Fans just tuning into the 2025 Kentucky Derby may be wondering where lead host Mike Tirico is on the NBC broadcast. Fans who have been watching all the action at Churchill Downs on Saturday could already tell something was off.
Tirico, who is usually an authoritative and familiar voice during NBC's biggest sports shows, was seemingly ill on Saturday yet tried to power through. That didn't last long. NBC officially replaced him on the telecast with Ahmed Fareed shortly after 3 p.m. ET.
It's unclear if Tirico will return before the Derby goes off as the 12th race of the day, but NBC did not rule it out.