Donna Brothers is stepping away from NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage after 26 races. She has been an integral part of NBC’s coverage since it acquired the rights to the race in 2001.
Brothers made the decision two years ago, but only announced it publicly last week. Saturday will be Brothers’ final Run for the Roses.
A Career on the Track and in the Booth
Brothers is a former jockey, having won 1,130 races during her 11-year career. She joined NBC in 2000 for Breeders’ Cup coverage and has been part of the network’s Triple Crown coverage. NBC has had the Preakness Stakes since 2001 and the Belmont Stakes from 2001-05 and 2011-22.
“I told Lindsay Schanzer, our producer, that I definitely wanted to make it to Kentucky Derby 151 because that would be my 25th Kentucky Derby. But if I had my druthers, I would also like to make it to Derby 152 because then I’ll be 60 years old and I’ll feel like I’ve earned the right to retire,” said Brothers, who turned 60 on April 22. “And so now I have two careers behind me. I retired from being a jockey in 1998.
Memorable Moments
From speaking to trainers and owners on the walkover to the paddock to interviewing the winning jockey on horseback, Brothers has been front and center for some of the most emotional moments of NBC’s horse racing coverage. She was the first to interview jockeys Victor Espinoza aboard American Pharaoh in 2015 and Mike Smith on Justify three years later, after they won the Triple Crown.
Brothers said Calvin Borel’s aboard Street Sense in 2007 still stands out as a favourite Derby winner interview.
“I really want to capture what’s in their heart rather than 10 minutes later what’s in their head. And so the ones that stand out the most are the ones that are heartfelt,” she said. “Anyone who saw Calvin win his first Derby, I think, touched everyone’s heart who saw it. And then later that week, he was invited to the White House, and the Queen (Elizabeth II) was in attendance, and so she witnessed his Derby win. As I threw it back to Tom Hammond, I said, ‘You can see a very emotional win for Calvin Borel as the tears are streaming down his face.’ And Tom told me that they hadn’t zoomed in until I said that. The director was obviously listening, and they zoomed in and picked up that emotion. And I think it made everybody feel that s
Tributes to Brothers
Mike Tirico, who will anchor NBC’s coverage, praised Brothers’ unique role. “Very rarely do you get to work in TV with people who define a role in sports television, and Donna has done that,” said Tirico. “The immediate reaction Donna gets race after race, and her observations are such a unique part of what we do in television. And she is one of a kind. Somebody will follow her but will not replace her because she’s irreplaceable.”
“There are a lot of people, when I tell ’em I’m going to retire, they seem sad for me. And they’re like, ‘Oh, I know you’re going to miss it.’ And I don’t think that’s going to be the case. I’ve had the second-best seat in the house for 26 years, and I really believe that. I think the best seat in the house is whoever rode the Kentucky Derby winner.”