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"Monster Horse" Big Brown, Seeking First Triple Crown In 30 Years, In Preakness Stakes, Saturday 4:30 PM ET On NBC

Bob Costas led Roundtable on Horse Racing Industry Features Gary Stevens, Larry Bramlage, Larry Jones, Bill Rhoden and Alex Waldrop

Stevens On Big Brown: “They have to run the race but I don’t see anyone in the field who is even close to his ability.”

NEW YORK – May 14, 2008 – It’s been 30 years since a horse has won the Triple Crown and many think that Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown is the horse to break that streak as NBC Sports presents exclusive coverage of the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., beginning Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, live in high definition.

Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown with jockey Kent Desormeaux will attempt to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win horse racing’s Triple Crown as he faces a field of 13, including Derby challenger Gayego, in the Preakness. Big Brown won the Derby convincingly, becoming the first horse since 1929 to win the race from the No. 20 post position.

NBC’s two-hour Preakness broadcast is 30 minutes longer than last year and the most network coverage ever of the Preakness Stakes. NBC Sports’ Bob Costas will lead a roundtable discussion that will examine the tragic death of filly Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby and the challenges that lie ahead for the horse racing industry. Joining Costas will be Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones, NBC’s horse racing analyst Gary Stevens, Churchill Downs veterinarian Larry Bramlage, Alex Waldrop, CEO of the NTRA and veteran New York Times columnist William Rhoden.

COSTAS ON THIS SATURDAY’S ROUDNTABLE EXAMINING THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY: “This is a worthy topic which is especially timely now. NBC has set aside enough time to do justice to the issues involved.”

RACE COVERAGE: NBC Sports race coverage is co-hosted by Tom Hammond and Costas alongside two-time Preakness winner Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Barton-Brothers, who retired in 1998 after an impressive 11-year career as a jockey. The Preakness Stakes on NBC is produced by Sam Flood and directed by David Michaels.

STEVENS PICK, “ITS OBVIOUSLY BIG BROWN’S TO LOSE”: NBC Sports analyst Stevens, a Hall of Fame jockey who won the Preakness twice, aboard Silver Charm in 1997 and Point Given in 2001, says that Big Brown is the horse to beat on Saturday: “I think it is obviously Big Brown's race to lose. They have to run the race but I don’t see anyone in the field who is even close to his ability. He can actually regress a little bit off of the Kentucky Derby and still win. The other horses are going to have to improve dramatically to beat him. He’s my obvious pick.”

NEUMEIER PICKS BIG BROWN AGAIN: NBC Sports reporter/handicapper Bob Neumeier successfully picked Big Brown to win the Kentucky Derby and is his obvious choice to take the Preakness: “It’s shades of the Barbaro 2006 Derby-Preakness scenario. The winner of the Kentucky Derby is sent off as the 2-5 Preakness favorite. In 2006, Barbaro had a legitimate contender in Bernadini. It appears there are no such challengers for Big Brown.”

BIG BROWN JOCKEY KENT DESORMEAUX ON THE PREAKNESS: “Everyone knows how excited people get for the Kentucky Derby. Well I get just as excited or even more about the Preakness,” said Desormeaux. “I may have grown up in Maurice, Louisiana but I grew up in the industry at Pimlico and Laurel Park. So to come there, and get to ride in Maryland’s signature event, is really important to me personally.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT BIG BROWN:

KENT DESORMEAUX: “It was so obvious the separation when I encouraged Big Brown to go. He just left the field and that’s what I have been awed about this whole week with what kind of talent I am dealing with. The horse is really, really fast.”

GARY STEVENS: “It’s been 30 years since we had our last Triple Crown winner – it’s time for another.”

DAVID CARROLL – TRAINER, DENIS OF CORK: “This horse is a monster.”

BLOODHORSE MAGAZINE: “Big Brown lived up to his hype and looks to be a strong shot at the Triple Crown.”

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: “Big Brown looks like he has a very good chance to win (the Triple Crown).”


PREAKNESS STAKES LUCKY U GAME: NBC Sports and The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City present The Preakness Stakes Lucky U Game, a contest where a lucky fan can win a cash prize and a trip to the 2009 Preakness Stakes. After the field for the 2008 Preakness Stakes is set on Wednesday, May 14, horse racing fans will be able to vote for the horse that they think will win. The winner will receive $10,000 in cash and a 2009 Preakness Stakes VIP Experience provided by The Maryland Jockey Club, including tickets to the Preakness and other Preakness Stakes events, round-trip transportation, and accommodations. Viewers of NBC’s Preakness Stakes broadcast and other fans will be invited to enter by sending a text message for their choice from their cell phone. Standard text messaging charges. Fans can also enter by going online to NBCSports.com.

WATCH BIG BROWN ON NBCSPORTS.COM: Go to NBCSports.com and follow Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown on an isolation camera.

SEE THE PREAKNESS ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE: Users on the go can watch the Preakness Stakes live on their mobile phones through NBC2Go.

PREAKNESS A RATINGS SUCCESS ON NBC: Since 2001 when the Preakness Stakes moved from ABC to NBC, average viewership has increased by 58% over the previous seven years on ABC.

-MJC-