Hambletonian: New look CBS Network broadcast on Saturday

CBS Sports Network will present a 60-minute telecast of the $1 million Hambletonian, live from The Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J., on Sat., Aug. 7, from 5:30--6:30 p.m. (EDT). The Hambletonian is the richest race in the world for 3-year-old trotters.

The broadcast will re-air a few hours later at 12 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8.

CBS Sports Network has been the broadcast home of the Hambletonian since 2012, and will also showcase the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, the filly division of the Hambletonian.

"The Hambletonian is one of the most important international trotting events in the sport of harness racing," said Hambletonian Society president John Campbell, the organization that owns and administers 133 of racing's most important events. "The Society and its host track partners have secured national television for the Hambletonian for more than 40 years, and with the continued support of the Meadowlands and the U.S. Trotting Association we are proud to extend that record."

Co-hosting this year's show are a pair of racetrack television veterans, Greg Blanchard and Emily Gaskin.

Blanchard, who will be making his third consecutive appearance on the Hambletonian broadcast, is the host of COSA TV, a digital platform that produces content and live race broadcasts from racetracks across Ontario. Over his career in racing that spans more than 30 years, Blanchard has served as the TV host and manager of media communications at Woodbine Entertainment, host of Bet Night Live, a weekly show broadcast nationally in Canada on The Score and as part of broadcasts on Sportsnet and TSN. Blanchard is currently the director of sales and retail operations for the Western Fair Association in London, Ont.

Gaskin is familiar to racing fans as the on-air racing analyst and race marketing manager at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Gaskin, part of the Hoosier Park broadcast team when the Indiana track hosted two Breeders Crown championship nights in 2017 and 2020, will be making her debut on the Hambletonian broadcast. The daughter of Indiana Hall of Fame horseman Ernie Gaskin, she has held various roles throughout the industry after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a degree in agricultural communications. The winner of the 2014 Breakthrough Award by the U.S. Harness Writers Association also serves on the board of trustees for the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

Meadowlands TV personalities Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten will also provide analysis and interviews as part of the broadcast as segments of the racetrack's presentation will be interwoven into the one-hour show. Meadowlands announcer Ken Warkentin will provide his racing expertise and race call.

Emmy Award winner Mike Trager and the Trager Group have been executive producers of the Hambletonian broadcasts for the past 25 years. The award-winning team will be led this year by producer Peter Lasser, also a veteran of Hambletonian and harness racing broadcast.

CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, is available across the country in more than 99 million homes nationwide. For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

-edited release (Hambletonian Society)