TVG, America’s Horseracing Network, and Watch and Wager LLC, the new operator of Sacramento’s Cal Expo Harness, which will launch its 2012-13 meet on Friday night, have forged an exclusive broadcast partnership, both companies have announced.

Cal Expo Harness, located at the California State Fairgrounds, will present live racing through May 11, with Friday and Saturday programs until December 22, then three nights a week for the remainder of the meet on a Thursday-through-Saturday basis. The exception will be a special Wednesday, December 26 card with no racing the following evening.

“We are excited to have TVG as our exclusive broadcast partner and as an ADW provider,” said Chris Schick, general manager of Cal Expo Harness. “We believe that TVG’s widespread distribution network will be a major asset and will help bring the California harness racing industry to a new level.”

“TVG welcomes the opportunity to serve as the exclusive broadcast partner of Cal Expo Harness,” said Tony Allevato, TVG’s executive vice president. “The track’s new ownership group and management team are committed to presenting a first class racing product, and we look forward to delivering that product to our viewers and customers.”

Schick cites several reasons why Cal Expo Harness will succeed in developing a strong following.

“First, our goal is to deliver the best racing product possible and with racing operations from around the country sending horses here we believe we are on the way to achieving that goal,” he said. “Second, we are committed to being consumer friendly, including offering three nightly popular exotic wagers – a 50 cent pick 5, a $25,000 guaranteed $1 pick 4 and a 10 cent super high five – with low 16 per cent takeout rates. Finally, by racing from 6 to 11 p.m. PT, we should attract an audience across all time zones, picking up east coast fans when those tracks close, adding people in central time and maintaining the west coast viewer all evening.”

(TVG/Cal Expo)