NBC Sports Announces Wire to Wire Coverage of Kentucky Derby

NBC Sports Group will present 15.5 hours of Kentucky Derby coverage, a record for the event, beginning Wednesday, April 30, at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and culminating with the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 3. Coverage begins on Saturday at Noon on NBCSN and continues at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage, which has been honored with the Eclipse Award in the Television-Live Programming category for the past two years, includes 7.5 hours on Derby Day on NBC and NBCSN. Highlights include:

• Live coverage of 12 races on Friday and Saturday – every race in NBC/NBCSN telecast windows

• Live coverage of the Kentucky Derby Draw on Wednesday, April 30, at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN to determine the post positions

• Three hours of "Derby Classics" (featuring recent winners Orb and I’ll Have Another) to air on NBCSN

NBC Sports Group coverage of the Kentucky Derby features Bob Costas, a 25-time Emmy Award-winner, and veteran NBC Sports commentator Tom Hammond; analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey; analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; NBCSN host/NBC reporter Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers, and Jay Privman, and race caller Larry Collmus. Josh Elliott makes his NBC Sports Group debut on May 2-3, providing a mix of features and interviews at Churchill Downs.   Carolyn Manno also makes her Kentucky Derby debut as do Olympic figure skaters and NBC figure skating analysts Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski, who will serve as fashion experts.

The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, a veteran of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001. The Kentucky Derby is directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBCSN is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Patrick McManus. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood, who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.

NBC Sports Group will present 30½ hours of Triple Crown coverage this season from Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont, including "classics" from the Derby, Preakness and Belmont, live racing from all three tracks prior to the three Triple Crown races, and post-race coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont on NBCSN.  This marks the fourth consecutive year that all three Triple Crown races will air on NBC.

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