from Horse Player Now

Chicago, IL — Night School, the racing industry’s free national online fan education program, focuses on the upcoming final jewel of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown with this Tuesday night’s “Belmont Stakes Preview.”

The lesson will provide fans and horseplayers a unique opportunity to engage the connections of Belmont hopefuls Revolutionary and Freedom Child. The 90-minute live chat, which begins at 8:30 p.m. (EDT), will include a panelist discussion with Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm and Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, as well as a Q&A with the fans.

Moderating the panel discussion this week will be Jill Byrne of Churchill Downs and Kentuckyderby.com. Byrne will be joined after the panel discussion by Night School co-founders Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk of Horse Player NOW for an extended handicappers’ look at the big weekend to come.

Walden is a Belmont-winning trainer in his own right, denying the Triple Crown of Real Quiet in 1998 with his late-running Victory Gallop by a nose. He now serves as President, CEO and Racing Manager of WinStar Farm, which won the 2010 Belmont with Drosselmeyer five weeks after taking the Derby with Super Saver. Finley, the founder and President of West Point Thoroughbreds, heads one of the most successful syndicates in the game today.

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

The Night School Tour traveling troupe of fan educators also will be busy this week at the Belmont Stakes, working in the backyard area with fans and horseplayers, teaching the game on June 8. Visit them in the America’s Best Racing fan hub, including Kristufek, Plonk, Katie Mikolay-Gensler, Brian Nadeau and Tim Brannan.

The 90-minute classes are 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.

This week’s Night School will be followed at 10 p.m. (EDT) by the “After Night School Special,” featuring live racing from Mountaineer Park. The segment will cover the evening’s final race 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.

This week’s preview video with Jeremy Plonk and Joe Kristufek: http://youtu.be/EErG-63kPnc

This week’s study materials, courtesy of Horse Player NOW: http://horseplayernow.com/images/STUDY060413.pdf