As
part of its sponsorship of the Grade I, $1 million TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup
Invitational, scheduled for Saturday at New York’s Belmont Park, TVG,
America’s Horseracing Network, will give racing fans who attend the race
the opportunity to “Be A Star on TVG.”
The
promotion will offer fans the chance to be part of the “virtual”
TVG broadcast set, located on the main floor of the Belmont grandstand between the paddock and
finish line entrances. That set will include a green screen that fans can stand
in front of to be superimposed onto the actual broadcast set with TVG’s
Christina Olivares Blacker and Paul LoDuca, who will be on-site covering the
races. Anyone taking part in “Be A Star on TVG” will receive a TVG
hat and a personalized photo of their “appearance.”
“Be
A Star on TVG” is part of the all-day “Super Saturday”
festivities, which TVG and its partner, the New York Racing Association, have
developed to make the biggest event on Belmont Park’s fall calendar a
memorable and fun experience.
The
TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational is part of the “Breeders’ Cup
Win and You’re In” program, with the winner earning an all expense
paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“We
are delighted to partner with NYRA as title sponsor of the TVG Jockey Club Gold
Cup Invitational,” said Don Scott, TVG vice president of marketing.
“This is yet another example of the TVG brand becoming closely associated
with one of racing’s premier events.”
“Super
Saturday is the premiere race day of the Belmont Park
fall meet. NYRA is thrilled TVG is enhancing Super Saturday by offering
on-track promotions that will complement the outstanding graded stakes action
and delivering all of the day’s races to the homes of thoroughbred racing
fans throughout the United States,” said NYRA President and Chief
Operating Officer Ellen McClain.
In
addition to the TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational, TVG also serves as title
sponsor of one of the major races at NYRA’s Saratoga meet, the TVG Coaching Club American
Oaks.
Belmont Park’s
Super Saturday program features six graded stakes with combined purses totaling
$3.4 million. Along with the TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational they are the
Grade I, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational; the Grade I, $600,000
Flower Bowl Invitational; the Grade I, $400,000 Beldame Invitational; the Grade
I, $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational and the Grade II, $400,000 Kelso Handicap.
TVG will air the entire program, with the TVG Gold Cup Invitational scheduled
for 5:46 p.m. The race will be simulcast on Prime Ticket, MSG+ and MASN.
TVG,
a subsidiary of Betfair Group plc, the premier e-gaming betting community, is
among the most widely distributed horseracing networks in the world. TVG is one
of the largest legal online gaming companies in the US, accepting over $650 million in
wagers in 2011. The company has demonstrated its commitment to the racing
industry, its owners, tracks and fans through sponsorship of several preeminent
races including the TVG Pacific Classic and the TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup.