She knew racing well as the daughter of former jockey and veteran West Coast trainer Peter Eurton. The opportunity to honor the previous season’s best human and equine achievements was appealing. But while the veteran announcer is comfortable in front of a camera and speaking to an audience of millions, standing in front of a packed ballroom brought a very different atmosphere.
She shared her concerns with veteran NBC producer Amy Zimmerman, a friend and confidante who is like family. Zimmerman responded with sage advice.
“Some of the scariest opportunities are the ones that help you grow the most,” she told her.
Eurton will take center stage, working alongside Lindsay Czarniak and co-hosting for the seventh consecutive year when the 55th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards are held Thursday at The Breakers Palm Beach. Caton Bredar will serve as ceremony announcer.
Eurton now enjoys the role she once resisted.
“It’s an adrenaline rush and a challenge that I enjoy,” she said. “It’s an evening celebrating something I love: horse racing and the people who are part of it.”
The Glendora, California native was born into the sport. Her earliest memories are of spending time in her father’s barn, watching the whirl of morning activity and visiting his horses. Whether it was victory or defeat, Del Mar’s summers were always memorable.
Neither Peter nor her mother, Lisa, who owned and operated a jewelry store for more than thirty years, steered her toward racing. She threw herself into dancing and acting, and they were fine with that.
“Horse racing was definitely something I was involved in from a competitors’ point of view, along with my family, but I never expected to be working in it,” says Eurton, 38. “From the age of three I always wanted to be an actress.”
She maintained that focus as a student at the University of Southern California. She intensified her efforts by attending an acting conservatory for two years before hiring an agent and beginning to audition for various roles.
Euroton thought she was on her way. She wasn’t then.
“I didn’t like it in the end. It’s a real grind,” she said. “I give so many props to people who stick with it this long because it’s not easy.”
Her career took a fortuitous turn when TVG (now FanDuel) had an opening in 2014 and she got the job. Three years later, she joined NBC Sports and began covering the Triple Crown races in 2018.
She was part of NBC Universal’s Olympic Games coverage two years ago and hosted the Paralympic Games in Paris. She also left for the National Women’s Soccer League on Amazon Prime. Whatever the sport, she is a fast learner.
“She’s like a sponge. When she puts her mind to something, she throws herself into it,” her father said. “She’s not the type to know everything, but she knows as much as she can.”
Although it took some time for her to realize it, Eurton is excellent for all things racing.
“The sport gives you a little bit of everything and I’m so intrigued by what attracts others to the sport,” she said. “I was born into it, but why do others find the sport so fascinating? What attracts them to it? Sharing those stories with the public, I honestly can’t get enough of it.”
She became enamored with the story behind Hot Rod Charlie, a leading three-year-old in 2021 who finished second in the Dubai World Cup the following season. It was partly owned by a group of fun-loving Brown University graduates who called themselves Boat Racing. When she interviewed Patrick O’Neill, Boat Racing’s managing partner, after Hot Rod Charlie finished second in the Belmont Stakes, she became enamored with him. They got married last June.
Her most memorable interview involved her father following Storm the Court’s victory in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at odds of 45.90-1. She struggled to contain her emotions after the stunning outcome. As the interview came to an end, she heard producer Billy Matthews in her earpiece.
“Britney, it’s okay to be his daughter.”
She concluded by telling her father, “I know I’m biased, but I couldn’t be more proud of you right now.”
They hugged each other and gave the international audience an exciting moment.
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