‘Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby’
3 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5
Wide open is the best way to describe the field for this year’s Triple Crown races, beginning today with the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs in Louisville. In the mix at this writing were Louisiana Derby winner Pyro, Florida Derby winner Big Brown, top West Coast 3-year-old Colonel John (left, winner of the Santa Anita Derby), and Tale of Ekati, who beat War Pass by a half-length in the Wood Memorial.
‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’
7 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7
The incredible soundtrack and serious beginning add to the quality of this 2005 treasure. William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley play siblings who are sent to a country manor house to avoid air raids in London. Once there, they go exploring and find a magical wardrobe that allows them to enter the land of Narnia, which needs their help to defeat the White Witch (Tilda Swinton). Liam Neeson provides the voice of Aslan the lion.
‘Rocky Balboa’
8 p.m., Showtime
A simulated matchup between the former boxing champ (Sylvester Stallone) and a current fighter (actual boxer Antonio Tarver) turns into the real thing in this surprisingly affecting follow-up to the five earlier “Rocky” dramas. Now a widower, Rocky doesn’t get much support from his son (Milo Ventimiglia), but he does strike up a new friendship with an old acquaintance (Geraldine Hughes).
‘Major League’
9 p.m., Bravo
This laugh-laden 1989 baseball tale is your basic underdog-makes-good story, but with a twist: The Cleveland Indians’ owner — who inherited the team from her dead husband — wants them to lose big-time so Cleveland will let them leave. She assembles a motley crew of players, but surprise! They get good! And when they find out her little scheme, they get even better. Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen star.
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Compiled by Barbara Schaffner from Tribune wire reports
