Racehorses benefit from their debuts into their second outings, and FOX will similarly try to improve when it televises the Belmont Stakes (G1) for the second straight year from 4-7 p.m. ET June 8.
Though viewers appreciated elements of its coverage last year, including a feature celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown victory in the Belmont, poor sound mixing during the race at Belmont Park led to an unsatisfying conclusion.
Those eager to listen to legendary announcer Tom Durkin, whom FOX brought out of retirement to call the Belmont and other supporting races, found it difficult to hear his call of Arcangelo ‘s victory due to track noise piped into audio. Cheering from fans and vocal urging from jockeys, meant to enhance the excitement of the call, instead detracted from it.
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Asked to grade FOX’s coverage of the Belmont last year, FOX Sports producer Pete Macheska said he felt they covered the storylines of the race well, and overall, they “did OK.”
“We learned a lot of things,” he continued. “We also lost a day because of the cancellation on Thursday because of the (wildfire) smoke to test things out. So we had a couple of technical problems.
“Yeah, absolutely, there was a problem there. So how can you give yourself a good grade when in the best moment, you can’t hear it sometimes, know what I mean? We learned some things, and we hope to be better on Saturday.”
Aside from a couple of changes in talent, the team involved in this year’s show mirrors last year’s. Bill Richards is again producing the show, with Macheska serving as a coordinating producer, and returning to host is Curt Menefee, a familiar face on FOX from his regular hosting role on “FOX NFL Sunday.”
Trainer Tom Amoss, retired jockey Richard Migliore, and horsewoman Maggie Wolfendale are providing horse racing expertise. Hosting from the paddock, Charissa Thompson is joined by FOX Sports wagering expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica and handicapper Jonathon Kinchen.
Emmy Award-winning reporter Tom Rinaldi returns to share stories related to the race. Saratoga Race Course and Santa Anita Park announcer Frank Mirahmadi will call the Belmont for television.
Mirahmadi takes over from Durkin, who, according to Macheska, did not wish to call the Belmont after recent eye surgery.
“Tom’s part of the show, too,” Macheska said. “He’s voicing a piece about the history of Saratoga. So that’s something to look forward to.”
Watch: Inside the Saratoga Announcer’s Booth With Frank Mirahmadi
Mirahmadi said he would prepare differently for the Belmont than he would for other races on the Saturday program, but his style differs from that of Durkin, whose storytelling he regards as unmatched.
“I believe in a big race you have to have to be absolutely aware of the storylines going in. … But in the end, it’s just all about what’s happening,” he said. “It’s a mile-and-a-quarter race. Keep it simple, be accurate, celebrate the winner; don’t try to overdo it and preplan this and that because that could be a disaster.”
From 2011-22, Larry Collmus called the Belmont for television when NBC televised the race. NBC still televises the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1).
FOX will look to continue increased television ratings seen on NBC in the first two Triple Crown races of 2024. Last year’s Belmont Stakes for FOX last year drew 3.82 million viewers across its main and secondary networks, down from the 4.8 million in viewership on NBC in 2022.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage not racing in the Belmont last year and FOX not being a familiar location for Belmont viewers on their television remotes may have contributed to the decline in viewership. However, the race ended with a feel-good moment when trainer Jena Antonucci became the first female to train a winner of a Triple Crown race when Arcangelo triumphed.
This year’s race has lured Preakness winner Seize the Grey and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan .
“And the Derby winner even running in all three legs. That’s pretty rare in these days, as well,” said Fallica.
(L-R): Charissa Thompson and Chris Fallica speak during FOX’s coverage for the 2023 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park
A longtime analyst on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” Fallica joined FOX last year and made his debut for the network on the Belmont telecast in 2023.
“So it was kind of ironic to have it be a horse racing event in Belmont on Long Island, where I grew up, and going to Belmont, going to that race, so many times. It was kind of a cool little come-full-circle kind of deal,” he said.
A multiple qualifier to the National Horseplayers Championship, Fallica said he is generally reluctant to pick a favorite, but he sees Sierra Leone , the 9-5 morning-line choice in the race, as Saturday’s likely winner after a closing, nose defeat when second in the Kentucky Derby. He suggests using him in exactas and trifectas with Resilience , sixth in the Kentucky Derby.
FOX representatives said a feature on Sierra Leone’s trainer, Chad Brown, and another on Seize the Grey’s trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, are planned, as is a remembrance of D-Day.
In addition to the coverage on its main network, FOX will televise racing throughout the afternoon on its secondary FS1 and FS2 channels. The full schedule is available online.
“We have a simulcast show on FS1, where it’s (catered) more to the racing fan, and then a little broader view on FOX, where it incorporates the casual fan with the racing fan,” Macheska said.
He believes that drawing comparisons will make the shows appealing to regular horseplayers and casual fans without as much knowledge of horses.
“So if you can relate what something in horse racing is to another sport that might make the viewer understand it easier, that’s what we try and do,” the coordinating producer said. “We try to do that on the FS1 shows as well.”
