The Madison Square Garden Network will telecast the Woodward Stakes live from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. This year’s $500,000 Woodward Stakes takes on added significance with the entry of Curlin, the top thoroughbred in the world on dirt.

“We are excited to be televising the Woodward Stakes live on MSG for the first time this Saturday,” stated Lydia Murphy-Stephans, executive vice president of programming and production, MSG Media. “This continues our commitment to offer New York area sports fans coverage of a variety of premier sporting events.”

MSG will telecast the race live from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and give viewers a close-up look at the famed Saratoga Race Course, while covering all the Woodward action from the horses being saddled to the winner’s circle celebrations.

The network’s coverage of the Woodward Stakes adds to the slate of horse racing programming on MSG and sister network MSG Plus. MSG Plus currently telecasts “Thoroughbred Action,” a daily half-hour race-replay show, and “Inside Racing,” a weekly half-hour show including timely features and races of the week.

“We are thrilled to extend out long time association with MSG Networks by working together on this inaugural live race broadcast for the network,” said Charles Hayward, NYRA president and CEO. “We should have a great crowd on hand at Saratoga on Saturday, but thanks to MSG, so many more people will get to experience Curlin’s run in the Woodward.”