NBC faced backlash for abruptly ending its live coverage of the Kentucky Derby 152, cutting away just after Golden Tempo's historic win. Fans were frustrated as they missed the traditional Winner's Circle ceremony.
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Horse racing fans weren't happy with NBC about its abrupt end to the live coverage of the history-making Kentucky Derby 152.
And basketball fans werenât too keen on the network either, having had to wait longer than expected to see an NBA playoff matchup.
Not long after Golden Tempo won the Derby â making Cherie DeVaux the first winning female trainer in the history of the race and giving veteran jockey Jose Ortiz his first Derby win â the Peacock network cut coverage and shifted to game seven of the 76ers and the Celtics playoff series.
Television viewers didn't get to see the traditional draping of the winning horse with the garland of roses in the Winner's Circle at the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux kisses the trophy after her horse Golden Tempo with Jose L. Ortiz won the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. DeVaux is the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. May 2, 2026.
The NBA game, being played in Boston, was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The race festivities went past that time.
âWhat The Bloody Hell???! @nbc Cuts Away From Draping the Blanket of Red Roses on The Incredible Kentucky Derby WinâŠ??? For The First Few Minutes of Basketball? BLOODY HELL DAMN SCHEDULING,â one person posted on X. âSometimes you canât HATE certain networks enough @nbc The Kentucky Derby Win this year was EPIC more so than the first few minutes of a basketball game.â
NBC cut the coverage to shift to an NBA playoff game, causing frustration among horse racing fans.
Cherie DeVaux made history as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with her horse Golden Tempo.
After Golden Tempo's victory, NBC abruptly cut the broadcast, preventing viewers from seeing the traditional garland ceremony.
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Another called out NBC Sports and Peacock streaming service, writing, âYou have outdone yourself with your absolute CRAP coverage of the Kentucky Derby. You cut to warm ups in a basketball game and skipped the first woman to win the Derby and the post interviews and pictures. What a total, complete disgrace! HORRIBLE.â
Some basketball fans appeared to be just as irritated.
âReason number 17274737 having national broadcasts for these rounds suck: coverage for the game I should be able to watch locally is delayed because of the Kentucky Derby,â one X user said.
Contact Midwest Connect reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NBC cut Kentucky Derby coverage for NBA playoffs, sparking outrage