Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown may be the center of attention at the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, but runner-up Eight Belles -- who had to be euthanized on the Churchill Downs track after breaking both ankles -- will be a significant part of NBC's coverage of the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Bob Costas will moderate a panel to discuss the filly's death and the scrutiny the horse racing industry faces because of what happened.
The panel will include Eight Belles' trainer, Larry Jones; NBC analyst and former jockey Gary Stevens; Churchhill Downs veterinarian Larry Bramlage; Alex Waldrop, chief executive of the National Thoroughbred Racing Assn.; and New York Times columnist William Rhoden.
"This is a worthy topic which is especially timely now," Costas said in a release from the network. "NBC has set aside enough time to do justice to the issues involved."
As for the Preakness Stakes, Big Brown is the clear favorite in the 133rd running at 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico Race Course.
"I think it's obviously Big Brown's race to lose," said Stevens, who won the Preakness twice when he rode Silver Charm in 1997 and Point Given in 2001. "The other horses are going to have to improve dramatically to beat him."
Costas and Tom Hammond are the co-hosts, and Tom Durkin will call the race. Post time is about 3:15 p.m.
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A busy weekend of pro basketball action tips off tonight with the NBA playoffs. ESPN presents a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. with Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by the Lakers' return to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinal series at 7:30 p.m. The game will also be televised on Channel 9.
On Sunday, ABC will broadcast either Game 7 of the Boston-Cleveland series or Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, at 12:30 p.m.
"NBA Access With Ahmad Rashad" presents a feature on Lakers backup center DJ Mbenga on Saturday on Channel 7 at 3 p.m. The story chronicles Mbenga's survival in war-ravaged Congo, his eventual escape to freedom, and then his NBA career.
And the 2008 WNBA season debuts on NBA TV on Saturday with an opening-day doubleheader. In the first game at 4 p.m., Katie Douglas leads the Indiana Fever against Alana Beard and the Washington Mystics, and the second game matches the Sacramento Monarchs against the San Antonio Silver Stars at 7 p.m.
