“OFF TO THE RACES” RETURNS FOR 11th SEASON
Submitted by: VTA Phone: Email Address: VTA(at)vabred.org
Date Added: 4/7/2008
Nick Hahn and “Derby Bill” Watson are “Off to the Races” again bringing statewide radio coverage of horse racing, Saturday mornings beginning April 5th. Post time for the live show’s 11th season on the Virginia Racehorse Network is 11:00 AM except in the Tidewater region where the show will air on a one-hour delay at Noon. “Off to the Races” serves radio audiences in eight Virginia metropolitan areas and the rest of the world over the Internet. The Saturday morning program feature interviews with nationally recognized and Virginia racing figures that participate in summer racing at Colonial Downs. “Off to the Races” includes recaps of previous races including actual calls, handicapping, industry news and live reports from racetracks across the country.
Nick Hahn created Richmond, Virginia’s first weekly horse racing show, “Down the Stretch,” in 1998, that was co-hosted by Derby Bill. Hahn is the Virginia correspondent of “The Bloodhorse,” a national weekly horse racing magazine. As a freelance writer, Hahn covers national racing events such as The Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes).
Since 2003, Derby Bill hosted the show in Richmond entitled “Pickin’ the Ponies.” Between 1996 and 1998 as a guest on the weekday morning radio sports show, “SportsPhone with Big Al,” Bill selected three consecutive Kentucky Derby winners and 7 of 9 winners of Triple Crown races. Bill is the face of Colonial Downs, providing recaps and picks in between races on Colonial’s closed circuit simulcast television signal distributed to racetracks and other racing venues throughout the world.
“Off to the Races” is funded by a grant from the Virginia Racing Commission and sponsored in part by Colonial Downs, the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and the Virginia Horse Benevolent and Protective Association.
During Colonial’s live meet that begins June 9th, “Off to the Races” will broadcast live every Saturday from Colonial Downs. The Virginia Racehorse Network can be heard on the following stations:
Winchester (WTFX AM 610)
*Virginia Beach (WXTG FM 102.1)
*Hampton (WXTG AM 1490)
Richmond (WXGI AM 950)
Charlottesville (WTKR AM 840)
Roanoke (WPIN AM 810)
Martinsville (WODY AM 1160)
Blacksburg (WKEX AM 1430)
*Virginia Beach and Hampton will broadcast on a 1-hour delay, from Noon to 1PM
For more information about the Virginia Racehorse Network and racing in Virginia, contact Nick Hahn at 434.960.1456 or seahero93@embarqmail.com on the web.
|