: In addition to the two graded stakes races, NBC Sports Network coverage will include a feature on jockey Rosie Napravnik as she rides Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby, who is seeking enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE: The live racing telecasts continue with on Saturday, April 6, 6-7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network with the Wood Memorial from Aqueduct Racetrack and the Santa Anita Derby from Santa Anita Park.

The series will conclude on Saturday, April 13, with two and half hours of continuous coverage spread across two networks. A 90-minute live broadcast on NBC featuring the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland Race Course will be followed by a one-hour broadcast on the NBC Sports Network featuring the Arkansas Derby. The NBC telecast will air from 4:30-6 p.m. ET; the NBC Sports Network telecast will air from 6-7 p.m. ET.

All six races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series fall into the highest tier on Churchill Downs' new points system to determine starters for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, on NBC. The points system features 36 stakes races overall and 17 marquee events for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that comprise a 10-week run up to the first Saturday in May.

Saturday, March 30, 6-7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park) and Louisiana Derby (Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots)

Host: Laffit Pincay, III

Analysts: Randy Moss

Reporters: Christina Blacker (Florida Derby), Katie Mikolay (Louisiana Derby)

Track Announcer: Larry Collmus (Florida Derby)

Saturday, April 6, 6-7:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Wood Memorial (Aqueduct Racetrack) and Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita Park)

Host: Laffit Pincay, III

Analysts: Randy Moss

Reporters: Donna Brothers, Christina Blacker

Saturday, April 13, 4:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC), 6-7 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland Race Course), Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)

Host: Tom Hammond

Analysts: Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey

Reporters: Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers, Mike Battaglia, Bob Neumeier (from Oaklawn Park)

ABOUT THE JOCKEY CLUB

THE JOCKEY CLUB: The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred racing and breeding, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms, among others. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS GROUP

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup, which was broadcast on NBC from 1984-2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when the NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown. In 2012, the NBC Sports Group presented 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network.

NBC Sports Group is the home to "Summer at Saratoga," and, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series that provides live coverage of six major prep races for the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

To post a comment, you must register and login.