LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All-American National Champion gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne and former Major League Baseball star Jayson Werth will be celebrity hosts for the Kentucky Oaks 151 and Kentucky Derby 151.
Churchill Downs Racetrack said Dunne and Werth will meet-and-greet guests in Sports Illustrated’s Club SI.
Club SI is a multi-year partnership between Churchill Downs Racetrack and Sports Illustrated. It debuted at the 150th Kentucky Derby. The club is part of the racetrack’s recent $200 million reimagined Paddock Project.
Oliva “Livvy” Dunne, pictured on the left, will be the celebrity host during the Kentucky Oaks 151 at Club SI. Jayson Werth, pictured on the right, will be the host during Kentucky Derby 151. (Churchill Downs Racetrack)
Dunne will be the host for Oaks Day. She is a gymnast at Louisiana State University. She’s the world’s most followed NCAA athlete, garnering more than 15 million followers across all social media channels. Dunne also founded The Livvy Fund, which aims to empower underrepresented female student-athletes.
Werth will be the host for Derby Day. He is a former 15-year outfielder who played with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals from 2002 to 2017. While with the Phillies, he won a World Series championship in 2008 and was named an All-Star in 2009. Werth joined the Nationals in 2011 and was later named to the team’s Ring of Honor. After baseball, Werth turned his passion for competition to horse racing. He formed Two Eight Racing, a nod to his MLB uniform number. In 2024, he owned 10% of Dornoch, who won the Belmont Stakes.
Werth also established the traditional syndicate, ICON Racing. As part of his Derby Week activities, he will record an episode of his podcast, “Off the Rail with ICON Racing”, from Club SI. The podcast will share insights and behind-the-scenes coverage of Derby Week.
Club SI is open on select premium race days throughout the year at Churchill Downs. Guests have the option to book dining tables, indulge in gourmet dishes from the curated Chef’s Table Buffet, visit dedicated wagering windows and private bars, and enjoy outdoor trackside viewing for live races.
Limited tickets for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby are available online, or by calling (502) 636-4447.
Laya Gilpin - Digital Producer
Laya Gilpin is a digital producer for Spectrum News 1 in Louisville, Kentucky. She joined Spectrum News as a television producer in 2021 and was promoted to digital producer in 2025. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree, Communication Arts and Media from Concord University in West Virginia in 2020.