2014 Kentucky Derby: TV Coverage, NBC Live Stream and Purse Payout Info
Saturday is something of a sports lover's dream with a number of Game 7s in the NBA playoffs, the Stanley Cup playoffs and a Floyd Mayweather fight, but the fanciest part of your day will come in the form of horse racing’s main event.
The 140th Kentucky Derby will feature the same mint juleps, haughty hats and formal attire we always see, but the field is absolutely loaded with talented horses this year. Who knows, it may be the first step toward the Triple Crown for the favorite California Chrome.
It is certainly appointment viewing, and NBC Sports will have you covered from all aspects throughout the afternoon and early evening. With that in mind, take a look at the schedule with television coverage and live stream information for the event:
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| Saturday, May 3 | 4-7 p.m. (actual race expected at 6:32 p.m.) | NBC | NBC Sports Live Extra |
One thing is for certain—there is plenty of money at stake.
Here is a glance at the purse payout information, courtesy of Gary Mihoces of the USA Today:
"The owners of Pablo Del Monte have chosen not to run him in Saturday's 140th Kentucky Derby, which leaves 19 horses in the field instead of the maximum 20, Churchill Downs announced Friday morning.
Under the points system for determining Derby qualifiers, the Florida-bred Pablo Del Monte ranked No. 21. He is trained and co-owned by Wesley Ward.
On Thursday, trainer Bob Baffert scratched Hoppertunity from the Derby due to a possible foot injury. Hoppertunity had been the No. 2 choice on the betting line. That opened the door for Pablo Del Monte to run.
Churchill Downs said the Derby purses remains at $2,202,800. Hoppertunity and Pablo Del Monte each paid $25,000 but they will not pay an added $25,000 to race.
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Storyline to Watch: Rosie Napravnik
While California Chrome is the favorite to win the largest share of that sizable purse, one point of interest to keep an eye on is jockey Rosie Napravnik.
Napravnik is trying to become the first female jockey to ever win the Kentucky Derby, and she will attempt to do so by riding Vicar’s In Trouble. Vicar’s In Trouble was given the unfavorable No. 2 posting position, which will make it particularly difficult for Napravnik.
However, we are talking about the first woman to win the Louisiana Derby, the first woman to win a title at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and the first woman to win the Kentucky Oaks. She finished in fifth place last year aboard Mylute in the Derby, which is the best finish for a female jockey to date.
She seemed particularly excited to ride Vicar’s In Trouble, according to Beth Harris of the Associated Press, via U.S. News & World Report.
"He gets out of that gate fast every single time. If I have to ride somebody out of there, I'm glad it's him."
While Napravnik certainly has an impressive resume, the loaded field and the No. 2 posting position will be too much to overcome.
With so many horses competing, it will be nearly impossible to get into an ideal position out of the gates. If Vicar’s In Trouble gets caught against the rail for an extended period of time, he won’t be able to catch the dominant California Chrome.
Don’t rule out an improvement on Napravnik’s fifth-place finish from last year, though.
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