Red Mile to make first appearance on national TV

Lexington, KY — On Sunday (Oct. 6) The Red Mile celebrates the culmination of the famed one-mile oval’s 150th anniversary season by placing itself upon on the network television scene in a new agreement with the Fox Sports family in conjunction with the New York Racing Association (NYRA).

The iconic red clay facility, where many of harness racing’s historic moments have transpired, will enter the annals of the sport yet again by presenting the Kentucky Futurity, the final jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown, to households across the country for the first time since 1987 when the Breeders Crown was on ESPN.

“Fox Sports and NYRA are pleased to partner with The Red Mile for a terrific day of harness racing,” said Eric Donovan, Senior Director of Television Broadcast Operations at NYRA. “Many of the horses entered will be making their final start prior to the Breeders Crown, including Karl, the Hambletonian winner.

“We look forward to showcasing Futurity Day as we prepare for the Breeders Crown eliminations and finals, which we are proud to produce on Fox Sports.”

Donovan and his team have expanded harness racing coverage since Fox Sports entered the sphere of the sport in 2021 with the broadcast of that year’s Meadowlands Pace. In the ensuing three years, Fox Sports has provided coverage of many of harness racing’s most prolific events including the Little Brown Jug, the Dan Patch Memorial, the Graduate Series, Ohio Super Night and the Breeders Crown.

Now it adds the one of the most revered contests to its menu of harness racing fare.

The inaugural edition of the Kentucky Futurity broadcast will be available from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on FS1 and from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on FS2. The production will include all eight stake races on the blockbuster 12-race card, which include divisions of the prestigious Allerage Trot, Tattersalls Pace, Glen Garnsey Memorial and the Kentucky Filly Futurity.

The $500,000 Kentucky Futurity is the final race on the card of a post time of 4:40 p.m. Favored Karl drew post position 11 and will have regular pilot, Yannick Gingras, at the controls for conditioner Nancy Takter.

Despite a Triple Crown not being on the line this season, Karl should draw plenty of attention in a contentious field of 11 as the lone trailer. The son of Tactical Landing-Avalicious is 6-5 on the morning line despite a neck loss to rival Dame Good Time (Tim Tetrick, post position two, 8-1) in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final on Sept. 15.

No matter what occurs on Sunday, one thing is certain: history will be made.

“We are excited to bring one of the greatest cards of the year in harness racing to a national audience, a first for The Red Mile even with all the tradition and history,” Gabe Prewitt, Vice President of Wagering and Sports Wagering Operations, said. “Eric and the crew with America’s Day at the Races are first class and I have all the confidence in the world Sunday will be a great success.”

Prewitt, who is also the track announcer and frequent host on the Fox broadcasts will hand the reins to his regular colleague, Jessica Otten, and her sister, Jenna.