NBC Sports Group Sets 8 Hours of Preakness Stakes Coverage

Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome leads the field as the NBC Sports Group presents 8 hours of coverage of the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Coverage begins from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., Friday at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and culminates with the Preakness Stakes Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

With a win Saturday at the Preakness Stakes, California Chrome will head to the Belmont aiming to become the first horse to win the elusive Triple Crown since Affirmed, with jockey Steve Cauthen, in 1978. NBC Sports Group's coverage of the Belmont Stakes begins Friday, June 6.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Group coverage of the Preakness Stakes features Bob Costas, a 26-time Emmy Award-winner, and veteran NBC Sports commentator Tom Hammond; analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey; analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; NBCSN host/NBC reporter Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman, and race caller Larry Collmus. In addition, Josh Elliott and Carolyn Manno will provide a mix of features and interviews at Pimlico.

FEATURES AND STORYLINES: The features NBC Sports Group is preparing for its Preakness coverage include:

· A trip to the homes of California Chrome's co-owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, who returned to their day jobs just days after winning at Churchill Downs;
· A look at some of the new shooters trying to beat the Derby champ;
· Josh Elliott visits with California Chrome's jockey Victor Espinoza and his older brother Jose, a jockey whose career ended with a terrifying fall at Saratoga nine months ago;
· Carolyn Manno reports from the infield at Pimlico;
· Bob Costas offers an essay on California Chrome.

PRODUCTION TEAM: The coordinating producer of NBC's horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, a veteran of the network's horse racing coverage since 2001. The Preakness Stakes is directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports' horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. NBCSN's coverage is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Patrick McManus. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood, who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.

PREAKNESS STAKES

Date Time Event Network
Fri., 3 p.m Preakness Classics: Oxbow (2013); I'll NBCSN
May 16 . Have Another (2012); Rachel Alexandra
(2009)
Fri., 4 p.m Black Eyed Susan Stakes NBCSN
May 16 .
Sat., 1 p.m Preakness Saturday NBCSN
May 17 .
Sat., 4:30 Preakness Stakes NBC
May 17 p.m.
Sat., 6:30 Preakness Post-Race Show NBCSN
May 17 p.m.