NBC boosts buildup for Belmont
NEW YORK (AP) – NBC and its cable sports affiliate have twice as much time set aside for coverage of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes than they did last year. The big difference is California Chrome’s attempt to win horse racing’s Triple Crown.
The NBC Sports Network began its buildup with a documentary that premiered Wednesday and will be repeated five times. The NBC broadcast network’s coverage of the race on Saturday begins at 4:30 p.m. EDT.
Viewership interest in the Belmont essentially doubles when there’s a horse entered with the chance of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
NBC is even introducing a California Chrome-cam. It will have a camera devoted to following the horse on the day of the race starting with its first training run just after dawn.