EN Today: Your daily dose of Rolex

With Rolex just two weeks away, the folks over at EN are starting to freak out bigtime. Today, John shares network broadcast info, while Abby Gibbon brings us a story on Rolex-bound OTTBs.

From John:

There’s nothing like attending Rolex in person, but thanks to a great partnership between NBC, the USEF Network, and the event, viewers at home will experience the next best thing this year.  Rolex continues to take big steps forward in terms of a live nationally televised eventing presence.  Portions of the Rolex cross-country and show jumping will be broadcast to your TV on NBC and their cable partners.

Universal Sports on Saturday, April 28th from 10:00am – 12:00pm ET

NBC Sports Network on Saturday, April 28th from 1:30pm – 3:30pm ET

NBC on Sunday, April 29th from 2:00pm-  3:00pm ET

The brilliant USEF Network has us covered for the rest of the entire competition with free live online video of the entire event in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  [via USEF Network]

International viewers will be able to watch through the FEI TV paid online streaming service.  We’ll of course have full coverage right here on EN all weekend including a live blog/conversation presence for some if not all of the phases.  Go eventing.

From Abby Gibbon:

After “many hours of hunting,” our friends at the Retired Racehorse Training Project have compiled an awesome list, complete with pedigrees and earnings, of the 24 OTTBs entered at Rolex.

With names like Clifton Promise, Parklane Hawk, Parker and Ying-Yang-Yo on the list, it’s highly possible we could witness a Thoroughbred victory gallop this year.

Perhaps the winningest ex-racehorse entered? Amy Ruth Borun’s Santa’s Playboy, who won nearly $130,000 in 43 starts. Read our Rolex Spotlight on Amy (who’s an amateur!) and Santa here.

And how about Courageous Comet, who raced 36 times, placed in a stakes at Aqueduct and earned over $70,000 before becoming one of the most beloved and successful horses on the U.S. eventing scene?

Courageous Comet and Becky conquering Southern Pines II last month.

At the other end of the earnings spectrum there’s Wonderful Will, who raced 11 times and won just $208. But when we see Will and Michael Pollard zooming around cross-country, there’ll be no doubt Will’s found his true calling.

[Click here to read the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s full report]

If you’re going to Rolex, stop by the New Vocations booth for a “Thoroughbreds For All” program, which includes a pull-out sheet with all the OTTB stats you’ll need to cheer your favorite ex-racehorses around the course. There will also be a pdf version available for download on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s website.

And don’t forget: Saturday night, April 28, the Retired Racehorse Training Project and New Vocations will host the “Thoroughbreds For All” celebration and symposium of Thoroughbreds in second careers, featuring appearances by four-star eventers Bruce Davidson, Cathy Wieschhoff and Dorothy Crowell and Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. The event will take place just down the road from the KHP in the covered arena at West Wind Farm. Tickets are $35 and include dinner; space is limited. Click here for details.

Go Rolex OTTBs.