Sports anchor Mike Tirico departed the Kentucky Derby early Saturday, May 3, due to a mystery illness that turned out to be a “significant” nut allergy.
“Hate being a scratch after making the starting gate @KentuckyDerby. Just a significant reaction to my nut allergy,” Tirico, 58, said via X on Saturday, updating concerned fans who noticed his abrupt exit from the day’s live festivities. “If you have one you know how it can knock you down.”
“Profound thanks to @ChurchillDowns for their care. And to our amazing @nbcsports horse racing family. Especially Randy, Jerry & Ahmed Fareed. So lucky to have @SyracuseU fam step in and do such a great job,” he added.
Tirico was on air reporting from Churchill Downs for most of the morning. His colleague Ahmed Fareed took over around 3:00 pm local time and only offered, “Mike, as you may have heard, is a little under the weather right now.”
The Derby continued on throughout the day. Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn Birkhead and her father Larry Birkhead made their annual appearance at the horse race. Dannielynn stunned in an off-the-shoulder teal MacDuggal gown, while her dad, 52, opted for a tan suit.
“Continuing the @kentuckyderby weekend tradition going strong. We are recovering from a rockin’ good time at last night’s Barnstable-Brown Gala. Now, off to the races with Dannielynn,” Larry wrote via Instagram. “She made me cut my hair with @hairbyryanaustin because before that, she said I looked like a low-rent Keith Urban! Ouch! Betting on a great time and good weather for a special family tradition.”
On Friday, May 2, Dannielynn wore one of her late mother’s gowns to a Derby event. “I can’t know my mom, sadly, and this is one of the only reasons and ways I can,” she told Access Hollywood. “This is the closest I’ll ever be getting to a hug from her, so I’ve been, like, on and off tears the whole day.”
The event also attracted celebrities including Selma Blair, Shaboozey, TikTok star Alix Earle, and Wilmer Valderrama.
Only 20 horses are eligible to run in the Kentucky Derby. To qualify for the race, the horses and their riders had to accumulate as many points as possible in the Road to the Kentucky Derby competitions that are split between three paths: the American Road, the Japan Road and the European/Middle East Road between September and April.
