Steve Kornacki, the NBC News and MSNBC national political correspondent, became a viral sensation during election week in November, and since then, he’s been part of other NBC broadcasts, including Sunday Night Football.
People latched onto and appreciated Kornacki for several reasons, his trustworthiness, enthusiasm and insightful analysis among them. He and his famous khaki pants returned to the world of sports Saturday for the Kentucky Derby, and fans of his were so excited.
The love for Kornacki remained consistent as he contributed to NBC’s broadcast and broke down how and why the odds for the Triple Crown leg changed. As he said Saturday, he’s just trying to make sense of all the numbers — something viewers now trust him to do on a variety of subjects.
The Kornacki Derby. 😎@NBCNews' @SteveKornacki is here at the 147th Kentucky Derby to break down all the latest odds for the big race. pic.twitter.com/i9JqKLm0i5
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 1, 2021
And then Kornacki’s analysis turned out to be perfectly spot on with him correctly predicting Medina Spirit would win the 147th Kentucky Derby with 12-1 odds.
CALLED IT! https://t.co/vkjRGQnzkm
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 1, 2021
Bob Baffert, baby https://t.co/53RfMmEVyH
— Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) May 1, 2021
As I said on the air, if you’re giving me double digit odds on Baffert, I’ll take it! pic.twitter.com/0s4UMbNUCA
— Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) May 1, 2021
And as Kornacki periodically appeared on NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast, his fans just couldn’t get enough of him, especially after he called the winner.
Well…Steve Kornacki – khakis included – has proven that he not only can analyze political results…he’s one accurate horse race handicapper! He called the Kentucky Derby Winner! Medina Spirit and Bob Baffert! https://t.co/ElNEyttVkW
— Steve Williams (@HuntingtonMayor) May 1, 2021
Could Steve Kornacki be any better? He just picked the winner of the Kentucky Derby
— Rhiannon (@Finn_McCoo) May 1, 2021
@SteveKornacki called the KY Derby with a 12-1 horse. Haha. I’ll follow you anywhere Kornacki. https://t.co/FTCdeOVJOS
— Mrs. Henstein (@MrsHenstein) May 1, 2021
Steve Kornacki correctly predicted Medina Spirit as the winner of the Kentucky Derby. #KornackisKhakis https://t.co/BjRTT6JTAT
— Dwayne Walton (@23dwayne) May 1, 2021
of course absolute god steve kornacki is the only host of the derby that predicted the winning horse
— mary (@maryallieson) May 1, 2021
STEVE KORNACKI KNOWS EVERYTHING! Medina Spirit wins the Derby! @SteveKornacki #MedinaSpirit #KentuckyDerby #kentuckyderby2021 12:1? It *is* possible! pic.twitter.com/lZOi6GqUWx
— Vintage Bridge: An Arts Notebook (@AnArtsNotebook) May 1, 2021
Extremely funny that Steve Kornacki was (as far as I can remember) the only NBC personality to correctly pick the winning Derby horse.
— raynell (@rayyyynell) May 1, 2021
So lesson learned…you pick whoever Steve Kornacki picks in the Kentucky Derby if you want to win.
— Valerie Paschall (@lousyhumans) May 1, 2021
Omg, NBC has Steve Kornacki reporting on the odds for the Kentucky Derby! 😂 pic.twitter.com/zk9fYoEfjQ
— Kate’s about to lose it! ⚖️ 👩🏼⚕️👩🏼🍳 (@Chef_KateM) May 1, 2021
OMG, my little Steve Kornacki is at Churchill Downs?!? Now I’m interested! pic.twitter.com/hhchDWQ3vD
— Auntie Begonia (@Slackermom66) May 1, 2021
Thanks to Steve Kornacki, for the first time I think I understand the bets and odds on Kentucky Derby horses. Too bad I didn't put any money on the line.
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) May 1, 2021
Kornacki on the board at the derby!
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) May 1, 2021
Steve Kornacki is the lagniappe I didn't know I needed on Kentucky Derby day. pic.twitter.com/JpUieV53qV
— Janice Hough (@leftcoastbabe) May 1, 2021
Steve Kornacki is now my favorite Kentucky Derby announcer and that’s the tweet.
— Tori Fletcher (@hellotorifletch) May 1, 2021
Steve Kornacki breaking it down — if it weren’t for the $2.6M Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale bet on KY Derby favorite Essential Quality, the odds might be even with ROCK YOUR WORLD 🌎 pic.twitter.com/YMOQF5GPSv
— Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen) May 1, 2021
Steve Kornacki is the best thing to happen to the #KentuckyDerby since Tara and Johnny. pic.twitter.com/Kpa6tkpTEp
— T Bird 🧡💙 (@sunandshower) May 1, 2021
You know things are serious when Steve Kornacki is here #KentuckyDerby https://t.co/2aBIaCsXrk pic.twitter.com/gXaNPQMsX0
— Kenton (@Kenton_la) May 1, 2021
My mom just SCREAMED and brought the whole household to the living room. Why? Because she saw Steve Kornacki on the tv. pic.twitter.com/NaeLRG1AxX
— Liz, A Recluse (@dragonbiddy) May 1, 2021
Best part of Kentucky Derby is Steve Kornacki pic.twitter.com/G0U4ZY5i79
— Tango Foxtrot (@Tangofoxtrot23) May 1, 2021
Great explanation by Kornacki how a single $2.2 million bet has shifted the odds in the race. https://t.co/biRhM5MRhL
— Bob Hardt (@bobhardt) May 1, 2021
We’re about one TV season away from Steve Kornacki showing up in NBC’s scripted dramas, just to help walk viewers through the storylines and potential outcomes. He’s already been analyzing This Is Us in his free time.
— Jim Maiella (@jimmaiella) May 1, 2021
I just want Steve Kornacki on every broadcast, no matter the subject matter.
— Emily White (@emianwhite) May 1, 2021