Patrick Mahomes, Oksana Masters will command 'Riders Up' for 2023 Kentucky Derby, Oaks

"Riders Up," may only be two little words but on Kentucky Derby Day, they are a very big deal.

Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP for the Kansas City Chiefs, has been granted the special honor of commanding the jockeys to mount their horses as the announcer for this year’s "Riders Up" for Kentucky Derby 149 at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Hosted at the Derby by the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala team, Mahomes will make the official call in the paddock on NBC just before the Kentucky Derby race, which has a post time of 6:57 p.m.

Ahead of Derby Day, Louisville native and seven-time Paralympian gold medalist Oksana Masters will be giving the "Riders Up" command for Friday’s Longines Kentucky Oaks, which is scheduled for 5:51 p.m.

Kentucky Derby tradition behind "Riders Up!" command

“Riders Up!” is the traditional command from the Paddock Judge for jockeys to mount their horses in advance of the upcoming race. But since 2012, Churchill Downs has reserved that special honor for a dignitary or celebrity attendee when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.

Other celebrities who have had "Riders Up" honors in past years include John Calipari (2012), Charlie Strong (2013), Julius Irving (2014), Teddy Bridgewater (2015), Sean Peyton (2016), Jeff Bridges (2017), Laila Ali (2018), Baker Mayfield (2019), D. Wayne Lukas (2021) and Jack Harlow (2022).

Kentucky Derby 2023 pre-race reading

• Chloe's Dream: Report of sixth horse death in lead up to 149th running of Kentucky Derby

• Kentucky Derby undercard results 2023: Chad Brown's Fluffy Socks wins Distaff Turf Mile Stakes

• Trainers to beat: Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox’s varied paths to top, Kentucky Derby 2023

• Making a case: Why your horse can — or can't — win Kentucky Derby

• C.L. Brown: Why victory for Reincarnate in Kentucky Derby 2023 would be Bellarmine basketball win

• 'He was one of a kind': Secretariat's legacy remains untouched 50 years after Triple Crown

• 50 years later: How Secretariat changed Ron Turcotte's life — and helped decorated jockey inspire others

• Kentucky Derby 2023 betting strategy: Ed DeRosa's picks after four scratches at Churchill Downs

• 'Two in one week?' Sudden death of two horses at Churchill Downs leaves industry questioning what happened

• Another C.L. Brown column: Horse safety at Churchill Downs starts with addressing people problem during Derby week

• 'Being unconventional': Keith Desormeaux's Confidence Game has a chance to rewrite the Kentucky Derby record books

• 'The want-to to do it': After stunning defeat in 2022, Steve Asmussen resumes chase for first Kentucky Derby win

• 19 remain in field: Skinner, with elevated temperature, is 4th horse scratched from Kentucky Derby 2023

• Friday at Churchill Downs: Pretty Mischievous, trained by Brendan Walsh, wins Kentucky Oaks 2023

Reach Features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Patrick Mahomes to give 'Riders Up' command at 2023 Kentucky Derby