Networks are supposed to be objective, with the obvious exception of pulling for major-market, star-studded teams to win to boost ratings.
NBC, though, will have a rooting interesting in this year’s Kentucky Derby. One of their own is in the race.
Gary Stevens has left his analyst seat to return to riding again. The Hall of Fame jockey is on Oxbow.
During a conference call, Stevens noted the race has great storylines for his NBC colleagues.
“I am going to be a little bit greedy here and hope to become a main storyline of the race,” Stevens said.
Indeed, NBC will be well prepared either way. Stevens will be wired throughout the entire day.
“I am still part of this team,” Stevens said. “And that’s why I’ve offered to do anything to make this show better. As being on the announcing team, I’ve asked a couple of favors from some guys ‘Hey can you wear a microphone during the race?’ How can I ask that question then not volunteer to do it? So I’m very happy to accommodate to do anything I can to make this telecast any better.”
As for why he returned, Stevens said:
“It was just something that started to grow within me over the past year and a half. And I started getting fit. I didn’t know whether I would be able to come back. I wanted to take it slowly. I did take it slowly.
“And talking with a number of folks, friends, family members got a lot of encouragement. And I thought, you know, if I can do this why not and if I can do it at a high level and continue to do it at a high level. And to be back after four months of racing and riding in the Kentucky Derby I can just say that it’s pretty gratifying.”
Stevens has won three Kentucky Derby races. Can he win a fourth?
“I’ve got a lot more control on a horse’s back than I did sitting in the booth,” Stevens said. “It’s a positive feeling knowing that I can have an impact on the shape of the race. And I feel that I will have an impact on the shape of the race because of my post position where I drew with Oxbow and where the way I wrote him last time in the Arkansas Derby.
“So I’ll just say it here now I’m sending this horse away from the gate and if anybody wants any part of me early on then they’re probably going to pay the price for it. I’ll let that be known right now.”