ESPN 680 meet preview Thurs 9-11a CT

Louisville’s ESPN 680 KY Downs Preview 9-11 AM Central Thursday

Louie Rabaut is hosting the third annual Kentucky Downs Preview show on Louisville’s ESPN 680/105.7 Thursday from 9-11 a.m. Central. The show broadcasts live from the Blind Squirrel restaurant and sports bar in Middletown in eastern Jefferson County. Taking over weekday sports-talk Rabaut & Co. for the morning, Louie’s guests will include two-time defending (and three-time overall) riding champion Tyler Gaffalione; Kentucky Downs co-director of racing operations Martin Panza, who will talk in part about the European horses coming to race; trainer Joe Sharp; Kentucky Downs Vice President for Racing Ted Nicholson; Bill Landes, member and former chair of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation’s Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund advisory committee; and trainer Kelsey Danner.

Reserved-seating, all-inclusive tickets (buffet, snacks, open bar) in the Finish Line Pavilion for Kentucky Downs’ Aug. 29 opening card will be given away during the show. A highlight bonus show will air 6-7 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPN 680/105.7.

ESPN 680/105.7 will be broadcasting live from Kentucky Downs on the Thursday, Aug. 29 opening card, starting with Mark Blankenbaker (6-9 a.m. CT), co-host of the Drew Deener Show; Rabaut & Co. (9-11 a.m. CT) and Bob Valvano’s ESPN V Show (11 a.m.-2 p.m. CT). Blankenbaker and Rabaut will be back live at the track on Thursday, Sept. 5.

All the ESPN 680/105.7 broadcasts can be accessed through 680-AM/105.7 FM in Louisville (the Deener Show also airs on 93.9 FM), streaming worldwide on ESPNLouisville.com and the ESPN 680/105.7 app.

Nicholson is this week’s Green Group Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Click here for video

The Paulick Report is running a Q&A series with notable participants at the Kentucky Downs meet. Last week was Danner on making every race count at the unique track.

Previously: Announcer Larry Collmus on hills, blindspots and a long, long stretch.

Jockey Florent Geroux on piloting on an usual course.

Jockey agent Jose Santos Jr. (Santos Inc.) on booking mounts in an ultra-competitive colony.

Oddsmaker Nick Tammaro on the track’s one-of-a-kind challenge.