Night School, the racing industry’s national online fan education program, previews the upcoming Breeders Crown in this Tuesday’s interactive live chat and video review. The 12-race fixture on the harness racing calendar will be renewed Saturday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, and this week’s 90-minute lesson plan will ready horseplayers for the action.

It’s the kickoff week to the final 8-week “pod” of learning in the 2013 Night School syllabus, dubbed “Championship Season & The Stars,” which will feature championship preview lessons for events such as the Breeders Crown, Breeders’ Cup and the AQHA’s Bank of America Racing Challenge Championships. Each week’s downloadable study materials will include historical information on the sports’ biggest events to further fans’ understanding of their history and importance. For a complete list of the Pod 5 topics, see the link at the end of this release.

Joining Night School co-hosts Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk for week 33 of the 2013 season are a trio of guest instructors; Breeders Crown television analyst Dave Brower, Moira Fanning the director of operations and publicity for the Hambletonian Society and Breeders Crown, and T. J. Burkett,  who serves as the executive editor of Hoof Beats magazine, the official publication of the U. S. Trotting Association. The panel will look at the Breeders Crown eliminations from this past weekend and focus on what to watch for in Saturday’s main event. Night School’s traditional “Jump Ball” segment during the final portion of the weekly lesson also allows fans to chime in and ask questions about any racing topic.

Fans can take part in the class free by visiting any one of the 40-plus websites that provides the Night School lessons each week. For those who cannot attend live, the Night School archives always are available free, immediately following the session and beyond. Videos used in all lessons also can be seen at www.youtube.com/horseplayernow.

Night School also will host a live chat during Saturday’s Breeders Crown program, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET, which will be displayed exclusively at USTrotting.com and placed next to the free live streaming video. More than 6,000 fans tuned into the Little Brown Jug Day live chat last month.

Thoroughbred fans can meet Night School’s Jeremy Plonk and Brian Nadeau as they teach hands-on Saturday at Laurel Park on Maryland Million Day. It’s the Night School Tour’s second trip to the Maryland Million, and next-to-last stop on the 2013 schedule. The Tour concludes Nov. 1-2 at the Breeders’ Cup in conjunction with America’s Best Racing when Kristufek, Nadeau, Brandi Goode and Tim Brannan will be teaching on-track at Santa Anita.

Presenting title sponsors for Night School are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Inc., and the United States Trotting Association.

Night School is offered every Tuesday for 40 consecutive weeks through Dec. 3. Topics change weekly, and fans are eligible for prizes and rewards for registering. Registration is optional and free. There is never a charge for taking part in Night School. The weekly program is offered in three media: live chat via the Cover It Live blogging/chat forum, audio/radio streaming and full video lesson plans. The media of delivery is based on the subject matter and alternates throughout the season.

This week’s Night School will be followed at 10:00 p.m. ET by the “After Night School Special,” featuring live racing from Mountaineer Park. The segment will cover the evening’s final two races in real time with free, live-streaming video. Fans wishing to take part in the Mountaineer action simply need to remain in the Night School chat after class. Complimentary past performances are available, courtesy of BRIS.

Updated Night School Tour schedule: http://horseplayernow.com/10-night-school/5-night-school-tour.

Study Materials: http://horseplayernow.com/images/STUDY101513.pdf

Video preview this week’s lesson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0VNP7bksYA

Pod 5 Lesson Schedule: http://horseplayernow.com/images/2013NSCALENDAR5.pdf