Donna Brothers, a former jockey turned broadcaster, is stepping away from NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage after 26 years. She has been a fixture at the event since NBC acquired the rights in 2001, known for her emotional interviews with trainers, owners, and winning jockeys.
Brothers, who turned 60 on April 22, decided two years ago that this would be her final Derby. She announced her retirement publicly last week. 'I told 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,' she said.
Brothers won 1,130 races during her 11-year riding career before joining NBC in 2000. She was the first to interview jockeys Victor Espinoza aboard American Pharoah in 2015 and Mike Smith on Justify in 2018 after their Triple Crown victories. Mike Tirico, who anchors NBC's coverage, praised her: 'Very rarely do you get to work in TV with people who define a role in sports television, and Donna has done that.'
Reflecting on her most memorable Derby winner interview, Brothers cited Calvin Borel's emotional win on Street Sense in 2007. 'I really want to capture what's in their heart rather than 10 minutes later what's in their head,' she said. She also recalled the tragic 2008 Derby when Eight Belles broke down after finishing second, calling it a challenging moment as she interviewed winning jockey Kent Desormeaux.
Brothers said she is ready to pass the baton and looks forward to spending more time outdoors hiking, biking, and paddleboarding. 'It's been an awfully fun ride,' she added.
