NBC has announced that effective this year and through 2015, thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, will all be broadcast on its network

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A report by the Louisville Courier-Journal explains that the move will now see all of the Triple Crown races broadcast on the same network for the first time since 2005.

The Louisville Courier-Journal article quotes NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol as saying the deal allows the network to "significantly expand the reach of these iconic events with extensive coverage on (cable channel) Versus.”

(With files from the Louisville Courier-Journal)