Off to the Races radio set for Saturday return

by Press Release | Apr 24, 2020 | Breaking, Business, Regionwide

Photo by The Racing Biz.

Following a four-week break, Off to the Races returns Saturday, April 25, with a lively program focused on Thoroughbred racing and breeding from Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic, and around the country.

The weekly radio show, which airs on the ESPN Richmond (VA) family of stations, and is available everywhere via livestreaming, returns for its 21st season, starting February 22. Terrestrial stations include 99.5 FM, 102.7 FM, and 950 AM. It will continue through August 29.

The program will air each Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It will also be archived on theracingbiz.com and espnrichmond.com.

Saturday’s program will be hosted by longtime host and guest Nick Hahn. Featured guests include Hall of Fame jockey Jorge Velazquez and Virginia Equine Alliance executive director Jeb Hannum.

As usual, Darrell Wood will also join the show for a Virginia Racing and Breeding Minute. With Hahn in the host’s chair, usual host Frank Vespe will slip in for a segment, and of course, Derby Bill Watson, who gained fame as the original on-air handicapper for Colonial Downs, also will be on board.

“We are excited to get Off to the Races back up and running,” said Frank Vespe, host of the program and owner of The Racing Biz (www.theracingbiz.com), which develops the program. “With much conversation about next steps after coronavirus, it seems likely that more tracks will come on line in the coming weeks, and we look forward to being a part of the action.”

In 2019, on a similar schedule, Off to the Races had a wide-ranging roster of top-notch guests. They included last year’s Preakness-winning trainer Mark Casse; Hall of Fame jockey and Triple Crown winner Ron Turcotte; trainer Graham Motion, who has won numerous Breeders’ Cup races; and many others.