Donna Brothers, NBC’s Voice of the Kentucky Derby, Retires After 26 Years

Key facts

• Donna Brothers retires after 26 years with NBC, covering 25 Kentucky Derbies.
• She won 1,130 races as a jockey from 1987 to 1998, retiring as the second-leading female jockey by earnings.
• Brothers turned 60 on April 22 and decided two years ago that 2026 would be her last season.
• She was the first to interview Triple Crown-winning jockeys Victor Espinoza (2015) and Mike Smith (2018) on horseback.
• Brothers was near the second turn when Eight Belles broke down in 2008, a moment she still reflects on.
• Mike Tirico called her 'irreplaceable' and said she defined a role in sports television.

A Final Ride at Churchill Downs

Donna Brothers will climb onto her horse for the last time as a reporter on Saturday, bringing to a close a 26-year career as the face of NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage. The former jockey, who turned 60 on April 22, announced her retirement last week after keeping the decision private for two years. “I told Lindsay Schanzer, our producer, that I definitely wanted to make it to Kentucky Derby 151 because that would be my 25th Kentucky Derby,” Brothers said. “But if I had my druthers, I would also like to make it to Derby 152 because then I’ll be 60 years old and I’ll feel like I’ve earned the right to retire.” Her departure marks the end of an era for NBC’s horse racing coverage, which has relied on Brothers’ unique vantage point — interviewing winning jockeys from horseback moments after they cross the finish line.

From Jockey to Journalist: A Career Forged on Horseback

Brothers rode professionally from 1987 to 1998, amassing 1,130 wins and more than $18 million in purse earnings. She retired as the second-leading female jockey in the United States by money earned, a title she still holds. She joined NBC in 2000 for the Breeders’ Cup and became a fixture of the network’s Triple Crown coverage when it acquired the Kentucky Derby rights in 2001. Since then, she has been the reporter who rides onto the track to capture the raw emotion of the winning jockey. “Very rarely do you get to work in TV with people who define a role in sports television, and Donna has done that,” said Mike Tirico, who will anchor NBC’s coverage. “The 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 she’s irreplaceable.”

Heartfelt Interviews and Unforgettable Moments

Brothers was the first to interview jockeys Victor Espinoza aboard American Pharoah in 2015 and Mike Smith on Justify in 2018 after each won the Triple Crown. She considers Calvin Borel’s emotional win on Street Sense in 2007 her favorite interview. “I really want to capture what’s in their heart rather than 10 minutes later what’s in their head,” she said. “Anyone who saw Calvin win his first Derby, I think, touched everyone’s heart who saw it.” Her ability to draw out genuine emotion has been her hallmark. During that 2007 broadcast, she described Borel’s tears streaming down his face, prompting the director to zoom in and amplify the moment for millions of viewers.

Witnessing Tragedy: The Eight Belles Breakdown

Brothers has also been present for the Derby’s darkest moments. In 2008, she was near the second turn when Eight Belles broke both front ankles shortly after finishing second and was euthanized on the track. She still second-guesses her interview with winning jockey Kent Desormeaux that day. “Kent was also upset, and I just said, ‘OK, let’s try to shake it off and concentrate on the fact that you just won the Kentucky Derby.’ And I’m not sure if that was the right thing to do,” she recalled. “In any event, it was challenging because you’re simultaneously heartbroken for the horse that’s on the track. And also simultaneously very happy for this person who just won the Kentucky Derby.” The incident underscores the delicate balance Brothers has maintained for decades: celebrating victory while respecting the sport’s inherent risks.

A Legacy of Two Careers, No Regrets

Brothers says she feels no sadness about leaving. “There are a lot of people, when I tell ’em I’m going to retire, they seem sad for me. And they’re like, ‘Oh, I know you’re going to miss it.’ And I don’t think that’s going to be the case,” she said. She described her role as having “the second-best seat in the house,” adding, “I think the best seat in the house is whoever rode the Kentucky Derby winner.” With two careers behind her — jockey and broadcaster — Brothers is ready to walk away. She noted that seeing veteran jockeys like Mike Smith and John Velazquez still competing reinforces that it is the right time to step aside.

What Comes Next for NBC’s Derby Coverage

NBC has not announced a replacement for Brothers, and Tirico acknowledged the challenge of filling her role. “Somebody will follow her but will not replace her because she’s irreplaceable,” he said. Brothers’ retirement leaves a void in the network’s coverage of the Triple Crown, which includes the Preakness Stakes (since 2001) and the Belmont Stakes (2001-2005 and 2011-2022). Her final broadcast on Saturday will mark the end of a 26-year run that began with the Breeders’ Cup in 2000. For Brothers, the decision was about timing. “I’ve had two careers behind me. I retired from being a jockey in 1998,” she said. “And now I have two careers behind me.”

The bottom line

• Donna Brothers retires after 26 years as NBC’s Kentucky Derby reporter, having covered 25 Derbies.
• She won 1,130 races as a jockey and remains the second-leading female jockey by earnings in U.S. history.
• Her signature on-horseback interviews captured the raw emotion of winning jockeys, including Triple Crown winners.
• She witnessed the 2008 breakdown of Eight Belles, a moment that still haunts her and shaped her approach.
• Mike Tirico called her 'irreplaceable,' highlighting her unique contribution to sports television.
• Brothers leaves with no regrets, saying she has had 'the second-best seat in the house' for 26 years.