2010 Breeders’ Cup on ESPN nets

[Alan07]

The 27th running of the Breeders’ Cup will air live in high definition from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 5-6 on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. ESPN will have more than nine hours of coverage dedicated to the 14 races, as both Friday and Saturday will finish under the lights for the first time in Breeders’ Cup history.

This year’s event will be highlighted by undefeated mare Zenyatta, the first female horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (2009) and winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Known for her pre-race dance routine and dramatic finishes, she will be seeking her 20th straight win this week.

Championship Friday, Nov. 5, will begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with six Breeders’ Cup Championship races, concluding with the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s racing will begin on ABC at 1:30 p.m. and continue on ESPN from 3:30-7 p.m.

Kenny Mayne and Joe Tessitore will host with analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss, while Hank Goldberg will handicap the races. Nick Luck will be the European horse analyst and Jeannine Edwards, Jay Privman, and Caton Bredar (on horseback) will serve as reporters. Steve Cyphers will interview key personalities in the sport and Jeremy Schaap will report from the winner’s circle. Trevor Denman (a Breeders' Cup employee) will call the races and reporter Bill Nack will contribute essays.

Planned features:
•“Zenyatta: Hollywood Overtime” – a 15 minute screenplay feature about Zenyatta and her Hollywood-esque finishes in each race she competes.
•Zenyatta’s relationship with jockey Mike Smith and champion racehorse trainer John Shirrefs.
•A profile on horse racing in Kentucky, including an interview with University of Louisville basketball head coach Rick Pitino.
•And, a feature on American thoroughbred racehorse trainer Rick Dutrow.

The ESPN telecasts of the Breeders' Cup will include more than 60 HD cameras positioned throughout Churchill Downs, including positions on a crane, chopper, the Twin Spires, inside the starting gate, stewards’ room and two X-Mo cameras at the finish line. ESPN will show the Twin Spires during every route race run over the two days.