NBC and Churchill Downs agree to Kentucky Derby extension

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Churchill Downs and NBC Sports have reached an agreement to keep the broadcast of the Kentucky Derby on the network through 2015. Financial details of the agreement were not released.

In an announcement on Thursday the two companies agreed to a five-year contract for the televising of the Run for the Roses and its sister race the Kentucky Oaks. The Oaks, for three-year-old fillies, is run the day before the Derby and will be shown on an NBC cable channel.

NBC Sports has been the exclusive outlet for the Kentucky Derby since 2001. From 2001 to 2005 all three Triple Crown races were televised on the network. NBC also currently broadcasts the Preakness Stakes while the Belmont Stakes is televised by ABC.

The 137th running of the Kentucky Derby will be Saturday, May 7, 2011.