TurfPublicists: MSG PLUS' "SATURDAYS AT SARATOGA," BEGINS LIVE COVERAGE TOMORROW AT 5 P.M.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Contacts: Dan Silver

Dan Schoenberg

MSG PLUS’ “SATURDAYS AT SARATOGA,” BEGINS LIVE COVERAGE TOMORROW AT 5 P.M.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – MSG Plus, in partnership with The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), presents the first episode of “Saturdays at Saratoga” tomorrow, July 31 at 5:00 p.m. live from historic Saratoga Race Course. Saturday’s one-hour telecast will feature the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana and the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy – Saratoga’s traditional prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers. Jason Blewitt, Eric Donovan and Andy Serling will provide commentary for the telecast.

About the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana:

Forever Together, the 2008 Champion Female Turf Horse, bids for her third consecutive victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The 1 1/8^th-mile turf test features a talented group of fillies and mares, with the top three finishers of June’s Grade 1 Just a Game – Proviso, Phola, and My Princess Jess – expected to challenge Forever Together. Proviso seeks her third straight Grade 1 victory, having defeated males in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap prior to her triumph in the Just a Game.

About the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy:

Also featured live on MSG Plus, the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy – Saratoga’s traditional prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers – has attracted Belmont Stakes runner-up Fly Down and a pair of up-and-coming 3-year-olds in Afleet Express and Friend or Foe. Afleet Express posted a 1 ¾-length victory in the Grade 3 Pegasus last time out, while undefeated Friend or Foe stretches out in distance after prevailing by 2 ½ lengths in a strong renewal of the Mike Lee for New York-breds. The 1 1/8^th-mile event also includes recent impressive allowance winners A Little Warm, who won the Spectacular Bid over the winter, and Aikenite, who has placed in four graded stakes so far in his career. These promising sophomores will get a stern challenge from the Grade 2 Dwyer winner Fly Down, who enters the Jim Dandy off his runner-up effort in the Belmont Stakes.

MSG Plus' “Saturdays at Saratoga” telecasts will include live coverage of ten graded stakes races, including the Travers, Jim Dandy, Whitney, Betfair TVG Alabama and Woodward, races won by the likes of War Admiral, Kelso, Dr. Fager, Easy Goer, 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin, and 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Below is the 2010 schedule for “Saturdays at Saratoga” live on MSG Plus:

Date Time Race

July 31 5 – 6pm $500,000 Diana (GI) and $500,000 Jim Dandy (GII)

August 7 5 – 6pm $750,000 Whitney (GI) and $250,000 Test (GI)

August 14 5 – 6pm $500,000 Sword Dancer (GI)

August 21 5 – 6pm $500,000 Betfair TVG Alabama (GI)

August 28 5 – 6pm $1 Million Travers (GI) and $250,000 King’s Bishop (GI)

September 4 5 – 6pm $750,000 Woodward (GI) and $250,000 Forego (GI)

MSG Plus and NYRA will co-produce “Saturdays at Saratoga.”

About MSG Media

MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from MSG’s venues. MSG Media consists of the MSG Networks (MSG, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD) regional sports networks and the Fuse Networks (Fuse and Fuse HD), a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Media is also responsible for managing interactive initiatives (online, mobile, VOD and iTV) across all business segments. MSG Media is part of Madison Square Garden, Inc., (NASDAQ: MSG) a fully-integrated sports, entertainment and media business. The company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive MSG’s overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that MSG creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports consists of owning and operating sports franchises, including the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features other sports properties, including the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis. MSG Entertainment is one of the country’s leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes, throughout the country. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in MSG’s diverse collection of venues. These venues include Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theater, the Chicago Theater and the Wang Theater. More information is available at www.msg.com.

About NYRA

Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2009, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races alone totals more than $9.3 million every race day. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com.

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