At 5 years old at Saratoga Race Course, Andie Biancone imagined the horses were her diner customers. “I would pretend that I was a waitress, and I’d pick grass for all the horses. I’d deliver the grass to their stalls and pretend like I was working in a diner and they were my customers. I got the horse bug from there. I was running at school, and I would gallop like a horse. My PE teacher would ask me, ‘Are you limping?’ I’m like ‘No, I’m cantering!’ ” Now one of the newest additions to NBC Sports’ team covering marquee races, including the 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, Biancone interviews riders on track from horseback.

Andie Biancone with her father, Patrick, in 1999 (Andie Biancone photo)

Horses have been at the center of her life since preschool. “I definitely grew up around the barn. My dad would pick me up from preschool and take me straight to Santa Anita,” she says of her father, trainer Patrick Biancone. She began riding lessons quite young. “I just love the horses. They all have unique personalities. You never stop learning as a rider because every single horse is different.”

Horses have always been Biancone’s safe place, and her adventures around them became a hands-on education. She learned to check their legs, gallop horses, and clock their workouts, and she would skip school to attend horse sales with her father. Later, she had several opportunities to report from horseback for FanDuel TV. When Donna Brothers began considering retirement, she reached out to Biancone.

For 26 years, Donna Brothers was NBC’s on-track reporter, riding alongside the winning jockey with a microphone in hand to conduct the first interview. Her mentoring of Biancone offered an example of women supporting women in horse racing. Brothers shared the intricacies of conducting a live interview from horseback during an intensely emotional moment.

Brothers is so proud. “Andie shadowed me at 2025 Breeders’ Cup and gave me a leg up for nearly every race. I had in mind at that time that I should give her a leg up for her first Breeders’ Cup race — a sort of official passing of the torch. I was there on Friday to give her that leg up. To be honest, it made me a little emotional, and I didn’t expect that. I think the emotion came from being proud of Andie and happy to help her, in a small way, as she embarks on this journey. After the leg up, I drove back to Louisville, watched the telecast on TV from the comfort of my home, and thought she did great! Her questions demonstrated that she had done her homework, and I love the positive energy she brings to the telecast.”

Biancone with predecessor and mentor Donna Brothers (Andie Biancone photo)

Brothers marked the transition with personal gifts: a waterproof tote bag bearing Biancone’s name, a special bracelet she made, and her own small black saddlebag. Biancone hung the bag from her saddle to carry essentials, including her microphone, iPad, phone, and peppermints. Brothers encouraged her to let viewers see who she is. Her advice was simple: “Just be yourself!”

Biancone was touched. “She really made the passing of the torch meaningful. She’s somebody who I can rely on for feedback whenever I want. She’s a good friend and I feel really fortunate.”

For her interviews, Biancone rode “Jack,” also known as O’s Jack Flash, a pony owned by Monnie Goetz, who is well known for the legendary ponies “Harley” and “Rip.” Jack is a registered American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft and a Bronze Ambassador with the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Association (ASHDA). He was sired by ASHDA Hall of Fame horse Sugarbush Harley’s Classic O out of KCF Olympics Dream.

Biancone laughed when she talked about Jack. “He was great. I think he could go three miles per hour max. Probably one of the slowest horses I’ve ever ridden. But he was a really good boy and very good for interviews. He was a sweetheart. You didn’t have to worry about him spooking or being nervous. But he’s definitely lazy. I’m not used to using that much leg. I could probably keep him cantering for three strides max.”

Biancone aboard Jack on Breeders' Cup Saturday Oct. 31 (Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire)

To prepare, Biancone had to be ready to interview any of 53 jockeys and know the backgrounds of an initial group of 222 individual horses, including 79 international contenders. She typed her notes, annotated them on her iPad and then transferred them to her phone. “It was really fulfilling to be able to recall my research and the backgrounds on all the different jocks and just tie it in with the moment.”

Biancone wanted viewers to feel the gravity and specialness of each win. Because she knew many of the jockeys, she also wanted to illuminate their personal journeys. “For some of those guys, it was their first Breeders’ Cup win. It’s a lot of work. People see these jockeys just in the moment of success but don’t often realize the struggle it takes to get there or the struggle of every day. I really tried to do my best to shed light on that.”

She was brought to tears twice. Kendrick Carmouche had just won the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF on Deterministic, trained by Miguel Clement. Carmouche was ebullient and so full of joy. “Kendrick is the soul of our sport.” The second set of tears came when Junior Alvarado won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Sovereignty. Both interviews ended with joyful hugs and huge smiles.  

Reflecting on those interviews, Biancone says, “It’s just very powerful. Donna wasn’t kidding when she said that’s the best seat in the house. You are catching the raw emotions of riders when they achieve something that they’ve been dreaming about their entire life.”

Trainer Christophe Clement passed away in 2025, and his son, Miguel, now trains his father’s racing stable. This was his first Breeders’ Cup win and a powerful moment for Biancone. “Knowing Miguel and Acacia [Clement] as well, it’s almost like you could feel Christophe in that moment. That will resonate with me forever because I genuinely felt like Christophe was there.”  

Biancone aboard Diamond Oops in 2021 (Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire)

Among the horses that shaped Biancone’s life, Diamond Oops has left the greatest impact. He is her “heart horse,” the horse with whom she has a particularly deep bond, and she credits him with keeping her humble. “He really taught me everything. He is so honest and genuine.” Diamond Oops was trained by her father and earned more than $1.4 million during his 30-race career. He is now retired but remains part of her life.

Looking back on this year’s Breeders’ Cup experience, Biancone says, “It was really deeply emotional and very meaningful. I was really having fun out there. All the work was hard, but it was well worth it.”

FanDuel TV analyst Caton Bredar is another close friend who has always been in her corner. “Andie brings her lifetime of experience in horse racing to every broadcast, but even more significant is her boundless joy and genuine love of horses and the sport. It shines through and is television magic.”

Biancone’s next chapter includes marriage, the Oaklawn Park meet, and a new podcast. She recently married jockey Keith Asmussen, son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and grandson of Quarter-Horse jockey Keith Asmussen. She has changed her name to Andie Biancone Asmussen but will continue to use Andie Biancone professionally. The couple plans to spend time at Oaklawn, where she will gallop horses for her father-in-law and enjoy life. She has also joined “The Good Life Podcast” with Elliott Walden, former CEO and racing manager of WinStar Farm, Jeff Sheppard, and Tom Leach. Through interviews about horse racing, faith, and business, they explore the stories behind success.

The little girl who delivered grass to stalls at Saratoga now carries a microphone on horseback, sharing the success stories of the sport she grew up in. Her life is filled with love and taking new turns, while horses remain at its center. “We owe everything to the horses,” Biancone says with a smile.