FOX Sports and The Jockey Club have announced that the new sports television network, FOX Sports 1, which launches on August 17th, will broadcast prominent graded stakes races starting in 2014.

“The Jockey Club is thrilled to be joining forces with FOX Sports to showcase many of this country’s most prestigious races before a national television audience,” said The Jockey Club chairman, Ogden Mills Phipps. “Increasing the national television presence of Thoroughbred racing continues to be a key component of our fan retention and development efforts under the America’s Best Racing banner, and it will be gratifying to see Thoroughbred racing alongside Major League Baseball, college basketball, college football, NASCAR, and UFC events on the new FOX Sports 1.”

The first episode will air on Feb. 9, 2014, from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida and features the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. I). The complete 2014 schedule of races will be released at a later date.

To learn more, see the Blood Horse report here.