In 2013, six major Kentucky Derby prep races will be televised live by The Jockey Club in collaboration with the NBC Sports Group and six racetracks.  There will also be a 30-minute special previewing the Triple Crown season during the last two Saturdays in March and the first two Saturdays in April.  , it was announced today.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby announced today is a series that will start with a 30-minute special previewing the televised races and the Triple Crown season. The special will air on NBC Sports Network on Saturday, March 23, from 6 – 6:30 p.m. ET.

The racing telecasts kick off Saturday, March 30, with the Besilu Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park and the Louisiana Derby from FairGrounds Race Course & Slots on NBC Sports Network from 6 – 7 p.m. ET.

The Wood Memorial from Aqueduct Racetrack and the Santa Anita Derby from Santa Anita Park will air on NBC Sports Network on Saturday, April 6, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. ET.

The series will conclude on Saturday, April 13, with two and half hours of continuous coverage spread across two networks.

A 90-minute live broadcast on NBC featuring the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland Race Course will be followed by a one-hour broadcast on the NBC Sports Network featuring the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park. The NBC telecast will air from 4:30 – 6 p.m. ET; the NBC Sports Network telecast will air from 6 – 7 p.m. ET.

All six races fall into the highest tier on Churchill Downs’ new points system to determine starters for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, on NBC. The points system features 36 stakes races overall and 17 marquee events for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that comprise a 10-week run up to the first Saturday in May.

Increased television coverage of Thoroughbred racing and the development of a new digital media strategy were among nine major recommendations identified in the major economic study of the Thoroughbred industry that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted in association with the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in 2011.

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE (All Times ET)

Saturday, March 23, 2013, 6 – 6:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network) Road to the Kentucky Derby preview show

Saturday, March 30, 2013, 6 – 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Network) Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park) and Louisiana Derby (Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots)

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network) Wood Memorial (Aqueduct Racetrack) and Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita Park)

Saturday, April 13, 2013, 4:30 – 6 p.m. (NBC) Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland)

Saturday, April 13, 2013, 6 – 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)  Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)

Kentucky Derby Tours looks forward to the live television coverage of the Kentucky Derby prep races.  It is always fun to see the connections of the horses and we enjoy hearing them talk about getting their 2013 Kentucky Derby tickets.