First Sports Program on TV

Updated July 24, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The Question:

What was the first sports event to be broadcast on television in color?

The Answer:

It was a horse race called the Molly Pitcher Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile race for thoroughbred horses was run July 14, 1951 at Monmouth Park Jockey Club in Oceanport, N.J. The race is still an annual tradition at Monmouth Park Racetrack.

The 1951 race was won by a horse named Marta and was broadcast by the Columbia Broadcasting System.

And, by the way, if you can't remember who Molly Pitcher was, click here to find her story. Also, here is a link to more thoroughbred horse racing history found at Infoplease.com.

-The Editors

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