The NTRA and CBS Sports reached a one-year deal to
broadcast the five-hour "NTRA Champions" series over a
seven-week period next June and July. The series will add
turf races next year. CBS replaces Fox as the carrier of
the series (THE DAILY). The DAILY RACING FORM's Matt
Hegarty reports that "details of the broadcasts were scant,"
although the NTRA said the series will begin with the
Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park and the Charles
Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 10, and end
with the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on July 28. The NTRA
moved to CBS because Fox' NASCAR and MLB deals "left few
available windows for horse racing" (DRF, 11/11).
DEFECTION UPDATE: Meanwhile, Hegarty also reports that
the NTRA and the 22 racetracks that recently announced their
intention to withdraw from the organization "still appeared
far apart" yesterday, the "day before a deadline for the
tracks to renew" their membership. Churchill Downs Chair
Thomas Meeker, who met with reps from the defecting tracks,
said that he was "encouraged by the meeting" but added, "The
tracks in disagreement with the NTRA continue to stand firm
on several business issues." Former NTRA board member and
former Hollywood Park Chair R.D. Hubbard "sharply criticized
the dissident tracks and called on the NTRA to move forward
without them. He "singled out" Magna Entertainment Chair
Frank Stronach by saying, "The NTRA would be better off if
Stronach was a partner, but if not, we should go forward."
More Hubbard: "I wonder how Stronach would feel if he
invested his own money instead of shareholder money? I do
not see a game plan of where they're going. It's time to
question it, to get answers" (DAILY RACING FORM, 11/11).
Stronach said that he "could reconsider his decision" to
withdraw his seven tracks from the NTRA, but added he is
ready to "do my own thing." Additionally, Stronach said he
is "in the process of buying a few more [tracks] so within
the next two to three months, I think we should have another
three or four (THOROUGHBRED TIMES, 11/9).
