Larry Collmus is calling his 15th straight Kentucky Derby. He’ll still get nervous.
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LOUISVILLE,Ky.—BythetimethehorsesarriveatthestartinggateSaturdayforthe151stKentuckyDerby,NBCannouncerLarryCollmuswillhavealreadyquizzedhimselfatleast10timeseverydaythisweek,matchingthe20nameswiththejockeysilksthathe’llneedtoregurgitatewithouthesitationforanaudienceofmillions.
He’llhavestudiedallthecontenders’previousracessothathecananticipatewho’sgoingtotheleadearlyandwho’slikelytoberunningfastattheend.He’llevenhaveafewphraseshandythatmightlendthemselvestoalittlepoetry,likein2015whenhehadthepresenceofmindtosay,“CaliforniaChromeshinesbrightintheKentuckyDerby!”justashehitthewire.
Still,evenasCollmuspreparestocallhis15thstraightDerbyonnationaltelevision—passingDaveJohnson’srecordof14consecutiveforABC—theanxietyhewillfeelinthosemomentsbeforethegateopensprobablywon’tbeawholelotdifferentthanhisfirstDerbycall.
“Thatpressurejustkindofshowsupeverytime,nomatterhowmanytimesyoudo




