NBC's 'Dark Horses' doc revisits Easy Goer vs. Sunday Silence

NBC Sports presents the broadcast debut of Dark Horses, the story of the most unlikely rivalry in Triple Crown history, this Saturday, June 2 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC. Dark Horses brings viewers back to 1989 and the thrilling showdown between Easy Goer and Sunday Silence.

With Justify racing for Triple Crown history in the 2018 Belmont Stakes, the horse’s trainer and jockey both referenced these 1989 races following this year’s Preakness Stakes:

“Good Magic, he really put it to us. It was almost like the Sunday Silence-Easy Goer type [race]. They didn’t give it away. He was going to make us earn it…This is what makes horseracing…and these great horses. They just define themselves when they get in that situation.” – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert

“Justify reminds me a lot of Easy Goer. He was a big, strong, beautiful horse like this one.” – Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith

Narrated by actress and Kentucky-native Ashley Judd, Dark Horses chronicles the competition between Easy Goer, who descended from racing royalty and one of the most powerful farms in the sport, and a relatively unheralded colt named Sunday Silence. The 60-minute documentary looks back at the 1989 racing season during which the two horses – who each had members of the well-known Hancock family on opposing sides – competing head-to-head in all three Triple Crown races, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The competition provided some of the most dynamic and compelling races in thoroughbred history.

The film features interviews with Arthur Hancock, the owner of Sunday Silence, host Al Michaels, race caller Tom Durkin, jockey Pat Valenzuela, who rode Sunday Silence during the Triple Crown races, Easy Goer’s jockey Pat Day, jockey Chris McCarron, who rode Sunday Silence at the 1989 Breeders’ Cup, and Shug McGaughey, Easy Goer’s trainer. Dark Horses was directed by Castor Fernandez (ESPN 30 for 30: “Brothers in Exile”).

Leading into the Belmont Stakes, NBCSN will air encore presentations on Wednesday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET, Friday, June 8 at 7 p.m. ET, and Saturday, June 9 at 8 a.m. ET.