When you think of sideline reporters you think of women like Andrea Kremer on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Or locally, Lisa Hillary, who covers the Caps on CSN and Debbi Taylor, who follows the Nationals on MASN. But NBC “in-race” reporter Donna Brothers does her best work on horseback, doing interviews with jockeys on the track the moment after the race.
Brothers, who was one of the most successful female jockeys of all time, is at home on horseback. We talked about her role as “on horse” track analyst for NBC and what she will be doing during Saturday’s 135th running of the Preakness.
NBC will begin its coverage of the Preakness on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Brothers was quick to point out that she was proud to be part of a team that includes host Bob Costas, Tom Hammond and analyst Garry Stevens. Tom Durkin, who will call the race, and analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier along with reporter Kenny Rice will provide supplemental coverage.
Coverage of Friday’s “Black Eyed Susan” race day card can be seen locally on HRTV (Comcast, Fios and DirecTV) starting at 12:30 p.m. and the network also will cover the undercard race day on Saturday with “Preakness Day Card” at 10 a.m. Radio coverage of the race can be heard on WBAL and Sirius-XM Radio.
Brothers on her role in the telecast » Prior to the race, I have the best look at the track conditions as I am on a horse. I can tell how fast or how sloppy things are. Once the horses come onto the track, I can tell the viewers the demeanor of every horse in the race as I am literally standing next to them as they head to the gate. I go in the opposite direction of the field after the race starts, staying near the outside of the track and listening to my NBC partner Tom Durkin call the race. Then I get to be the very first person to talk to the winning jockey right on horseback as we ride in front of the grandstands.
Brothers on interviewing jockey Calvin Borel » Well, he has won the last two Kentucky Derbies as well as last year’s Preakness, so we know that he is truly one of the best jockeys in our sport. But what you see with Calvin is what you get. There is no edit button on him. He really speaks from the heart and he loves to talk about the race and how his horse ran the race.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
