Triple Crown-winning jockey Espinoza will be on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Victor Espinoza is hitting the dance floor.

Espinoza will compete on the popular “Dancing with the Stars” television program on ABC this fall. The first episode is scheduled for Sept. 14. The full cast for the program is scheduled to be announced next week.

Espinoza’s participation was announced Tuesday on ESPN. His involvement is a continuation of the media and publicity events that have taken place since he won the Triple Crown on American Pharoah at Belmont Park on June 6. Espinoza will ride American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

Espinoza, 43, already is involved in rehearsals for “Dancing with the Stars,” according to his agent, Brian Beach. The program will be taped Mondays this fall in Los Angeles, a dark day for local horse racing.

“It works out great,” Beach said. “They tape on Mondays. It won’t interfere at all with riding.”