TVG Plays Key Role During Keeneland Summer Meet

As a race sponsor with analysts covering Keeneland’s Summer Meet on July 8-12, TVG Network will have an important presence while the track presents Keeneland at Home Presented by Central Bank to enable fans to remotely enjoy the unprecedented season.

TVG, an affiliate of FanDuel Group, America’s horse racing network, is available in more than 45 million homes and broadcasts races from the U.S. and around the world every day. TVG and Keeneland have partnered since 1996, with TVG providing extensive coverage and promotion of Keeneland’s race meets and sales.

This collaboration expanded in January with the announcement that TVG had become the sponsor of the TVG Limestone Turf Sprint during Keeneland’s Spring Meet and the Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG during the Fall Meet.

However, with the cancellation of the Spring Meet because of the COVID-19 outbreak and the creation of the Summer Meet to accommodate a portion of that season, TVG received a new opportunity to sponsor a race. The $175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2), a 1½-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up, will be run on the July 12 closing day of the season.

“As always, we are incredibly excited to partner with Keeneland, to have our talent on-site and to bring racing fans all the action every day of the meet from the heart of Thoroughbred racing,” TVG  Executive Producer and Senior Vice President of Television Kevin Grigsby said. “Keeneland’s traditional Spring and Fall race meetings are always popular with TVG viewers, and we expect the same reaction for this unique Summer Meet.”

During the Summer Meet, TVG will be represented by analysts Christina Blacker, Gabby Gaudet and Scott Hazelton – all of whom are extremely familiar to Keeneland racing and sales patrons. 

Race-day coverage will begin at 11:30 a.m. when Gaudet and Hazelton host “Today at Keeneland,” the popular 30-minute preview show with handicapping picks and discussion of horses of interest. “Today at Keeneland” will air live on TVG2, The CW Lexington and WKYT.com and be streamed live on Keeneland.com, KeenelandSelect.com and Facebook Live.

New to the race-day broadcast lineup is “Keeneland at Home Presented by Central Bank,” a 30-minute program on Facebook Live, YouTube at 12:15 p.m. Blacker is hosting the show, which will feature lessons in BETology, race-day libations from Maker’s Mark, daily handicapping picks from Ellis Starr and more.

TVG’s live coverage of Keeneland races will begin at 1 p.m. Gaudet and Hazelton will continue to serve as Paddock commentators and conduct interviews with winning connections after stakes.

In addition to TVG’s coverage, all Keeneland races will be streamed live and at no charge on Keeneland.com and Keeneland’s Facebook Live and YouTube.