Why NBC's Donna Brothers is retiring with final Kentucky Derby ahead
Donna Brothers was a jockey who became a reporter with NBC in 2001 when the network acquired the Kentucky Derby. Saturday is her last one.
Donna Brothers has been a staple for NBC's coverage of horse racing, with the former jockey joining the network in 2000 and covering Triple Crown races ever since. But the 2026 Kentucky Derby will be her last. Why is that?
It's because, as she announced recently, this year would be her last. She's going to retire, and perhaps we'll see the NBC crew acknowledge that on Saturday. The reporter who's been a part of so many incredible moments on horseback to interview the winning jockeys right after the iconic race at Churchill Downs spoke about why she's going to bow out soon, per NBC : “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.
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,” What a career she's had. And now you know the answer about her future at NBC. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Donna Brothers is retiring from NBC after 2026 Kentucky Derby