NBC Sports Celebrates Their 25th Telecast of the Kentucky Derby

NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series.

NBC Sports’ Derby day coverage features 10 races across 7.5 hours -- five hours on NBC and Peacock on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET), which follows the opening 2.5 hours beginning at Noon ET on USA Network and Peacock. Live coverage from Churchill Downs begins with five hours of Kentucky Oaks day racing this Friday, May 2, beginning at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock. Over the two days, NBC Sports will present 17 live races from Churchill Downs.

Telemundo Deportes will present live coverage of the 151st Kentucky Derby, beginning Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Universo, and streaming on the Telemundo app.

The 151st Kentucky Derby features morning-line favorite Journalism (3-1), who won the 2025 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the 2025 San Felipe Stakes (G2). Other contenders include 2025 Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman (6-1), this year’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Burnham Square (12-1), 2025 Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Sovereignty (5-1), and 2025 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic (20-1).

NBC Sports and The Kentucky Derby 

NBC Sports will continue to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032, as Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) and NBC Sports recently announced a multi-year extension of their partnership.

The extension of the NBC Sports-Churchill Downs relationship – which began with the 2001 “Run for the Roses” – makes NBC the longest running home of the Kentucky Derby, as NBCUniversal will become the first media company to present the most prestigious event in horse racing for three decades (32 editions of the Kentucky Derby from 2001-32).

Last year, the 150th Derby averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 16.7 million viewers – marking the largest Kentucky Derby audience since 1989, and on Peacock, the “Run for the Roses” posted NBC Sports’ largest streaming audience for a horse racing event nearly doubling the year prior. 

See below to learn more about the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

When is the 2025 Kentucky Derby?

The 151st annual Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 3, at historic Churchill Downs.

Who are the Commentators at the 2025 Kentucky Derby?

NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby features host Mike Tirico, anchoring Derby coverage for the ninth time; analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby winner, and Randy Moss, who is covering the Derby for the 45th time; handicappers Eddie Olczyk and Matt Bernier; host/reporter Ahmed Fareed; reporters Britney Eurton, Donna Brothers, Kenny Rice, and Nick Luck; and race caller Larry Collmus. Brothers is the only member of the announce team to work all 25 of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby presentations.

Rebecca Lowe returns to NBC Sports’ Derby coverage to explore the pageantry surrounding the “Run for the Roses.”

Steve Kornacki, chief data analyst for NBC News and NBC Sports, returns as insights analyst for his fifth Derby. NBC News’ Dylan Dreyer, a veteran of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot horse racing coverage, will serve as a fashion and lifestyle correspondent. NBC Sports’ Tim Layden will write and narrate an essay on trainer Bob Baffert’s return to the Kentucky Derby, following his three-year ban from the event.

The supervising producer of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage is Lindsay Schanzer. The Kentucky Derby is directed by Kaare Numme. Saturday’s early race coverage is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Jared Sumner. Executive producer and president, NBC Sports Production is Sam Flood.

Highlights of Kentucky Derby weekend coverage on NBC, Peacock and USA Network

• 10 races during 7.5 hours of Saturday coverage on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network (17 live races over Friday’s and Saturday’s 12.5 coverage hours)
• Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss get a sneak peek and memorable ride on the Stardust Racers dual-launch rollercoaster at the new Universal Epic Universe in Orlando (which opens May 22)
• A three-part reflection on the 10th Anniversary of American Pharoah’s Kentucky Derby win; with vignettes featuring owner Justin Zayat, jockey Victor Espinoza, and a visit to Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud, where American Pharoah remains a global attraction.
• A feature on trainer Michael McCarthy preparing Derby favorite Journalism in what has been an emotional year for McCarthy and his family after being displaced from their home due to the southern California wildfires int January
• A look at how Citizen Bull jockey Martin Garcia began his career as a jockey in the United States, and his relationship with Terri Terry, the owner of the sandwich shop where he worked when he first came to the U.S. Terry, who treated Garcia like a son, introduced him to riding. She died earlier this year.
• Steve Kornacki profiles the legendary 89-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is aiming for his fifth career Derby win (American Promise)
• Mike Tirico interviews Bob Baffert, the trainer of Citizen Bull and Rodriguez, as he aims to win a record-setting seventh “Run for the Roses.”
• “Team Chunk of Gold” -- the Derby longshot who was initially sold for just $2,500 as a yearling, and his connections – coming to the Derby for the first time

NBCUniversal Kentucky Derby Coverage:

A wide range of NBCUniversal properties will join NBC Sports in celebrating the cultural and entertainment spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby. A summary of Kentucky Derby week activities and activations are below:

TODAY: Leadup coverage of the Derby began Wednesday and will run through Saturday, highlighted by multiple live hits from Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday featuring NBC News’ Dylan Dreyer (who returns for her seventh Kentucky Derby), NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, NBC News’ and NBC Sports’ Steve Kornacki, and Derby-at-Home chef Josh Weissman.

NBC NEWS: In addition to TODAY, Tirico will join MSNBC's Morning Joe and CNBC's Halftime Report on Friday to preview the Derby.

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON: The Tonight Show will do a Puppy Predictors segment tonight where host Jimmy Fallon will try to pick the winner of the Derby with help from some puppies.

EPIC UNIVERSE: NBC Sports’ Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss get a sneak peek and memorable ride on the Stardust Racers dual-launch rollercoaster at the new Universal Epic Universe in Orlando (which opens May 22).

UNIVERSAL DESTINATIONS & EXPERIENCES: NBC Sports Grill & Brew at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood will host a Kentucky Derby viewing party on Saturday.

THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW: Derby-at-Home chef Josh Weissman will join The Kelly Clarkson Show virtually on Friday as part of the #WhatI’mLiking segment.

THE VOICE: 2023 The Voice winner Gina Miles will perform the National Anthem at the Kentucky Oaks.

ACCESS: Access’ Lauren Herbert will be on-site at the Derby red carpet to provide coverage of the event.

E! NEWS: E! News will have a crew on-site at the Kentucky Derby to cover the red carpet and post content in the hours leading up to the event.

XFINITY: The Xfinity/Kentucky Derby co-branded spot highlights the Kentucky Derby as a can't-miss, "booming" event. 

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard will host Premier League Live, Premier League Mornings and Goal Zone live on-site from Churchill Downs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock.

FANTASY FOOTBALL HAPPY HOUR: A special edition of Fantasy Football Happy Hour co-hosted by Matthew Berry, Jay Croucher, Connor Rogers, and Drew Dinsick will stream live on Peacock from Churchill Downs today at 3 p.m. ET. Throughout the NFL offseason, Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry, NBC Sports’ daily fantasy football and sports betting show, streams every Thursday at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock.

NBA on NBC and Peacock: NBA on NBC and Peacock talent will be interviewed during the Kentucky Derby broadcast. At the Kentucky Derby, NBC Sports is inviting Derby attendees to step onto the court to get their photo taken within the high-end NBA on NBC and Peacock-branded photo-op fan experience.

THE DAN PATRICK SHOW: Rebecca Lowe will join The Dan Patrick Show on Friday morning to preview the Kentucky Derby.

ON HER TURF: There will be a “Bet on Women” x On Her Turf photo-op activation on-site at the Kentucky Oaks and Derby that will champion women in sports, including Diane Crump, the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby.

NBC AFFILIATES, OWNED STATIONS AND NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS: Kentucky Derby promotions will air throughout the week on NBC Affiliates, Owned Stations and NBC Sports Regional Networks across the country, with analysis and commentary from NBC Sports’ horse racing team on local newscasts.

EVERY PLATFORM, EVERY MOMENT: NBC Sports will be everywhere on every social media platform during Derby Week. Follow @NBCSports on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for content around Churchill Downs during this once-in-a-lifetime event. Click here to access NBC Sport’s Derby hub, providing prep race highlights, analysis, lifestyle, and features. Additionally, every race from Churchill Downs will be posted on the site, plus “Collmus Cam,” which will show race caller Larry Collmus as he calls the 151^st Kentucky Derby.

NBC SPORTS RADIO KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE: NBC Sports Radio (channel 85 on SiriusXM radios and the SiriusXM app) will present a full day of live Kentucky Derby coverage on Saturday, May 3, with a four-hour special edition of Down the Stretch beginning at 10 a.m. ET. A three-hour pre-race show, hosted by Steve Byk live from Churchill Downs, begins at 2 p.m. ET, leading into NBC Sports’ coverage of the 151^st “Run for the Roses” from 5-7:30 p.m. ET with Larry Collmus handling the live race calls. The race broadcast will be simulcast on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio (channel 82). This is the fourth consecutive year NBC Sports and SiriusXM have teamed to produce audio coverage of the Kentucky Derby. 

PEACOCK: Peacock will live stream all 12.5 hours of Friday’s and Saturday’s coverage. Peacock’s expansive sports programming features live coverage including Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sunday Night Football, Big Ten Football and Basketball, Notre Dame Football, Premier League, NASCAR, and much more. Peacock also offers daily sports programming on the NBC Sports channel. Click here for more information.

NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series.

NBC Sports’ coverage will also feature unique cameras and other technological innovations including:

• A “Phantom Camera” for super slo-mo replays and reactions
• Two live drones, for the first time, with one providing race coverage and a second capturing the pageantry between races
• New “RED” cameras which will be used to capture fashion, the red carpet, and scenes from around Churchill Downs
• Four Nucleus cameras – up from the two used in the camera’s Derby debut last year – provide a unique super slo-mo look at photo finishes. This year there will be two Nucleus cameras on each finish line (on the dirt and grass tracks) after last year’s show introduced one on each finish line
• Multiple iPhone cameras to capture immediate live reactions from the connections of the Derby horses
• Extended SkyCam coverage providing a live scope of the horses, trainers, and fans watching in the amphitheater
• Backstretch “Bat Cam” – which flies alongside the horses at high speeds as they race down the backstretch
• Multiple jockey cameras and a camera on the outrider
• A camera focused on race caller Larry Collmus
• The debut of COSM at the Derby, with multiple cameras placed around the track providing fans at COSM locations with views of all of the action

2025 Kentucky Derby Leaderboard Standings:

As the excitement for the “Run for the Roses” rises, so does the competition. Click here to see the current 2025 Kentucky Derby standings.

How to Watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby:

Fans can watch the 151st Kentucky Derby live on Saturday, May 3, with coverage beginning at 12 PM ET on USA Network and NBC, or stream it live on Peacock.