NBC abruptly cut Kentucky Derby live coverage, sparking fan outrage

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 weren’t 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 — making Cherie DeVaux the first winning female trainer in the history of the race and giving veteran jockey Jose Ortiz his first Derby win — 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.

“What The Bloody Hell???! @nbc Cuts Away From Draping the Blanket of Red Roses on The Incredible Kentucky Derby Win…??? For The First Few Minutes of Basketball? BLOODY HELL DAMN SCHEDULING,” one person posted on X. “Sometimes you can’t HATE certain networks enough @nbc The Kentucky Derby Win this year was EPIC more so than the first few minutes of a basketball game.”