Relinquishing Its Crown

NBC likely to pick up Belmont Stakes, reunite all three Triple Crown races

ESPN has pulled out of negotiations for the Belmont Stakes, meaning that NBC almost certainly will pick up its TV rights and all three Triple Crown races will be reunited on the same network for the first time since '05. In a statement released to THE DAILY, ESPN said, "Our contract was up and we elected not to renew. It did not make good business sense to renew so we have moved on and will focus our horse racing coverage on the Breeders' Cup." NBC holds the Kentucky Derby rights through '15; Preakness rights are still in flux, but NBC is likely to get those as well, sources said. ESPN has carried the Belmont on ABC since '06 after signing a five-year, $20M deal for the race. To cut that deal, the ...