As the Kentucky Derby gets under way at Churchill Downs in May, some horse racing enthusiasts will be able to mix up their mint juleps and place their bets without getting up from their living room couches.

EchoStar Communications Corp. and its Dish Network satellite television service have teamed with TVG Network to launch the first nationwide interactive horse racing channel.

"It fits our sports-minded audience," said Scott Higgins, director of interactive TV programming for Douglas County-based Dish Network.

The rollout of the new interactive channel began Wednesday. By the end of the month it will be available to more than 10 million Dish subscribers.

Viewers, using their Dish remote control devices, can choose among live races, odds, picks and information on how much money has been wagered on any given race.

Dish subscribers who open a wagering account also can place bets via their television screens if they live in California, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Washington or Wyoming.

Because of government restrictions on certain types of gaming, Colorado viewers will not be able to use their TV remote controls to place bets, just as they are forbidden from placing bets by phone or over the Internet.

Off-track betting venues in the Denver area and elsewhere allow wagering enthusiasts to place bets in person.