Steve Kornacki, NBC News’ and MSNBC’s celebrated national political correspondent, will join NBC Sports’ 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve coverage this Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Kornacki, who has been widely lauded for his ability to easily communicate the complex election process using his popular “Big Board,” will apply his unique analytical perspective in “Meet the Contenders” segments on the Kentucky Derby field. In addition, he will offer insight on notable betting trends.

Last fall, Kornacki brought his election-style coverage to Football Night in America, breaking down the NFL playoff picture.

“After successfully tackling FNIA, we’re excited to have Steve join our Kentucky Derby team,” said Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer of NBC Sports’ Kentucky Derby coverage and Football Night in America. “We expect he will be right at home working a sport that includes terms like neck-and-neck, down-to-the-wire, and dead heat.”

“It’s going to be a thrill to be at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, something I’ve wanted to do since the very first Derby I watched as a kid in 1987,” Kornacki said. “To get to play a role with the NBC Sports team, which I’ve been a fan of for years, is an honor.”

Kornacki, who will be making his first trip to Churchill Downs, is a native of Groton, Mass., and regularly attended races at nearby Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park in his teens and as a Boston University student. One of his earliest horse racing memories came when an uncle took him to the harness races at Scarborough Downs in Maine. He picked five consecutive winners. It’s a performance he’s spent the last three decades trying to replicate.

For more information on Steve Kornacki, click here.