Fox Sports 2 to air Saratoga races

ELMONT, N.Y. – As the New York Racing Association prepares to launch its national advance-deposit wagering platform, NYRA Bets, next month, the company is expanding its television presence to enable more people to watch its product.

NYRA announced Wednesday it has reached a multiyear agreement with Fox Sports 2 to broadcast its “Saratoga Live” program during the 40-day Saratoga summer meet. Last week, NYRA reached a similar agreement with Altitude Sports, a network that serves the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions. The networks, along with the New York-based MSG-Plus, will show two to 2 1/2 hours of live racing from Saratoga on almost each of the 40 racing days. This year’s Saratoga meet runs from July 22 through Sept. 5.

NYRA is planning to launch NYRA Bets – which replaces its New York-only platform, NYRA Rewards – in July, presumably coinciding with the opening of Saratoga.

“NYRA and its legendary Saratoga Race Course represent the very best in Thoroughbred racing,” said Michael Mulvihill, senior vice president for programming and research at Fox Sports. “We are thrilled to bring daily coverage of NYRA to a national audience on one of television’s fastest-growing networks, FS2.”

“The opportunity for horse racing to be featured on national television in such a consistent manner is unprecedented,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA’s executive producer and president of NYRA Bets. “NYRA proudly looks forward to partnering with Fox Sports to present live coverage of the sport’s best racing live from Saratoga Race Course.”