Night School, the racing industry’s national online fan education program since 2011, introduces a first-time topic of “TV Analysts” when its Week 23 session gets underway Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET. Churchill Downs on-air handicapper Jill Byrne, an original Night School cast member, makes her return to class where she’ll be joined by veteran TV reporter Caton Bredar in the 90-minute live chat.
Byrne and Bredar will share with fans what to watch and listen for on various racing broadcasts, from simulcast productions to racing channels like HRTV and TVG, as well as national network telecasts. Given the real-time racing format with Mountaineer Park for Night School’s summer semester, the experts also will help fans listen into live analysis from Mark Patterson and Nancy McMichael and help glean valuable information.
The lesson’s moderator will be Night School’s “Dean,” Jerry Shottenkirk. The live racing aspect of Night School is new to this season’s “Summer Semester,” which continues a 12-week run through the end of August. Night School’s radio simulcasts will return after Labor Day for the 14-week Fall Semester.
The free Night School program is offered online each Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET and runs 40 consecutive weeks through Dec. 2. More than 40 websites in the Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred industries simultaneously offer the Night School lessons. Title sponsors for 2014 include charter members National Thoroughbred Racing Association and American Quarter Horse Association, as well as Keeneland Select, The Stronach Group, Twinspires, BRIS, Bet America, Mountaineer Park and Woobine Entertainment.
The 2014 Night School season is broken into three semesters. The Spring Semester ran 14 weeks, from March 4 until Belmont Stakes Week on June 3. A corresponding Fall Semester will be offered Sept. 2 through Dec. 2. Both the Spring and Fall semesters will feature a minimum of 11 SiriusXM simulcasts, in addition to select, major racing event live handicapping chats between the fans and experts. Night School is free and voluntary with no registration necessary. Simply visit any of the Night School syndicate websites weekly at 8:30 pm ET to take in the live lesson, or access the archives at any of those same sites at your leisure. The program does offer a voluntary registration both live or in the archives. Attendees who register in at least half (20) of the season’s lessons are eligible to win prizes that include merchandise, NHC Tour memberships, handicapping contests, free handicapping products, etc.
Night School Links
Horse Player NOW info page: http://horseplayernow.com/night-school
Week 23 BRIS past performances for live teaching lessons: http://horseplayernow.com/nightpps
Summer Semester Topics & Program Info: http://horseplayernow.com/images/SEASON%204%20NIGHT%20SCHOOL%20RELEASE2.pdf
Video overview of the 2014 season with Caton Bredar and Jeremy Plonk http://youtu.be/m5CP4LwmFZY