Personal Reasons for Retirement
Brothers decided two years ago that Kentucky Derby 152 would be her final year, wanting to reach age 60 before retiring. She explained that turning 60 makes her feel she has earned the right to retire. She looks forward to spending less time in front of the computer doing research and more time outdoors hiking, biking, stand-up paddleboarding, and golfing. When people express sadness about her retirement, she disagrees, noting she has had the second-best seat in the house for 26 years and is ready to pass the baton.
Her Unique Role and Legacy
Brothers has been the first person to interview the winning Kentucky Derby jockey immediately after the race while on horseback. She positioned herself to catch jockeys while the win is still in their heart rather than their head. Her heartfelt interviews with winners like Calvin Borel on Street Sense in 2007 became fan favorites. Mike Tirico praised her as someone who defined a role in sports television, calling her irreplaceable despite being followed by a successor.
Path to the Role
Brothers joined NBC in 2000 for Breeders' Cup coverage and has been part of the network's Triple Crown coverage since then. A former jockey who retired in 1998 with 1,130 race wins and over $18 million in purse earnings, she initially questioned whether she wanted the television job but was talked off the ledge by her husband. She later learned from harsh criticism that her interviews were fluff, which motivated her to become a better storyteller through extensive daily research about jockeys and their connections.
Career Accomplishments and Challenges
Brothers has covered numerous memorable Derby moments, including Triple Crown wins by jockeys Victor Espinoza on American Pharaoh in 2015 and Mike Smith on Justify in 2018. She also witnessed difficult moments, including Eight Belles going down in 2008, which still makes her emotional. She has never fallen off her horse during race coverage, though she did fall once during a Today Show appearance with Al Roker. 
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