It’s a fun thought experiment to picture the very first Kentucky Derby at the famed Churchill Downs racetrack back in 1875 and compare that to today, where fans can now view the proceedings of the 142nd running in virtual reality (VR).
Carrying this thought experiment one step further, one wonders where we will be when the the 284th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place. I assume it will be in a sports bar in Elon Musk City somewhere on the surface of Mars, but that’s a topic for a whole other thought experiment.
So staying focused on the present, virtual reality is poised to add a hi-tech element to this year’s Kentucky Derby thanks to NextVR and NBC Sports Group. Starting at 4 p.m. Eastern on Saturday will be NBC’s virtual reality presentation which will officially be the first ever horse racing coverage live in VR.
This will be just the latest VR sports broadcast done by NextVR. We have been closely covering their growth throughout the sports world, including getting the chance to watch a live NBA game in virtual reality (we were impressed).
“We are excited to bring the pageantry and passion experienced annually by those at the Kentucky Derby even closer to viewers at home with the new medium of live virtual reality,” said Rob Hyland, coordinating producer of NBC Sports Group’s Triple Crown horse racing coverage in a press release today.
Coverage leading up to, during and all the way to the winner’s circle will be captured in virtual reality by seven VR cameras. Five of those cameras will be positioned next to the track to capture the race and even the owners’ suites. The other two cameras will be focused on the paddock and starting gate to highlight the stars of the day, the horses themselves.
The VR content will be available via the NBC channel on the NextVR portal and the NextVR app can be used by Samsung Gear VR owners to access the live stream. Additionally, the audio for this VR stream will be the actual race call from NBC’s Larry Collmus, who called American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown victories last year, as well as commentary from NBC announcers Tom Hammond, Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss.
Suffice it to say, NextVR is happy to be providing the VR experience for this year’s Kentucky Derby. “We’re going to wire our viewers directly into one of the most exciting, spectacular experiences in sports,” said Dave Cole, NextVR co-founder. “This is a show not to miss.”
On top of seeing the race and receiving the actual audio, VR viewers will get specifically produced content from NBC in the form of stories, stats, race data and of course, updated betting odds that will all be present on a virtual screen in the VR broadcast.
So this Saturday when the 142nd running of Churchill Downs occurs, strap on your VR headset and take a moment to appreciate where technology for sports fans has advanced to since the first Kentucky Derby.
