Why is John Fanta at the Kentucky Derby? Explaining college basketball reporter's role at Churchill Downs

Why is John Fanta at the Kentucky Derby? Explaining college basketball reporter's role at Churchill Downs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For fans of basketball and horse racing, you may take a peek at your screens this weekend and ask, "Hey, isn't that John Fanta, the basketball reporter?"

Well, yes and no. He is the basketball reporter, but this weekend, he's also the horse racing reporter.

Fanta will be in attendance for the Oaks and Derby coverage this weekend, as part of his recent deal with NBC Sports. The network brought Fanta on full-time in August of 2025 and he's been working basketball and football games ever since.

This year, they have him as an on-camera reporter for the Kentucky Derby as well. Here's what to know about Fanta's role in Louisville.

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Why is John Fanta at the Kentucky Derby?

Fanta is part of NBC Sports' TV coverage team for the Derby. He'll begin on Friday as part of the first primetime Kentucky Oaks broadcast and continue on Saturday for the main event.

The broadcast team has paired Fanta's boisterous enthusiasm with a boisterous part of the stadium: the infield. He won't be one of the central broadcasters, with Mike Tirico maintaining that honor, but rather as a reporter who the broadcasters will go to throughout the show.