Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

135th Kentucky Oaks (on Bravo) Field drawn: see pg 2

Racing
#1

ESPN drops coverage of Kentucky Oaks, but the filly Friday - which gets plenty of packed in fans in the stands - will still be aired live on tv. What channel you ask? Try Bravo which means it could be sandwiched in between an episode of The Real Housewives of New Yok City and Top Chef :wink:

BloodHorse 3-14-09 “ESPN Drops Live Kentucky Oaks Coverage”

“ESPN still has a great commitment to horse racing,” ESPN spokesman Mark Mandel told the Louisville Courier-Journal. “We’re going to re-evaluate next year. We have an emphasis this year on Saturday’s programming versus a week-day afternoon. So that played into it here.”

Churchill spokesman John Asher told the CJ. "It’s disappointing they’re not going to be here to do the Oaks Day card.

Asher said Bravo’s Oaks coverage has the potential to reach new fans.

"While ESPN did cover a considerable chunk of Oaks Day, we’re very excited that we’ll be able to reach a new audience for the Kentucky Oaks on the Bravo telecast of activities surrounding the Kentucky Oaks and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We think that presents wonderful opportunities.

“Bravo has a very strong demographic in the important 18 to 49 age groups, especially for female audiences. Again, our new theme for the Oaks is ‘Ladies first.’ Having that race as part of the telecast, along with everything else that is part of the day, is really going to be a wonderful thing for the Kentucky Oaks and help give the Oaks its own identity. Not just that race that’s run the day before Derby, but a very special event that draws more than 100,000.”

Frankly ESPN is consistently dropping the ball with racing coverage and support. It’s a shame the Breeders Cup is under their control for a few more years 


#2

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;3947809]

Frankly ESPN is consistently dropping the ball with racing coverage and support. It’s a shame the Breeders Cup is under their control for a few more years 
[/QUOTE]

I totally agree.

#3

This is exactly why I hate that the Breeders’ Cup races have been split into two days, with the fillies & mares going on Friday – ESPN’s dropping of the Oaks is a definite implication that the girls aren’t worth watching.

Bravo. Really.

Ladies first my tuckus. Yeah, you’re so “ladies first” you’re dropping them to another channel.

Screw you guys.

#4

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;3949287]
Ladies first my tuckus. Yeah, you’re so “ladies first” you’re dropping them to another channel.[/QUOTE]

Keep in mind that Churchill Down’s slogan for the Kentucky Oaks day is “Ladies First” - not ESPN/ABC :wink: And CDI is as upset about this as anyone.

Susan G Koman - KY Oaks Fundraising Partnership

I wouldn’t underestimate what trying something different [with broadcasting and promotion] could do for both partners.

A couple years ago I recall reading that ABC was seriously thinking of putting the Belmont on ESPN 
 hopefully they won’t. Yes the way they seem to view racing with such little concern I could see it happen if there was a different horses taking victory in the Derby and the Preakness.

#5

Also kiss goodbye ESPN prep racing coverage 


The DRF report 


March 16, 2009 “Kentucky Oaks moves to Bravo”

The Oaks, scheduled for May 1, was dropped from ESPN’s coverage this year after the network could not reach an agreement on the details of its programming arrangement, according to officials. Like many racing broadcasts, coverage of the Oaks is determined by an agreement reached between the network and the rights-holder, in this case, Churchill Downs.

“We’re going to reevaluate it next year,” a spokesman for ESPN, Mark Mandel, said. “We have an emphasis this year on Saturday’s programming versus a weekday afternoon.”

Churchill Downs officials did not return phone calls on Monday.

ESPN has also dropped one hour of coverage from its Kentucky Derby schedule on May 2, according to Mandel.

With rare exceptions, most racing broadcasts are not straight rights deals in which a network pays the rights-holder to broadcast the race. Instead, a network, racetracks, and sponsors frequently underwrite production costs and split advertising revenue. Sponsorship deals have dried up for all sports in the wake of the worldwide economic crisis.

The Kentucky Derby is broadcast by NBC-TV, a competing network to an ESPN-affiliated network, ABC. Bravo is owned by NBC’s parent company.

In addition, ESPN does not currently plan on showing any racing-related broadcasts before the second race in the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland, according to the network.

ESPN has scheduled five hours of pre-Belmont Stakes coverage. The Belmont, the third leg of the Triple Crown, is broadcast live by ABC.

I guess this means there will be no Breakfast at Churchill preludes as they did a few years ago with the 6:30 am live on-the-ground coverage with morning works, guests, and shedrow interviews for a few days in advance of the Derby :frowning: A shame as I thought they did a great job

The big sponsors in recent years are gone in terms of big ad underwriting 
 Dodge Trucks, CITGO, Bessemer Trust, Netjets, and we’ll never see the big tobacco or hard spirts underwriters we did in the 1970’s with Marlboro and say the “Ballantine’s Scotch Classic”, which was John Henry’s last race Oct. 13, 1984.

Maybe horse racing should start courting profitable but smaller niche caffeine and also craft beer brewing brands like RedBull, Sam Adam’s, Rockstar, Goose Island, etc.

#6

Me too. I’m very sorry about this.

#7

Folks in Kentucky will still get to see it on ‘public tv’ and it is not exclusive to Bravo either:

NBC’s Louisville and Lexington affiliates will show the Oaks live. HRTV will air the entire card, with live video available also to holders of Churchill’s twinspires.com betting accounts.

In regards to the assorted breast cancer partnership for Oaks Day Churchill Downs will:


 donate at least $100,000, and up to $135,000, to Komen by dedicating $1 per admission on Oaks Day, May 1, when general admission is $25. In addition, special Oaks programming will be telecast on the Bravo! network from 5-6 p.m. Eastern on Oaks Day, and a winner’s circle formed by breast cancer survivors will be used for the Oaks winner.

#8

As expected, Bravo’s Top Chef show will get into the act as well 


Brisnet April 2, 2009 “‘Top Chef’ comes to Churchill’s Infield Club”

The Top Chef Tour will be included in Bravo’s special one-hour telecast, “Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby,” on May 1 from 5-6 p.m. (EDT). The program will feature the food, fashion and celebrity experience associated with the 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1); live coverage of the Derby’s sister race, the Kentucky Oaks; 


Top Chef: The Tour will also be featured as part of NBC’s May 2 coverage of the 135th Kentucky Derby (G1), beginning with celebrity Red Carpet arrivals at 4 p.m.

If it brings in even the most casual of viewers then no harm no foul.

The same can be said for the CDI/Mattel Corp creation of the Kentucky Derby Barbie

:smiley:

#9

Sounds like it will be more of a millionaire’s row Barbie than an infield Barbie. Oh well, infield Barbie would have had more fun!

#10

[QUOTE=Laurierace;3993633]
Sounds like it will be more of a millionaire’s row Barbie than an infield Barbie. Oh well, infield Barbie would have had more fun![/QUOTE]

No Triple Crown series as I suspect they’ve nixed “Infield at Preakness” Barbie :wink:

#11

snerk

I can totally picture that in my head. Topless, with short shorts and a natty boh in one hand. :smiley:

#12

[QUOTE=caffeinated;3993713]
snerk

I can totally picture that in my head. Topless, with short shorts and a natty boh in one hand. :D[/QUOTE]

Not anymore. More like 50 year olds head banging to ZZ Top. I think I am going to cry!

#13

oh dear. I knew there was a reason I avoided the infield
 hehe

#14

[QUOTE=Laurierace;3993633]
Sounds like it will be more of a millionaire’s row Barbie than an infield Barbie. Oh well, infield Barbie would have had more fun![/QUOTE]

Perhaps PeTA would not have objected to infield Barbie :smiley: Time and again I’m amazed they plow any resources into the dumbest things imaginable.

If you really are going forward with this version of Barbie, we must ask that you include the items we’ve created for Kentucky Derby Barbie that would explain her presence at Churchill Downs. The items include a Barbie-sized protest sign and memorial wreath (images attached) to complete Barbie’s ensemble. We’ve also created a sticker for the outside of the box that will explain to customers 


Instead of making any difference with a case like this they focus on asinine stunts like going after Mattel. As to why anyone would think $1 going to that ‘charity’ makes a difference I could prove otherwise.

Anyhow 


Kentucky Oaks Contenders page

You can watch all of Rachel Alexandra’s starts here 
 note how much bigger she is in the October 17, 2008 allowance race at Keeneland. That is Mark Johnson the new voice of Churchill Downs calling her stakes record setting effort in the Golden Rod in March.

#15

Some interesting Kentucky Oaks facts 


  1. For the past 70 years, the Kentucky Oaks has been run on Friday, the day before the Kentucky Derby. But before then, the Oaks was run several days, and sometimes weeks, after the Derby.

As a result, it was not uncommon for a filly to run in both races. No filly has ever won the two, but in 1906, Lady Navarre came the closest in each, finishing second, beaten two lengths by Sir Huon, in the 32nd Derby. She returned six days later to run second to King’s Daughter in the 32nd Oaks.

Name the first Derby contestant to win the Kentucky Oaks.

  1. While no horse has ever been disqualified from winning the Kentucky Derby for an infraction during the running of the race (In 1968, Dancer’s Image was disqualified 11 days after the race for a medication violation), such is not the case for the Kentucky Oaks.

Glide, under future Hall of Famer Mack Garner, was disqualified from first and placed out of the money in the 1924 Oaks. She interfered with several horses inside the sixteenth pole. The filly declared the winner was arguably the first really important horse to win the 50-year-old race. Name her.

  1. The Kentucky Derby grew to national prominence in the years 1913-1915, but the Kentucky Oaks took much longer to gain such acceptance. By contrast, the list of winners of the Pimlico Oaks - first run in 1919 - reads in its early years like a who’s who of remarkable fillies. (The name of the race was changed in 1952 to the Black-Eyed Susan.)

Since formal polling for national championships began in 1936, who was the first Kentucky Oaks winner to be voted champion 3-year-old filly?

  1. When this Calumet Farm filly was born in 1953, one of her front forelegs was so twisted that trainer Jimmy Jones was doubtful she would ever make it to the races.

Even with the filly being given months of therapy and corrective plates, Jones said he still didn’t see how she could stand. When she finally got to the track, however, the foot seemed to give her no problems.

At age 3, she beat the two-time champion Doubledogdare by a nose in the Kentucky Oaks and became the third foal out of the broodmare Blue Delight to win the Oaks. Name the three half-sisters.

  1. Owners of top 3-year-old fillies today can be faced with the question of whether to run in the Kentucky Oaks or to gamble at beating males in the Derby. In 134 years, 39 fillies have tried. Only three have succeeded. The most recent to try was the ill-fated Eight Belles, who finished a remarkable second last year.

Some prominent sportswriters and horsemen thought this three-time champion filly, who won the 1962 Oaks, would have become the second filly to win the Derby if she had opted for that race instead. Name her.

The answers here in this link

#16

Joining the Oaks entries: Marylou Whitney’s Tweeter trained by D. Wayne Lukas although a rider is not yet assigned. Tweeter has just 3 lifetime starts and her maiden win was accomplished in her last effort an allowance at Keeneland on April 3.

#17

The Bravo coverage appears to be a one hour segment while, again, Kentuckians can still watch the race on NBC affiliates and HRTV will air the race as well

Broadcasting & Cable 4-23

Bravo and NBC Sports are teaming up to present a one-hour special, Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby, that will celebrate women and explore the fashion and festivites surrounding the Kentucky Oaks. The special will air on May 1, the day of the Oaks race, held one day before the Kentucky Derby.

The special is being hosted by NBC’s Bob Costas, Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell and The Real Housewives of New York City’s Bethenny Frankel. Among the celebrity reporters will be Tiki Barber, Top Chef finalist Stefan Richter, and Top Chef winners Stephanie Izard and Hosea Rosenberg.

I don’t believe that Bobby Frankel will have any Oaks starters 


Its almost nice to see that ESPN’s dropping of the Oaks means they’ve fumbled the opportunity to air Zenyatta’s much anticipated return to racing in the undercard race not to mention showcasing Rachel Alexandra :wink:

#18

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4048975]
Joining the Oaks entries: Marylou Whitney’s Tweeter trained by D. Wayne Lukas although a rider is not yet assigned. Tweeter has just 3 lifetime starts and her maiden win was accomplished in her last effort an allowance at Keeneland on April 3.[/QUOTE]

And if Tweeter can’t make it, D. Wayne will be racing his stable pony, the stable nanny-goat, or maybe Marylou herself.

#19

[QUOTE=InWhyCee Redux;4052084]
And if Tweeter can’t make it, D. Wayne will be 
[/QUOTE]

:smiley:

From Sunday’s activity

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of the Kentucky Oaks, said, “She went just perfect.” Lukas added, “Have you ever heard a trainer not like a horse’s work?”

Marylou Whitney Stables’ Tweeter galloped shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. Lukas is still not definite on her final work plans, but has indicated it would come Monday or Tuesday.

#20

KENTUCKY OAKS

According to the Latest Email I got from Bloodhorse, the OAKS will NOT be shown by Bravo!
They are going to show Fashion, Food and other nonsense ! But NOT The RACE!

Am so upset with ESPN words fail me (at least Lady-Like ones) ~

I’ve already Ranted At ESPN on the phone
but like many things in life
Beat your head against the Wall or in this case, ESPN

This will be the first time I can not see the Fillies run in the Oaks which in my opinion is just Racing Discrimination!

Next thing ya know they won’t show day 1 of the BC either!

I would not be this upset IF BRAVO were indeed showing the Oaks Day, but from what I now read, they are not even showing the Oaks race itself, or the full day of races

THANK YOU ESPN
And you wonder why Racing loses Fans and does not acquire new ones?

Gee Maybe What U Now Have Done Is A Clue!

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $21.95 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse