Horse Racing on Television

Since 1997, horse racing's TV presence has increased by 60%, to 188 hours in 2002. That's only part of the good news.

Ratings for NTRA-produced programming on ESPN and ESPN2 - both in more than 80 million households nationwide - have soared in the last two months, with an average increase of 66.5%. Ratings for the Arlington Million telecast increased 76%, the Travers, 51%, and ratings for the Iselin Handicap and the Pacific Classic more than doubled - to 103% and 102%, respectively.

Horse racing is on more networks than ever. NBC Sports has six programs in 2002 devoted to racing, capped by the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships; CNBC airs the Bessemer Trust Two-Year-Old Challenge; CBS' NTRA Summer Racing Tour, with three shows in 2002, expands to four next year; and ESPN/ESPN2 host "Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships" races as well as 40+ hours of pre-Triple Crown programming.

Next year, NTRA will expand its TV offerings to include more races from the West Coast - a time zone that has been difficult to mesh with East Coast programming. Twenty-five California stakes races are tentatively scheduled to air on NBC, CBS, ESPN/ESPN2 and CNBC in 2003. That expansion begins with our pre-Triple Crown programming, which has additional windows for West Coast racing in February and March. The early season programming includes two new shows on ESPN from 6:00-7:00 p.m. (Eastern), a time slot not previously available.

Overall, fans can expect still more comprehensive coverage of racing in 2003, including telecasts from England, Ireland and France.

Tax Break for Horse Buyers

New tax rules allow a 30% bonus depreciation on racehorses in the year of purchase. For example, 37.5% of the cost of a yearling purchased at a fall 2002 sale can be written off in 2002, more than three times the amount allowed under the old rules. The depreciation of a horse purchased and placed into service before the horse is 24 months old (from date of foaling) will be as follows for the first three years:

For the complete depreciation schedule and more information on rules governing horse purchases, visit NTRA.com.