‘Consummate Professional’ Bob Neumeier Passes; Played Key Role On Major Racing Telecasts

Popular Boston sportscaster Bob Neumeier, a reporter and analyst on horse racing telecasts on NBC and ESPN for more than a quarter century, died Oct. 23 at the age of 70. Neumeier's wife, Michele Ucci, told the Boston Globe that her husband suffered from congestive heart failure and heart disease and had been in hospice care for the last two months.

Known as “Neumy” to friends and fans, Neumeier – a graduate of Syracuse University – had been doing play-by-play for the World Hockey League's Hartford Whalers when he became a reporter and sports anchor for Boston's Channel 4 in 1981, a position he held for 20 years.

In the 1980s, Neumeier – an avid horse racing fan and sharp handicapper – began working for Breeders' Cup on a newsfeed that distributed news and personality features nationally to local TV channels.

In 1990. Neumeier joined the NBC Sports broadcast team for the Breeders' Cup, and his reporting and interview skills went into play almost immediately on a tragic day at Belmont Park when three horses died on track, Shaker Knit and Mr. Nickerson in the Sprint and champion filly Go For Wand in the Distaff. He played a similar role during the challenging post-race coverage of Barbaro's ultimately fatal injury in the 2006 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

“It was very similar in terms of the raw emotion that was palpable from the patrons and the people on the track and surrounding the track,” Neumeier told Houston Chronicle columnist David Barron after the 2006 Preakness. “Professionally, we've been there before, and unfortunately, it's not a pleasant experience. But we're trained to handle it.”

Neumeier continued his reporting during racing telecasts (while also doing hockey play by play on Boston radio), but it was his handicapping and on-camera bantering with others, from the late eccentric horseplayer from England, John McCririck, to Mike Battaglia, Eddie Olczyk and others. Neumeier took his handicapping seriously and backed up his opinions at the windows.

He had two publicized health setbacks, the first coming in 2009 when he was taken to a Louisville hospital after collapsing at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. Five years later, he suffered a stroke just days before the 2014 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. He recovered from both incidents, most notably coming back from the stroke to win an NTRA sponsored media handicapping tournament held in conjunction with the National Horseplayers Championship in January 2015. Neumeier was back on the air for the 2015 Triple Crown.

Breeders' Cup issued the following statement about Neumeier's passing: “We were very saddened to learn today of the passing of Bob Neumeier. Bob was a big part of the NBC Breeders' Cup World Championships broadcasts for many years as a handicapper, reporter and analyst. Bob brought his expertise of Thoroughbred racing and a great sense of humor to every show.  We extend our sincere condolences to Bob's wife Michele and to his extended family.”

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NBC Sports Presents Five Hours Of Live Coverage From Kentucky Derby 147

NBC Sports presents the 147th Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Road to the Triple Crown begins this week, highlighted by NBC's live five-hour Kentucky Derby Day telecast this Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports kicks off more than 13 hours of Kentucky Derby Week action this Friday, April 30 with live coverage of the Kentucky Oaks beginning at Noon ET on NBCSN. Saturday's live Derby coverage begins with Kentucky Derby Prep at Noon ET on NBCSN. In total, NBC Sports will televise 17 live races.

This weekend's Derby marks the 20th anniversary of NBC Sports' first Kentucky Derby coverage in 2001, which was won by Monarchos. NBC Sports reporters Donna Brothers and Kenny Rice have covered the Kentucky Derby every year for NBC since 2001. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of analyst Jerry Bailey's Kentucky Derby win on Grindstone in 1996.

The 2021 Kentucky Derby features likely favorite Essential Quality, who was named 2020's Champion two-year-old male and is undefeated in his career, and this year's Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie. With a win in this year's Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert – who trains Medina Spirit in Saturday's field – would earn his seventh career Derby victory, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most ever by a trainer.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Group's coverage of the Kentucky Derby features host Mike Tirico, who is hosting Derby coverage for the fifth time; analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby winner, and Randy Moss; handicapper/reporter Eddie Olczyk; host/reporter Ahmed Fareed; reporters Britney Eurton, Donna Brothers, Kenny Rice, and Laffit Pincay III; and race caller Larry Collmus.

NBC Sports' Jac Collinsworth makes his Kentucky Derby debut as a reporter from Churchill Downs, and four-time Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross will join NBC Sports' 2021 Kentucky Derby coverage as a lifestyle and fashion correspondent. Steve Kornacki, NBC News' and MSNBC's celebrated national political correspondent, will join NBC Sports' 2021 Kentucky Derby coverage as an insights analyst.

The coordinating producer of NBC's horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network's horse racing coverage since 2001. The Kentucky Derby is directed by Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBCSN is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Kaare Numme. Executive producer and president, production, NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood.

Highlights of Kentucky Derby coverage Saturday on NBC include:

  • Five live races in the NBC Kentucky Derby show (nine live races in Saturday's full coverage)
  • Mike Tirico's championship discussion with Bill Belichick, six-time Super Bowl winner as New England Patriots head coach, and Bob Baffert, six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer
  • Tirico's one-on-one discussion with Baffert, who is aiming to become the winningest trainer in Kentucky Derby history
  • Feature on the family of trainer Steve Asmussen, who trains Super Stock and Midnight Bourbon in this year's Derby field. Keith Asmussen, Steve's father, co-owns Super Stock
  • Jac Collinsworth tells the story of Kentucky Derby qualifier Hot Rod Charlie and his connections, highlighting five Brown University football teammates who made the initial $110,000 investment in the horse
  • Tim Layden essays, including one on Canonero II, who had one of the biggest Derby upsets 50 years ago, rallying from 18th place to win the 1971 Kentucky Derby by 3¾ lengths
  • Tom Hammond's retrospective as NBC Sports marks the 20th anniversary of its first Kentucky Derby coverage
  • For the first time, a live drone and two live jockey cam systems will be utilized in Derby coverage (among 50 total cameras)
  • NBC Sports' backstretch bat cam returns for the first time since 2019, offering a perspective from 15-18 feet above the track and traveling up to 80 mph
  • A camera focused on race caller Larry Collmus
  • NBC Sports EDGE's Matt Bernier to provide betting-focused articles and video previews throughout the week
  • NBC Sports EDGE's new sports betting-focused podcast, 'Bet the Edge,' hosted by Sara Perlman, launched today and will have daily Kentucky Derby segments throughout the week. Click here to listen to the debut episode as Eddie Olczyk joins the show to discuss handicapping Saturday's Kentucky Derby

NBC SPORTS GROUP TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE (All Times ET):

KENTUCKY DERBY
Date Time Event Network
Fri., April 30 Noon Kentucky Oaks NBCSN
Sat., May 1 Noon Kentucky Derby Prep NBCSN
Sat., May 1 2:30 p.m. Kentucky Derby NBC
PREAKNESS STAKES
Date Time Event Network
Fri., May 14 5 p.m. Black-Eyed Susan Stakes NBCSN
Sat., May 15 2 p.m. Preakness Prep NBCSN
Sat., May 15 5 p.m. Preakness Stakes NBC
BELMONT STAKES
Date Time Event Network
Fri., June 4 5 p.m. Belmont Stakes Access NBCSN
Sat., June 5 3 p.m. Belmont Stakes Prep NBCSN
Sat., June 5 5 p.m. Belmont Stakes
NBC

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‘Bet The Edge’: NBC Sports Betting Podcast Debuts Monday

NBC Sports EDGE Monday launched its new daily sports betting podcast, “Bet the Edge,” which is hosted by Sara Perlman and analyst Drew Dinsick. The first episode is available now.

Each weekday, Perlman and Dinsickdiscuss and analyze news, trends, and upcoming games through a sports betting lens to help listeners make more informed predictions and picks. Throughout each show, “Bet the Edge” will incorporate advanced insights from NBC Sports EDGE as well as odds, data and analysis from PointsBet, the official sports betting partner of NBC Sports.

“I am thrilled to start this new venture with NBC Sports EDGE,” said Perlman. “Drew and I plan on giving our audience engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining information to help them find their edge in the sports betting space.”

This week, “Bet the Edge” will have daily segments leading up to the 147th Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC) and the 2021 NFL Draft.

Perlman and Dinsick will regularly be joined by guests to discuss upcoming events and news within the sports betting world. On today's debut episode, Perlman and Dinsick welcome football and betting analyst Warren Sharp and horse racing handicapper/reporter Eddie Olczyk. On Wednesday, guests include NBC Sports NFL Insider Peter King, who joins the show to discuss the NFL Draft, and horse racing analyst Randy Moss, who previews the Kentucky Derby. Steve Kornacki, NBC News' and MSNBC's celebrated national political correspondent who will join NBC Sports' Kentucky Derby coverage this Saturday, will join Friday's show.

NBC Sports EDGE sports betting analysts Corey Parson, Vaughn Dalzell, John Daigle, Thor Nystrom, Will Gray and more, as well as PointsBet Head of Trading Jay Croucher and PointsBet Senior Editor Teddy Greenstein, will also regularly join Perlman and Dinsick to provide actionable insights.

NBC Sports EDGE, which follows its early February relaunch by continuing to build out its sports betting content and is the industry leader in fantasy sports information, launched its new app earlier this month, featuring in-depth coverage of the 2021 MLB season, NHL and NBA analysis as the playoffs approach, and prospect notes heading in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Formerly Rotoworld.com, the new NBCSportsEDGE.com includes the latest player news updated  around-the-clock, injury reports, fantasy advice, and exclusive analysis. In addition, the popular Rotoworld magazines and draft guides now carry the NBC Sports EDGE name.

Podcast episodes are available for download on all major podcast platforms, including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, NBC Sports' Scores app, AppleStitcherSpotify, Google PodcastsTuneIn and iHeart.

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NBC Racing, Hockey Analyst Eddie Olczyk Joins Writers’ Room

It's busy season for NBC's Eddie Olczyk. One of the few analysts on national television to dabble in multiple sports, the popular former hockey star is gearing up to broadcast the GI Kentucky Derby as well as the NHL playoffs this spring, and he joined the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland Tuesday afternoon to discuss it all. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Olczyk talked about his handicapping strategies, what horses he's eyeing for the first Saturday in May, his ordeal with colon cancer and much more.

Asked about his racing origins and unique broadcasting perspective, Olczyk said, “Since I was 13 years old here in Chicago at old Arlington Park, for me, it was love at first sight. I think anybody that I either bring to the racetrack or teach them about handicapping or just share stories about horse racing with, once they go [to the track], it seems like they continue to go. So I'd like to think that I've made an impact as far as getting hockey people involved in it. On the other side, I think I've turned a lot of horse racing people into hockey fans. Which both sports, quite frankly, could certainly use. We could use more people, especially young people, getting to know and loving both games. As I love to say, pucks and ponies, there's nothing better. And it's a great time of year with the Triple Crown and the NHL playoffs right around the corner.”

Later, Olczyk opened up about his six-month long chemotherapy battle with stage 3 colon cancer.

“The first thing I thought was, 'How long do I have to live?'” he said about his reaction when he got the diagnosis. “Colon cancer is very treatable if you can get to it early, but I was at stage 3. I was in one of those situations where it could've gone either way. I started my chemo Sept. 11, 2017. It was every two weeks for 48 hours. I was very lucky to have an incredible team of doctors. My wife Diana–we'll be married 33 years come August–was there every step of the way. I never saw her weak, never saw her down, never saw her worried, but I knew that when I wasn't around or she was by herself, she let her guard down. I was scared, and the side effects brought me to my knees. It tested my will to live. When I was ready to quit, she gave me a greater inspirational speech than I'd ever heard in any locker room or other setting in my life. She grabbed me and said, 'Look, you've got to fight. For me, for our kids, and for all the people that love you.' The conversation lasted 30 minutes. I cried for 35 of it. I said, 'OK, I'm just going to grab my hockey helmet and put it back on and I'm going to go day to day.'”

Elsewhere in the show, the writers reacted to the big racing days at Gulfstream and Dubai, including the tragic breakdown of Zenden (Fed Biz) before celebrating the continued overall progress in reducing racing fatalities in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version.

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