NBC sets 18 hours of Kentucky Derby week TV, streaming shows

A five-hour 2019 Kentucky Derby day telecast caps NBC's 18 hours of Derby week action that also includes live coverage from Churchill Downs on Thursday and Friday.

Following are highlights of NBC Sports’ Derby coverage, which includes 2 1/2 hours of NBC Network coverage on Saturday as well.

• Four live races on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN

• Six live races on Friday at noon and 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN

• Eight live races on Saturday on NBCSN (noon) and NBC (2:30 p.m.)

NBC Sports will cover every inch of Churchill Downs with more than 50 cameras, including a new robotic reverse-angle super slow-motion camera on the finish line; a helmet camera on the outrider for all races Thursday-Saturday (escorts the winning horse and jockey to the winner’s circle); an 80-foot high main camera tower, plus a new 50-foot high camera on a tower in the middle of Turn 2, a robotic camera in the paddock saddling area, and a camera focused on race caller Larry Collmus.

NBC Sports' aerial backstretch camera will also return, offering a perspective from 15-18 feet above the track and traveling up to 80 mph. Additionally, multiple jockeys will be mic’d to enhance on-track audio.

For the first time, Mike Tirico, Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss will be located on a new showcase set in the highly trafficked paddock area for the first half of the Saturday NBC show.

NBC Sports will also present “live look-ins” on Saturday from several Derby parties across the nation, including at locations in Denver, New York City, Las Vegas, and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Among the features on NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage:

• Mike Tirico presents the story of Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith.

• Rebecca Lowe, who makes her Kentucky Derby debut, interviews Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Park.

• Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss go “around the barns” to meet the Derby contenders.

• Lowe has a look at Triple Crown-winning horses Justify and American Pharoah in Lexington.

• Larry Collmus discusses the hidden stories behind horses’ names.

• Rutledge Wood hosts a special pop culture trivia game with fans on the grounds of Churchill Downs.

• Sports Illustrated writer Tim Layden presents an essay on the equine fatalities at Santa Anita.

• Celebrity chef Bobby Flay joins Rebecca Lowe for a special cooking segment to create the perfect southern-themed dish for a Kentucky Derby party.

The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001. The Kentucky Derby is directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBCSN is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Pierre Moossa. Executive producer and president, production, NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood.

NBC Sports Group will present more than 30 hours of Triple Crown coverage this season from Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park, including live racing from all three tracks prior to the Triple Crown races. This spring marks the ninth consecutive year that all three Triple Crown races will air on NBC.

NBC SPORTS GROUP TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE