The red carpet, a documentary and an hour and a half of preview coverage. Is itthe Oscars? Nope, it’s the Kentucky Derby.
This year NBC is pulling out all the stops, producing what should be a brilliant display of the pageantry that surrounds the Derby and a look at back at Barbaro’s dramatic life.
Saturday’s coverage of the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby will begin on NBC 4 at 4:30 p.m. (and in high def if you’ve got it). “Access Hollywood” leads off with their first “Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Special,” and NBC Sports follows with pre-race coverage beginning at 5, lasting through the post-race coverage until 6:30.
“The Kentucky Derby is a fantastic intersection of style, celebrity and glamour, I’m thrilled that Shaun Robinson and ‘Access’ can be there,” said “Access Hollywood” executive producer Rob Silverstein.
Tom Hammond and Bob Costas will co-host the Derby alongside three-time Derby winner Gary Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Barton Brothers, who retired in 1998 after an impressive 11-year career as a jockey.
ESPN will be live from Churchill Downs from noon to 5 p.m., providing coverage on the earlier races as well as a pre-race show before handing things off to NBC at 5.
“Barbaro: A Nation’s Horse”
Then after a break for additional programming from 6:30-8 p.m., NBC will premier “Barbaro: A Nation’s Horse.”
As one might expect Maryland plays the most critical role in the film, produced by Emmy Award winner Rob Hyland, and captures all the drama of one of the most memorable days in Preakness history.
What makes this show amazing is that it has the feel of a feature film and not your run-of-the-mill sports documentary.
It is a film that is so beautifully shot, that you should be sure to have the entire family watch this remarkable story of such a very special horse.
“Barbaro: A Nation’s Horse” looks back at the thoroughbred’s impressive six and a half length win at the 2006 Derby, his dramatic injury and his amazing will to live that captured the imagination of the public. The film also examines Barbaro’s legacy and impact on the future of horse racing. The show includes new footage of Barbaro’s baby brother, who was born on April 20. The as-yet unnamed foal shares both parents with the late Derby champion — maybe one day, he too could race for the roses at Churchill Downs.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.
