NBC Sports expands Triple Crown coverage; Collmus new
announcer
The NBC Sports Group will present 14 hours of Kentucky Derby (Grade 1)
coverage beginning on May 4 at 4 p.m. (EDT) on VERSUS and culminating with the
137th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, beginning at 4 p.m. on May 7.
The expanded Kentucky Derby coverage, which includes eight hours on Derby Day
on NBC and VERSUS, will include many new elements:
*Live coverage of the Kentucky Derby Draw, which will determine the post
positions
*Additional commentators including a new race caller, Larry Collmus
*New production team
*11 total hours on VERSUS, now part of the NBC Sports Group, including live
coverage of the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) and Derby Day races
*Three hours of “Derby Classics” (Smarty Jones, Barbaro, Mine That Bird) to air
on VERSUS
The NBC Sports Group will present 27 hours of Triple Crown coverage this
season from Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park, including additional
“classics” from the Preakness S. (Grade 1) and Belmont S. (Grade 1), live racing
from all three tracks prior to the three Triple Crown races and post-race
coverage of the Preakness and Belmont on VERSUS. This marks the first time that
all three races will be on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in
2005.
The NBC Sports Group coverage of the Kentucky Derby will once again feature
co-hosts Bob Costas, a 21-time Emmy Award-winner, and veteran NBC Sports
commentator Tom Hammond; three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens;
contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter
Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers.
Added for this year’s expanded coverage are race caller Larry Collmus, the
track announcer at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park who replaces Tom Durkin;
Laffit Pincay III, son of Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., will host the
coverage on VERSUS; veteran horse racing analyst Randy Moss; Daily Racing
Form‘s Jay Privman; TODAY Show’s Jenna Wolfe will contribute features; and
Access Hollywood‘s Maria Menounos will handle celebrity interviews.
“We have had the premier broadcast team for NBC Sports’ Triple Crown races in
place for years with Bob, Tom, Gary, Mike, Neumy, Kenny and Donna,” said Sam
Flood, executive producer NBC Sports and VERSUS. “Now, as we significantly
expand our coverage on VERSUS, we are fortunate to add Laffit, Randy, Jay, Jenna
and Maria to the team, along with Larry, who is a tremendous race caller.”