ALL EYES ON THE TODDLERS

A bunch of 3-year-olds will run the fastest they can for a mile and a quarter this evening in the 143rd Kentucky Derby. There are 20 contenders and here are a few: the one-eyed Patch, Always Dreaming (the favorite), Practical Joke, Thunder Snow and Irish War Cry. The long, long shot - Sonneteer. Experts say he’s got a 50-1 chance of wearing the sash of roses.

I’ve produced a couple of remotes at The Kentucky Derby when I worked at The Weather Channel. Here are a few behind-the-scene photos.

Stephanie Abrams adjusts her fascinator before interviewing Kenny Rice with NBC Sports. (2013)

Hi! It’s Me in 2013 on my first at Churchill Downs!

Al Roker’s “serious” face as he gets mic’d for Wake Up with Al (2013)

People claiming their spots early (2014)

Al Roker and Stephanie Abrams anchor from The Backside of Churchill Downs (2014)

It’s Mint Julep time! Brown-Forman Master Distiller, Chris Morris, shows Al Roker & Stephanie Abrams a twist on the traditional $1,000 Mint Julep.