Sports activities anchor Mike Tirico departed the Kentucky Derby early Saturday, Could 3, on account of a thriller sickness that turned out to be a “vital” nut allergy.
“Hate being a scratch after making the beginning gate @KentuckyDerby. Only a vital response to my nut allergy,” Tirico, 58, stated via X on Saturday, updating involved followers who observed his abrupt exit from the day’s stay festivities. “In case you have one you know the way it could possibly knock you down.”
“Profound due to @ChurchillDowns for his or her care. And to our superb @nbcsports horse racing household. Particularly Randy, Jerry & Ahmed Fareed. So fortunate to have @SyracuseU fam step in and do such an important job,” he added.
Tirico was on air reporting from Churchill Downs for many of the morning. His colleague Ahmed Fareed took over round 3:00 pm native time and solely supplied, “Mike, as you will have heard, is somewhat below the climate proper now.”
The Derby continued on all through the day. Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn Birkhead and her father Larry Birkhead made their annual look on the horse race. Dannielynn shocked in an off-the-shoulder teal MacDuggal robe, whereas her dad, 52, opted for a tan swimsuit.
“Persevering with the @kentuckyderby weekend custom going robust. We’re recovering from a rockin’ good time eventually night time’s Barnstable-Brown Gala. Now, off to the races with Dannielynn,” Larry wrote via Instagram. “She made me reduce my hair with @hairbyryanaustin as a result of earlier than that, she stated I appeared like a low-rent Keith City! Ouch! Betting on a good time and good climate for a particular household custom.”
On Friday, Could 2, Dannielynn wore certainly one of her late mom’s robes to a Derby occasion. “I can’t know my mother, sadly, and this is without doubt one of the solely causes and methods I can,” she instructed Access Hollywood. “That is the closest I’ll ever be attending to a hug from her, so I’ve been, like, on and off tears the entire day.”
The occasion additionally attracted celebrities together with Selma Blair, Shaboozey, TikTok star Alix Earle, and Wilmer Valderrama.
Solely 20 horses are eligible to run within the Kentucky Derby. To qualify for the race, the horses and their riders needed to accumulate as many factors as doable within the Highway to the Kentucky Derby competitions which can be cut up between three paths: the American Highway, the Japan Highway and the European/Center East Highway between September and April.
