Home » Larry Collmus is calling his 15th straight Kentucky Derby. He’ll still get nervous.

Larry Collmus is calling his 15th straight Kentucky Derby. He’ll still get nervous.

Larry Collmus is calling his 15th straight Kentucky Derby. He’ll still get nervous.

LOUISVILLE,Ky.—BythetimethehorsesarriveatthestartinggateSaturdayforthe151stKentuckyDerby,NBCannouncerLarryCollmuswillhavealreadyquizzedhimselfatleast10timeseverydaythisweek,matchingthe20nameswiththejockeysilksthathe’llneedtoregurgitatewithouthesitationforanaudienceofmillions. He’llhavestudiedallthecontenders’previousracessothathecananticipatewho’sgoingtotheleadearlyandwho’slikelytoberunningfastattheend.He’llevenhaveafewphraseshandythatmightlendthemselvestoalittlepoetry,likein2015whenhehadthepresenceofmindtosay,“CaliforniaChromeshinesbrightintheKentuckyDerby!”justashehitthewire.  Still,evenasCollmuspreparestocallhis15thstraightDerbyonnationaltelevision—passingDaveJohnson’srecordof14consecutiveforABC—theanxietyhewillfeelinthosemomentsbeforethegateopensprobablywon’tbeawholelotdifferentthanhisfirstDerbycall.  “Thatpressurejustkindofshowsupeverytime,nomatterhowmanytimesyoudo