Churchill Downs and NBC Sports are expected to announce Monday an agreement to broadcast six major prep races leading to the Kentucky Derby as part of a plan to attract casual fans as well as horseplayers. The move comes as NBC positions itself to win back the three legs of the Triple Crown in 2011.

NBC had broadcast the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes from 2001 to 2005. The network has kept the first two legs, but ESPN-ABC has shown the Belmont since 2006 and is in the last year of a five year-contract.

The three one-hour broadcasts, two on NBC and one on USA Network, will include the Louisiana Derby, the Lane’s End Stakes, the Santa Anita Derby, the Wood Memorial, the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.