WHO WILL TELEVISE THE APPLE BLOSSOM?
By Ray Paulick
A potential April 3 matchup at Oaklawn Park between Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and unbeaten, two-time champion Zenyatta may be the best news racing fans have heard in a long time. Oaklawn Park owner Charles Cella announced the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap would have its purse bumped from $500,000 to $5 million if both horses run, and the race would be lengthened from 1 1/16 miles to nine furlongs. It would change from a handicap to an invitational if both participated. If either fails to enter, the Apple Blossom would revert back to a $500,000 race.
Left unaddressed in the press release from Oaklawn Park was whether any network television plans for the race have been formulated beyond TVG and HRTV. April 3 is a busy day on the racing and sports calendar.
NBC will be televising two important races for 3-year-olds late that afternoon, the Wood Memorial from Aqueduct and Santa Anita Derby from Santa Anita Park in Southern California. Would NBC try to squeeze the Apple Blossom into the same broadcast, and would Oaklawn Park agree to share such a marquee event with two prep races for the Kentucky Derby?
The NBC deal was done with Churchill Downs, not the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which formerly was responsible for much of the horse racing industry’s television exposure, primarily on the ESPN family of networks. The NTRA, while no longer in the television business and Oaklawn Park no longer a member of the NTRA, have assured the Paulick Report they will aggressively work with all parties to promote this event. According to Keith Chamblin, “The NTRA has and will continue to do everything it possibly can to maximize the promotion and television exposure of a showdown between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.”
Post time for the Apple Blossom could be a tricky decision, too. If the race is run after 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time (Arkansas is in the Central time zone), it could go head to head with the first of two Final Four games in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament from Indianaapolis, which will be televised on CBS that evening. If it is run between 4:30-5:30 p.m. Eastern, it could butt heads with the Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby.
Needless to say, with the Final Four games scheduled that night, horse racing will have a difficult time getting much coverage in the mainstream press around the country. But if Oaklawn Park can pull it off, it will be a huge day for the Arkansas racetrack, and existing fans of the sport will have got what they wanted.
Copyright © 2010, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Apple Blossom Handicap, aqueduct, Charles Cella, churchill downs, espn, horse of the year, HRTV, kentucky derby, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, NBC, NCAA basketball tournament, NTRA, oaklawn park, Paulick Report, Rachel Alexandra, Ray Paulick, santa anita derby, tvg, wood memorial, zenyatta
February 4th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
The point is moot. Jess Jackson already left this match up on the table and walked away. Now, back to Derby preps.
Be thanklful for what we have: DERBY PREPS!!
February 4th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I say it happens!
OP, NTRA and the connections will work together to promote and execute a much needed showdown.
Let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Bravo to Oaklawn, once again! The track could run the Apple Blossom earlier in the day and have several good races after the big race even if it means boosting a few purses a little to attract better horses and keep crowd and handle up all day or, since it is not a Derby, run the big race a Sunday! It’ll give Rachel one more day to get ready and she might need it
February 4th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Everybody’s dogging Jackson for not accepting the offer, but I’ve yet to read Moss/Shirreffs committing to the race. Enough of the stupid statements to get digs in re last year and HOY. Time to move on - neither party has committed to this race yet.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Why Not do it on SUNDAY
February 5th, 2010 at 1:35 am
Sunday (4/4) is Easter
February 5th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Here’s a no-brainer… push Apple Blossom back a week to April 10 that way it’s not competing against the Final Four and WM and SAD
February 5th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
smarty jr, then it’s just competing against the Masters Tournament, which is comparable albeit somewhat smaller than the Final Four. The best date is April 17.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
The perfect spot for the best host to entertain Racing’s Leading Ladies and their entourages! Bravo Charlie!
February 5th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Nancy … Zenyatta was already being pointed to the race. She’ll run with or without Rachel there.
whobet … Sunday (4/4) is Easter Sunday.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:18 am
Tom,
Being pointed to a race is not the same as committing or entering, and even entering a race is no guarantee the horse will run. You do remember Zen’s scratch from the Lousville last year don’t you?? There are no guarantees until there are horses in the starting gate, and at this point neither set of connections have made a committment (which is a stronger indicator than than being pointed to a race).
February 6th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Thanks for your keen insight Nancy,,,,Blah, Blah, Blah. Now go bake some cookies.