It used to be relatively simple for producer David Michaels, especially after three years of bringing viewers exceptional coverage of the Kentucky Derby.
But this year, his award-winning team has to practically re-invent much of its coverage.
Because Churchill Downs spent more than $121-million for renovations, Michaels is looking for new camera angles. The famed Twin Spires are still standing, but little else is. Michaels said he has lost almost all of the camera spots his crew had used.
Making matters more difficult, new angles found by Michaels were obscured at various parts of the tracks by 18-foot high tents that will house those who used to sit in the grandstand.
"The No. 1 challenge was all of the places for our cameras were gone. Suddenly, they were just missing," Michaels said. "It's kind of a hard thing to explain, but the way construction was, we had to put cameras in very strange places."
The Derby will have a slightly different look to it this year, leaving Michaels' biggest chore making sure viewers aren't shocked and turned off. But he said he is confident the best two minutes in all of sport will be as pleasing to the eye as always.
"I think we got it all sorted out," he said. "It just took a long time to put all the pieces together."
The construction is just part of a different feeling around the Derby. A jockey uprising over wearing advertising patches on silks was avoided. There's no favorite, no budding star, and the field is massive, 20 horses.
"The Derby transcends favorites," host Tom Hammond said. "It is the Derby, and that is why people watch. It's the race America knows about; maybe the only race they watch all year in some cases. But they know about the Derby no matter who is in it. ... And that is why you watch."
Analyst Bob Neumeier said he knew this would be a different Derby. How else do you explain 21 winners in 22 prep races, Jerry Bailey (one of the sport's best jockeys) not having a ride until this week and trainer D. Wayne Lukas not having a horse in the sport's premier race?
"It's a crazy year," he said.
NBC still has plenty of good stories to tell, and its prerace show has long been top notch. As for the actual race, it promises only that it promises nothing.
Which isn't that bad of a thing.
"One year ago at this time, none of us really knew who Funny Cide was, and yet he stepped up and won that race with the unlikely story of six high school friends (who) catapulted it into a story that went beyond racing," Neumeier said. "Is a Funny Cide ready to emerge this year? Maybe yes, maybe no."
