NBC Sports Group Secures Rights to All Three Triple Crown Races

NBC will broadcast all three legs of horse racing’s prestigious Triple Crown through 2015. The NBC Sports Group announced Tuesday that it has renewed the rights to the Preakness Stakes and reacquired rights to the Belmont Stakes. NBC had already renewed rights to the Kentucky Derby. This marks the first time that all three races will be on one network since NBC aired them in 2005. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The deal includes 25 hours of Triple Crown coverage split between NBC and Versus, which is owned by the newly formed NBC Sports Group. Versus will carry the Black Eyed Susan Stakes and other Preakness-day and Belmont-day programming. Additionally, expanded Derby week programming including the Kentucky Oaks and Derby day programming will air on Versus.

“Everyone at NBC Sports Group is delighted that the Triple Crown has been reassembled. We are now uniquely positioned to significantly expand the reach of these iconic events with extensive coverage on VERSUS,” says Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “As we previously announced, we are continuing our long-standing partnership with the Kentucky Derby. To add this extension with the Preakness while reacquiring the Belmont gives our new NBC Sports Group the three most important events in thoroughbred racing. And we want to thank Churchill Downs Incorporated and CEO Bob Evans for his leadership in paving the way for the Triple Crown to return to NBC.”