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Steve Kornacki Joins NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby Coverage

Steve Kornacki, NBC News' and MSNBC's celebrated national political correspondent, will join NBC Sports' 2021 Kentucky Derby coverage this Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Kornacki, who has been widely lauded for his ability to easily communicate the complex election process, will apply his unique analytical perspective in “Meet the Contenders” segments on the Kentucky Derby field. In addition, he will offer insight on notable betting trends.

Last fall, Kornacki brought his election-style coverage to Football Night in America, breaking down the NFL playoff picture.

“After successfully tackling FNIA, we're excited to have Steve join our Kentucky Derby team,” said Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer of NBC Sports' Kentucky Derby coverage and Football Night in America. “We expect he will be right at home working a sport that includes terms like neck-and-neck, down-to-the-wire, and dead heat.”

“It's going to be a thrill to be at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, something I've wanted to do since the very first Derby I watched as a kid in 1987,” Kornacki said. “To get to play a role with the NBC Sports team, which I've been a fan of for years, is an honor.”

Kornacki, who will be making his first trip to Churchill Downs, is a native of Groton, Massachusetts, and regularly attended races at nearby Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park in his teens and as a Boston University student. One of his earliest horse racing memories came when an uncle took him to the harness races at Scarborough Downs in Maine. He picked five consecutive winners. It's a performance he's spent the last three decades trying to replicate.

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

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Derby-Winning Trainer John Ward Dies At 75

John T. Ward Jr., Kentucky Derby-winning trainer and former Kentucky racing executive, has died at the age of 75. Ward is best known for saddling 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, who also won the Grade 1 Florida Derby and was third in the G1 Belmont Stakes.

Ward's training career spanned 40 years until his retirement in 2012, at which time he had saddled 3,671 starters and 574 winners for earnings of over $23 million. Besides Monarchos, he was also the conditioner of graded stakes winners Sky Mesa, Booklet, Beautiful Pleasure, Snow Dance, Forest Secrets, Gal in a Ruckus, and Strong Contender among others.

Ward was a third generation Kentucky horseman. His grandfather John S. Ward saddled runners in three consecutive Derbies, and John T. Ward Sr., trained and ran a farm in the Lexington area. His uncle Sherrill Ward was the trainer of Forego and is in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Ward Jr.'s claim of the roses in 2001 was the brass ring generations before him had reached for, as detailed in this feature from ESPN.

He served as executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and was also a founding member and former president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. He served on the Sales Integrity Task Force for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders.

“John Ward Jr. personified the phrase 'Kentucky hard-boot,'” said Churchill Downs president Mike Anderson. “He was a third-generation horseman who worked tirelessly throughout his career, culminating with service as Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The dedication to his craft as a trainer was amplified 20 years ago when he patiently prepared Monarchos to a memorable victory in the 2001 Kentucky Derby. Our hearts and prayers will be with Ward's family and friends throughout Derby Week as they grieve during this difficult time.”

“John T. Ward Jr. was a consummate horseman who enjoyed great success as both a trainer and as an industry executive, and engendered enormous respect among his peers throughout his career,” read a statement from the Breeders' Cup over the weekend. “From his training victories of Monarchos in the Kentucky Derby and Beautiful Pleasure in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, to his leadership as president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International and executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, John served our sport with honor and distinction. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.”

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Jose Lezcano Returns Thursday Following Shoulder And Knee Surgery

Jockey Jose Lezcano will be back in the saddle on Thursday at Belmont Park after recovering from shoulder and knee surgery which kept him out of action for nearly three full months.

The 36-year-old Lezcano has not ridden since January 31 at Aqueduct and has been named aboard two horses on Thursday's nine-race card for trainer Brad Cox.

The 2019 Belmont spring/summer meet leading rider will pilot graded-stakes placed Caldee for Shortleaf Stable in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race over the Widener turf course in Race 5, as well as Anstu Stables' stakes-placed Kinenos, who is entered in a 10-furlong second-level optional claiming tilt over the inner turf in Race 8.

Agent Jason Beides said Lezcano has been working horses at Belmont for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey and Jorge Abreu.

“He's going good and working really hard,” said Beides. “He can't wait to get back and ride. It's been tough keeping him on the ground. A shoulder is a tough injury but he stays in good shape, so that's good.”

Jockeys Junior Alvarado and Pablo Fragoso, who were unseated in the eighth race on Opening Day on Thursday at Belmont, are both on the sidelines.

The 34-year-old Alvarado, who was unseated by Sport Model, was evaluated at hospital Thursday. Agent Mike Sellitto reported that all tests and scans were negative. Alvarado was discharged that evening and will visit a specialist later this week for further guidance on his expected return.

Fragoso reported that he had fractured his right wrist, incurred a mild concussion, and lost two teeth after being unseated by Sailor's Treasure. Fragoso will also seek further specialist advice this week.

Manny Franco, who was unseated by Undetectable in the same spill, was cleared by EMS immediately following and rode the winner, Kavod, in Friday's opening race at Belmont.

Dylan Davis, who broke his collarbone in a fall on March 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack, will see a specialist this week with an eye towards a mid-May return, agent Mike Migliore said. The 26-year-old rider underwent successful surgery at the end of March.

“If all goes well with the doctor, we're hoping he can be back in the middle of May after a little physical therapy,” said Migliore. “He's young and keeps himself in good shape. It's a shame he got hurt, we had good momentum going at Aqueduct.”

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Concussion Sustained In Belmont Spill Sidelines Junior Alvarado

Jockey Junior Alvarado, one of three jockeys involved in a spill in Thursday's eighth race on opening day at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., was off all mounts this weekend and will miss several stakes engagements at Churchill Downs next week, including a possible ride aboard Caddo River in the G1 Kentucky Derby, according to a report in Daily Racing Form.

Alvarado was released from a local hospital on Thursday evening but took of mounts the following day and saw a specialist who determined the rider had suffered a concussion. He had fallen hard to the turf when his mount, Sport Model, clipped heels when in tight rounding the stretch turn. Jockey Manny Franco escaped injury when his mount, Undetectable, collided with the fallen horse. A third rider, Pablo Fragoso, was diagnosed with a wrist fracture and also lost two teeth when he was thrown to the ground after his mount, Sailor's Treasure, was unable to avoid Sport Model.

All three horses got back up and were captured by outriders. None was reported to have suffered any injuries.

According to Daily Racing Form, Alvarado was being considered as rider for Caddo River in the Kentucky Derby. He had several other stakes mounts lined up Derby week, but will not be able to fulfill any of the commitments. Alvarado is scheduled to see a doctor Thursday to learn when he may return to action.

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