KY Racing Spotlight returns July 12 on ESPN 680, but first Louie has Foster special this Saturday

A Kentucky HBPA release (Louie Rabaut interviewing jockey Cristian Torres last August at Blind Squirrel as part of the Kentucky Downs Preview Day on ESPN 680. Grace Clark/Sweet photo)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — (Wednesday, June 26, 2024) — Kentucky Racing Spotlight with Louie Rabaut and presented by the Kentucky HBPA will return to its weekly Friday 6-7 p.m. ET run on July 12. But first Rabaut is hosting a special edition this Saturday morning, 11-noon ET, previewing Churchill Downs’ showcase Stephen Foster Day card.

The programming airs on sports market-leader ESPN Louisville’s 680AM/105.7FM, with streaming at www.espnlouisville.com and the ESPN 680/93.9, iHeart and iTunes apps. In addition, Rabaut will feature Ellis Park-connected interviews during his regularly scheduled Wednesday July 3 Rabaut & Co. show on ESPN 680 from 10 a.m.-noon ET in advance of Ellis Park’s meet opening the next day.

Saturday’s special Stephen Foster edition of Kentucky Racing Spotlight airs immediately after Horse Racing Radio Network’s Equine Forum (8-11 a.m.) on ESPN 680/105.7. Rabaut’s special guest will be Cherie DeVaux, who has four runners in six of the stakes on the Foster card. Her starters include G3 Pimlico Special winner Pyrenees, winner of four straight starting with a maiden victory follow a year’s layoff, in the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster.

Kentucky Racing Spotlight debuted last February. The Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association sponsors the weekly show as well as Rabaut’s racing coverage on the weekday sports-talk Rabaut & Co. on ESPN 680/105.7, including his live Kentucky Derby Week broadcasts from Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Racing Spotlight is pre-recorded and launches on Thursday evenings during “The Horse Racing Happy Hour” podcast hosted by Rabaut and Mike Gandolfo. Kentucky Racing Spotlight features Rabaut’s interviews with topical racing participants and previews of the weekend’s major stakes across the country, all with an eye on Kentucky. 

“Spotlight has afforded me the great opportunity to talk with the people who make racing go in the Commonwealth – and I’m excited to get back to exactly that,” Rabaut said. “Ellis and Kentucky Downs are great parts of our local circuit, and I’m pumped to talk about them all summer here at ESPN Louisville.”

Kentucky Racing Spotlight airs when Inside Churchill Downs, featuring Churchill Downs’ Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein, goes on summer and winter hiatus from ESPN 680’s Fridays 6-7 p.m. slot. Inside Churchill Downs’ last show before mid-September is this Friday.

“We were really happy with the response to Kentucky Racing Spotlight and Louie’s Turfway coverage over the winter. We look forward to the show picking back up July 12 for Ellis and Kentucky Downs,” said Alex Foley, the Kentucky HBPA’s executive director. “Darren and Kevin do a great job with Inside Churchill Downs, and it’s worked out really well with Kentucky Racing Spotlight dovetailing in that time slot on ESPN 680.

“But first we’ve got Louie’s special bonus show this Saturday previewing America’s biggest day of racing between the Triple Crown and Saratoga, as well as his July 3 Rabaut & Co. show to tee up Ellis Park’s meet opening the next day. In today’s media environment, horse racing needs to create its own coverage. We’re pleased to team with Louie and ESPN 680 to do just that in the Kentucky HBPA’s ongoing mission of promoting horse racing in general and Kentucky horsemen and purses in particular.”

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