CBS Sports Network will present a 90-minute high-definition live broadcast from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (EDT) of America’s Trotting Classic, the $1.2 million Hambletonian, from the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, Aug. 2. The 24-hour home of CBS Sports has been the home of the Hambletonian since 2012.
CBS Sports Network expanded its coverage of harness racing in 2014 to include two more of the sport’s most prestigious stakes
The $750,000 Meadowlands Pace was broadcast live on July 12, in a telecast that included the dramatic win of Hes Watching, as well as the final Hambletonian prep races, the Stanley Dancer Memorial won by Father Patrick, and Del Miller Memorial for sophomore trotting fillies, won by Shake It Cerry.
The action shifts to the historic fairgrounds at Delaware, Ohio for the $600,000 Little Brown Jug brought to you by Fazoli’s, which will air on CBSSN on Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Wider exposure of the major stakes has long been a goal of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment and the Hambletonian Society, the sponsors of the Hambletonian.
“Live television of the premier events has always been a top priority of the Hambletonian Society,” said Tom Charters, president of the organization which owns and administrates 137 of racing’s most important events. “The Hambletonian has been televised for more than 40 years and we’re proud to be televised on CBS Sport Network, and pleased to see more harness racing added to the schedule.”
The on-air team for the Hambletonian is a stellar trio of harness racing veterans. Gary Seibel, a host of racing coverage on ESPN, NBC, CBS and TVG, will anchor the coverage. A member of harness racing’s Communicators Hall of Fame, Seibel will be appearing on his 22nd straight Hambletonian broadcast. Seibel also hosted network TV coverage of the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s divisional championship series, and filled a similar role for the American Championship Harness Series.
Dave Brower, one of harness racing’s sharpest handicappers, will co-anchor. Brower is an alumnus of "Racing from the Meadowlands" television program on SNY, Fox Sports New York, MSG Networks and TVG's “Drive Time.” This will be his third year as co-host of the Hambletonian on CBS Sports Network. Brower wrote “Harnessing Winners: The Complete Guide to Handicapping Harness Races,” published by Daily Racing Form’s press division in 2009.
Justin Horowitz returns in his role of trackside reporter. Horowitz, a former sports video-journalist in Minnesota and New York, is now the racing and media manager for Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs in New York and Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. Horowitz debuted on CBS Sports Network’s Hambletonian broadcast in 2012, and was awarded a Barasch Breakthrough Award the following year for his subsequent contributions.
Emmy Award winner Mike Trager and the Trager Group will produce the Hambletonian. Peter Lasser directs.
CBS Sports Network (CBSSN), the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, televises 350 live games and 2,900 hours of original programming every year including CBS Sports shoulder programming, live college football, college basketball, and more from the MW, C-USA, A-10, Army, Navy, and the Patriot League. CBSSN is the home to Professional Bull Riding and Major League Lacrosse.
DIRECTV (channel 221) carries CBS Sports Network in its Choice Extra package while Dish Network (158) carries CBS Sports Network in its Classic Silver 200 package. The channel is also available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite. For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
The CBS Sports Network channel listing for Canadian television providers is as follows: Rogers – 416 SD, 547 HD Cogeco – 160 SD, 744 HD Bell Expressvu – 413 SD, 1432 HD Eastlink – Primarily 134, also found on 206, 168 Sasktel – 425 BellAliant TV – 479.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)