ABC to show some of Breeders' Cup

The first two and a half hours of live Breeders' Cup coverage on Saturday, Oct. 25, has been moved to ABC-TV from its sister network ESPN, officials of Breeders' Cup and the networks said on Monday.

ESPN initially had been scheduled to air six straight hours of live coverage from Santa Anita Park on Oct. 25, the second day of the two-day event. A broadcast window in the early afternoon opened up, however, and Breeders' Cup and ESPN elected to start the coverage on ABC, officials for Breeders' Cup and ESPN said.

Mark Mandel, a spokesman for ABC and ESPN, said that the networks do not know precisely which broadcast windows will be available in the fall until football schedules are released in the spring.

As a result of the switch, ABC will air the Breeders' Cup from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern. The coverage will move to ESPN for the remainder of the telecast, scheduled to end at 7 p.m.

Coverage of the five Breeders' Cup races restricted to female horses that will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, will be carried live by ESPN2 in a three-hour broadcast beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.