by Frank Angst
While some have conceded Horse of the Year honors to Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra, ESPN analyst and retired Racing Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey believes a victory by Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) could vault her to the top.
Bailey will provide analysis of this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the ESPN networks, which will offer nine hours of coverage in its fourth year broadcasting the event. He said if Zenyatta can close out Saturday with a victory in the Classic, he would have to consider her Horse of the Year.
“If she would win the Classic, I think she would deserve it,” Bailey said, explaining he realizes Rachel Alexandra has accomplished a lot this season, but would likely give the edge to Zenyatta for stepping out of her division to win the biggest race on North American racing’s championship day.
Bailey said preparing to cover racing’s biggest day requires more time than riding in big races. He said he has spent hours reviewing races of the Thoroughbreds that will compete in 14 the races on Friday and Saturday.
ESPN’s experienced racing team will try to improve on last year’s 0.7 rating, which marked an improvement of the 0.6 rating in ’07. Still, Bailey also noted the network will provide video streaming coverage at www.espn360.com.
“I think that’s important because a lot of the fan base is used to watching racing on the Internet now,” Bailey said.
Bailey said ESPN will continue to provide dramatic camera angles at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, including shots from high atop a crane as well as backstretch shots from a truck running along the inside rail. Bailey said for one of the races, he will travel in the truck and provide insight while looking back at the field. ESPN plans to have 40 cameras on the scene, all in high definition.
Breeders’ Cup Ltd. President Greg Avioli said innovative coverage and audience demographics make ESPN an attractive broadcast partner. Besides the ability to reach 40-million viewers through www.espn360.com, many of which are younger fans, the network is available in 140 countries.
“The growth of the international market is one of our major goals here at the Breeders’ Cup, so that access is very important to us,” Avioli said.
Joe Tessitore will host the telecasts with analysts Bailey and Randy Moss. Kenny Mayne and Hank Goldberg will provide handicapping tips while Jeannine Edwards, Jay Privman, and Caton Bredar (on horseback) will serve as reporters. Nick Luck will provide coverage of European horses and connections, Tom Rinaldi will interview key horse racing connections, and Chris Connelly will provide celebrity interviews. Bill Nack and Rick Reilly will contribute essays and features. Trevor Denman will call the races.
On Friday, nationally syndicated sports radio host Jim Rome will broadcast his show from Santa Anita Park, along with his ESPN television show Rome is Burning.
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
On the air
Date Channel Time
Friday ESPN2 3:30-7 p.m. EST
Saturday ABC 1:30-3:30 p.m. EST
Saturday ESPN 3:30-7 p.m. EST