Kentucky Derby horses might want to spend a little more time picking out blinders this year, because Olympic figure skaters Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinksi are joining NBC Sports Group as fashion experts for its coverage of the 2014 race.
The duo will work the Derby on Sat., May 3 and the Kentucky Oaks on Fri., May 2.
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Most recently, Weir, a three-time U.S. figure skating champion, and Lipinksi, the 1998 Olympic figure skating gold medalist, served as fashion correspondents for “Access Hollywood” at the 2014 Academy Awards.
“Johnny and Tara have an infectious energy that will bring a fun and fresh perspective to our Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks telecasts,” Rob Hyland, coordinating producer for NBC Sports Group, said in a statement. “They will be in their element amid the big-event atmosphere and pageantry of Churchill Downs.”
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Horses could not be reached for comment, because they cannot speak human English.
The 2013 Kentucky Derby was the second-most watched in 25 years with 16.2 million viewers. Women comprised 51 percent of that audience — the highest percentage of female viewership for any major sporting event in 2013.
As previously reported by TheWrap, the 2014 Kentucky Derby will mark the NBC Sports debut of new hire Josh Elliott.