Mike Tirico a late scratch for Kentucky Derby due to illness

Field Level Media|published: 05/03/2025, 6:21pm EDT

Jun 24, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico during the US Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Mike Tirico was scratched from Kentucky Derby anchoring duties on Saturday due to feeling "under the weather."

Less than an hour into the prerace coverage for The Run for the Roses, Tirico was no longer performing his television duties.

NBC's Ahmed Fareed announced the move on the broadcast immediately after a commercial.

"Mike, as you may have heard, is a little under the weather right now," Fareed said. "So I'm gonna step in and take over for a bit. It is not like baseball. If the closer comes in, the starter can come back in the game. So rest assured, when Mike is feeling better, he will be right back in this seat. But let's move on to the show here."

A slew of social media users affirmed that the 58-year-old Tirico didn't look or sound right before he exited the broadcast.

One hour before the race was set to begin, Fareed said Tirico was feeling better and was watching the broadcast but would stay on the sideline. Tirico has been part of NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage since 2017.

Post time is set for 7:02 p.m. ET.

--Field Level Media