David Benavidez vs. Zurdo Ramirez fight predictions, odds, undercard, start time, where to watch and PPV price
All you need to know about Benavidez vs. Zurdo Ramirez fight: predictions, odds, and more!
Donna Brothers is stepping away from NBCâs Kentucky Derby coverage after 26 races, marking her final appearance during the 151st Derby. She had planned this retirement two years ago, aiming to reach her 25th Derby before leaving.
Donna Brothers has been an integral part of NBCâs Kentucky Derby coverage since it acquired the rights to the race in 2001.
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 NBCâs horse racing coverage.
Saturday will be Brothersâ final Run for the Roses. She decided two years ago that this would be her last year, but did not announce it publicly until last week.
âI 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 Iâll be 60 years old and Iâll feel like Iâve earned the right to retire,â said Brothers, who turned 60 on April 22. âAnd so now I have two careers behind me. I retired from being a jockey in 1998.
âThere are a lot of people, when I tell âem Iâm going to retire, they seem sad for me. And theyâre like, âOh, I know youâre going to miss it.â And I donât think thatâs going to be the case. Iâve 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.â
Brothers is a former jockey who won 1,130 races during her 11-year career. She joined NBC in 2000 for Breedersâ Cup coverage and has been part of the networkâs Triple Crown coverage. NBC has had the Preakness Stakes since 2001 and the Belmont Stakes from 2001-05 and 2011-22.
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.
âVery rarely do you get to work in TV with people who define a role in sports television, and Donna has done that,â said Mike Tirico, who will anchor NBCâs coverage. âThe 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 sheâs irreplaceable.â
When it comes to favorite Derby winner interviews, Brothers said Calvin Borelâs aboard Street Sense in 2007 still stands out.
âI really want to capture whatâs in their heart rather than 10 minutes later whatâs in their head. And so the ones that stand out the most are the ones that are heartfelt,â she said. âAnyone who saw Calvin win his first Derby, I think, touched everyoneâs 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, âYou can see a very emotional win for Calvin Borel as the tears are streaming down his face.â And Tom told me that they hadnât 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 same emotion with and for Calvin.â
Brothers has also viewed some of the Derbyâs worst moments. She was near the second turn when she saw Eight Belles go down in 2008. The filly broke both her front ankles shortly after crossing the finish line in second place and was euthanized on the track.
Brothers still gets emotional when reflecting on that day, as well as second-guessing the interview she did with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard Derby winner Big Brown.
âKent was also upset, and I just said, âOK, letâs try to shake it off and concentrate on the fact that you just won the Kentucky Derby.â And Iâm not sure if that was the right thing to do. In hindsight, it mightâve been better to let him address that first, but we didnât know her status at that time, and we didnât know it well enough to report on her status,â she said. âIn any event, it was challenging because youâre simultaneously heartbroken for the horse thatâs on the track. And also simultaneously very happy for this person who just won the Kentucky Derby.â
Brothers is still happy to see jockeys Mike Smith and John Velazquez competing, but also noted that it is a good time for her to walk away.
âI think itâs just time to pass the baton. Itâs been an awfully fun ride. But Iâm also looking forward to not being in front of the computer for five or six hours a day and doing all the research,â Brothers said. âIâm looking forward to being outside an awful lot, whether thatâs hiking or biking or stand-up paddleboarding or golfing, I think itâs just the right time for me.â
Donna Brothers is retiring after 26 races, having decided two years ago that this would be her last year covering the event.
Donna Brothers has been an integral part of NBCâs Kentucky Derby coverage since 2001.
Brothers expressed a desire to reach her 25th Kentucky Derby before retiring and mentioned wanting to make it to Derby 152 to feel she earned her retirement.
Donna Brothers retired from being a jockey in 1998, prior to her career in broadcasting.
All you need to know about Benavidez vs. Zurdo Ramirez fight: predictions, odds, and more!

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