The Kentucky Derby is arguably the most prestigious event on the global horse racing calendar. Coronavirus or no coronavirus, the 2020 race is going ahead under the historic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs today – just not as you know it. Here’s how to watch the virtual Kentucky Derby online and live stream the historic Triple Crown Showdown from anywhere.
Virtual Kentucky Derby cheat sheet
The Virtual Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 2 – the same day the real-life race was due to be held, before Covid-19 put live sporting events to bed. Now, NBC will be showing coverage from 3pm-6pm ET – and cord-cutters will find the network available via Hulu and its free trial offer.
In the absence of Tom Brady’s fedora collection, the highlight of this year’s virtual Kentucky Derby calendar is undoubtedly the Triple Crown Showdown, which pits all 13 former Triple Crown winners against each other in an AI-powered race for the ages. For those who may not be familiar with the US horse racing landscape, America’s Triple Crown races are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Computer algorithms will determine the eventual winner of the Triple Crown Showdown, with event organizers likening the process to the NBA draft and saying the result will ultimately be decided based on a “weighted lottery system”.
Heading into the big race, the legendary Secretariat is favored at 7-2 – though it’s only a marginal nod over Citation at 4-1. The two most recent Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah and Justify, are pegged at 6-1 and 15-1, respectively – while generational rivals Affirmed and Seattle Slew have both been given odds of 5-1.
Of course, US regulations prohibit monetary betting on virtual racing – but punters can still chime in via KentuckyDerby.com for a chance to win a VIP experience at this year’s rescheduled Kentucky Derby, which is provisionally set for for September 5.
Moreover, you can also use the occasion to donate to US coronavirus relief efforts instead of gambling, with Churchill Downs pledging to match contributions up to $1m.
Sold? Read on and we’ll explain all the ways to watch the Virtual Kentucky Derby online and stream today’s Triple Crown Showdown no matter where you are in the world, including for free.
Watch the Virtual Kentucky Derby online for FREE with Sling TV
Sling TV is a great value streaming provider and its ongoing Happy Hour promo goes one better than the free trials offered by rival services, letting you watch prime time TV every night without paying a penny – or handing over your credit card details!
Every channel featured in the $30 a month Sling Blue bundle is available to watch for free from 5pm-12am ET – and in select cities, this includes NBC. Therefore, the tail-end of the virtual Kentucky Derby today is included in the offer – complete with coverage of the headline Triple Crown Showdown, set to start at around 5.45pm.
The markets that offer NBC as part of Sling Blue are:
New York
Philadelphia
Chicago
Boston
Washington, D.C.
Miami/Fort Lauderdale
Hartford/New Haven
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Los Angeles
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
San Diego
If that sounds like you and you want to watch the virtual Kentucky Derby Triple Crown Showdown, all you need to do is head over to Sling and sign up with an email address and the zip code of the city you live in – that’s it.
Alternatively, read on for additional viewing options and details of how to stream the Derby from all over the world.
How to watch the Virtual Kentucky Derby for free in the US
In addition to Sling TV’s free Happy Hour, coverage of the virtual Kentucky Derby 2020 is being aired from 3-6pm ET on NBC, with documentary The First Saturday In May: American Pharoah’s Run to the Triple Crown airing prior to the Triple Crown Showdown race – scheduled for around 5.45pm ET.
This means all the action is free to watch with most TV providers and packages – as well as being available to stream via the NBC Sports website and companion mobile apps.
Alternatively, anyone from the US who would normally watch the Derby at home but finds themselves abroad can use a VPN to access to the coverage or service they normally would back in the Land of the Free.
Watch the virtual Kentucky Derby online from outside your country
While the Kentucky Derby is one the biggest sporting events in the world, coverage of this year’s virtual substitute is less than comprehensive around the world, with no obvious viewing options for key markets like the UK, Canada and Australia.
That’s fine, though, because Americans who find themselves in one of the countries/continents for the Triple Crown Showdown can simply download and install a VPN, which lets you change your IP address to one in the US and then tune in to whatever you normally would from home.
However, note that free-to-air channels like NBC typically require to register with local TV provider or credit card details before gaining access, so read the fine print before signing up from another country. The exception in this instance is Sling TV, whose free Happy Hour deal only requires an email address to access.
Of the hundreds of available VPNs, our favorite is ExpressVPN. It’s quick to connect to servers, straightforward to use and secure. It’s compatible with Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, the Xbox, PlayStation, iOS and Android software, and many other devices.
Once downloaded, search for the location of your home country or select it from the pre-defined list. Click connect and get ready to watch all the drama unfold.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
