ITV has been forced to axe coverage of a historic sporting event for the first time in years owing to a programming clash.
But Sky Sports and Racing TV have come to the rescue with an uninterrupted broadcast of the blockbuster American fixture.
Aidan O’Brien’s Derby winner City Of Troy will look to become the first horse ever to win the Epsom feature and the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, November 2.
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The awesome son of Justify is 3-1 favourite to do the double in the feature race of what is known as the ‘world championships’ of racing.
ITV have been proud hosts of the Breeders’ Cup – which this year takes place in Del Mar in California – recently, showing all the Group 1s.
They broadcast 14 races in all over two nights last year when the fixture was held at Santa Anita and big-name horses including Auguste Rodin and Inspiral, ridden by Frankie Dettori, were among the winners.
But there will be no terrestrial coverage of the star-studded meeting, which features a load of British and Irish horses, when it begins in November.
After all they do, it’s a shame ITV miss the big one
By Sam Morgan
THE commitment ITV have made to showcasing racing – more than 100 days a year – should not be sniffed at.
The BBC barely touch a sport which has the second highest attendance of any in the UK.
And ITV’s coverage extends to the action in Ireland, where so many of the top horses we come to love at Cheltenham and Aintree train, and France for next month’s Arc de Triomphe.
They recognise it’s a global sport now and their broadcasts reflect that.
Yes there are quibbles about the betting coverage and the ‘dumbing down’ of the sport, but ITV is catering for a mass audience and they by and large do a great job.
There is no doubt that the interviews they draw out of jockeys, trainers and owners are the best around.
So it’s a shame that City Of Troy’s bid for history in the Breeders’ Cup Classic won’t be shown on terrestrial TV.
In reality, chances are the viewing figures would have been pretty low anyway with the race, from Del Mar in California, being on close to midnight on a Saturday night.
But if it were to capture the imagination of just one new racing fan it would have been worth it.
In that sense it’s a shame – but with the jumps coming back soon, there’s still so much to look forward to.
An ITV spokesperson told the Racing Post that ‘existing contracted programming’ meant a clash, with the Breeders’ Cup coverage biting the bullet.
Fortunately for punters Sky Sports Racing and dedicated subscription-only channel Racing TV will show all the action live, providing in-depth analysis before each race and post-race comments.
ITV has ramped up its coverage of racing and in 2023 signed a new three-year deal that committed to showing the sport until 2026.
Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani front up their Cheltenham, Grand National and Royal Ascot coverage.
While ITV cameras show racing more than 100 days of the year as part of the agreement.
A number of horses featured throughout the year on ITV will be in action at Del Mar.
Notable Speech, the 2000 Guineas winner for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, looks set to compete against awesome Falmouth heroine Porta Fortuna in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
While Nunthorpe winner and former Royal Ascot champ Bradsell looks set to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The Turf is a who’s who of British winners in recent months but the whole meeting revolves around City Of Troy.
The Derby, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte winner is looking to do what no horse has ever done and win the Epsom showpiece and Classic in the same year.
The Coolmore-owned colt will warm-up for his American mission with a spin round Southwell on Friday.
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