When is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026.
Where is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Where can I watch the Kentucky Derby?
You can watch the Kentucky Derby live on NBC. TV coverage usually begins around 5:00 PM EST.
What time is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is typically the 12th race of the day at Churchill Downs. Post time is usually around 6:45 PM EST.
Betting on Kentucky Derby is one of the most entertaining traditions in North America. From small bets between friends in pubs to big money horse bets at offtrack horse betting parlours, placing a wager on the Race for the Roses is a great way to increase the entertainment value for horse racing fans.
The Kentucky Derby is the most famous graded stake shorse race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses and it takes place in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May. Capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival, the Race for the Roses currently covers one and one-quarter miles (2.012 km) at Churchill Downs; colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg), fillies 121 pounds (55 kg).
Known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” for its approximate time length, the Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing in the United States. It typically draws around 155,000 fans. The Kentucky Derby is one of the crown jewels of the mystical (and maddening) Triple Crown which includes the Belmont Stakes located at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and the Preakness Stakes which is located at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland.
| PP | Horse | Fractional | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citizen Bull | 20/1 | +2000 |
| 2 | Neoequos | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 3 | Final Gambit | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 5 | American Promise | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 6 | Admire Daytona(JPN) | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 7 | Luxor Cafe | 15/1 | +1500 |
| 8 | Journalism | 3/1 | +300 |
| 9 | Burnham Square | 12/1 | +1200 |
| 11 | Flying Mohawk | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 12 | East Avenue | 20/1 | +2000 |
| 13 | Publisher | 20/1 | +2000 |
| 14 | Tiztastic | 20/1 | +2000 |
| 15 | Render Judgment | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 16 | Coal Battle | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 17 | Sandman | 6/1 | +600 |
| 18 | Sovereignty | 5/1 | +500 |
| 19 | Chunk of Gold | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 20 | Owen Almighty | 30/1 | +3000 |
| 21 | Baeza | 12/1 | +1200 |
Last Updated on 05/03/2025
2026 Kentucky Derby Prep Race Schedule
| Date | Race | Track | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 13, 2025 | Iroquois Stakes (GIII) | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 4, 2025 | Champagne Stakes (GI) | Aqueduct Racetrack | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 4, 2025 | Breeders’ Futurity (GI) | Keeneland Racecourse | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 4, 2025 | American Pharoah (GI) | Santa Anita Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 26, 2025 | Street Sense Stakes (GIII) | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 31, 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) | Del Mar | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Nov. 29, 2025 | Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 6, 2025 | Remsen Stakes (GII) | Aqueduct Racetrack | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| *Dec. 13, 2025 | Los Alamitos Futurity (GII) | Los Alamitos Race Course | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 20, 2025 | Gun Runner Stakes | Fair Grounds Race Course | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 20, 2025 | Remington Springboard Mile | Remington Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| *Jan. 3, 2026 | Jerome Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 3, 2026 | Smarty Jones Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 17, 2026 | Lecomte Stakes (GIII) | Fair Grounds Race Course | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| *Jan. 31, 2026 | Withers Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| *Jan. 31, 2026 | Robert B. Lewis Stakes (GIII) | Santa Anita Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| *Jan. 31, 2026 | Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) | Gulfstream Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Southwest Stakes (GIII) | Oaklawn Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| *Feb. 7, 2026 | Sam F. Davis (GIII) | Tampa Bay Downs | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 14, 2026 | Risen Star Stakes (GII) | Fair Grounds Race Course | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| *Feb. 15, 2026 | Sunland Derby | Sunland Park Racetrack | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| *Feb. 21, 2026 | John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| *Feb. 28, 2026 | Gotham Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| *Feb. 28, 2026 | Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) | Gulfstream Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| *Feb. 28, 2026 | San Felipe Stakes (GII) | Santa Anita Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| March 1, 2026 | Rebel Stakes (GII) | Oaklawn Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| *March 7, 2026 | Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) | Tampa Bay Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| *March 14, 2026 | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| *March 21, 2026 | Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) | Turfway Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| March 21, 2026 | Louisiana Derby (GII) | Fair Grounds Race Course | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| *March 28, 2026 | Florida Derby (GI) | Gulfstream Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| March 28, 2026 | Arkansas Derby (GI) | Oaklawn Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| *April 4, 2026 | Wood Memorial (GII) | Aqueduct Racetrack | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| *April 4, 2026 | Blue Grass (GI) | Keeneland Racecourse | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| *April 4, 2026 | Santa Anita Derby (GI) | Santa Anita Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| *April 11, 2026 | Lexington Stakes (GIII) | Keeneland Racecourse | 20-10-6-4-2 |
*Official race dates will be confirmed by each host track. The information provided here follows recent historical patterns and may be updated.
Last Updated on 09/29/2025
My First Kentucky Derby Bet
By the US Racing Team
I remember placing my first bet at the Kentucky Derby online.
It was in 2005, and I decided to bet on a horse called Giacomo being ridden by Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith. Giacomo was certainly not a favorite.
What were the odds? 50-1. Yes, the same Kentucky Derby Odds as Mine that Bird who won in 2009!
The only horse with worse odds who won the derby was Donerail who started at 91-1! So, odds don’t tell the full story with the horse and jockey who end up winning the garland of red roses in Lousiville.
Anyway, Giacomo was named after the singer Sting’s son. Jerry Moss was the owner - Jerry Moss and Herb Albert (yes, of the Whipped Cream and Other Delights!) were the founders of A&M Records. Sting performed and recorded under that label as a solo act and also when he was in the rock group The Police.
Giacomo is Italian for James. Ironically, Giacomo has a half-brother named Tiago which in Portugese means James!
But, I digress. . .
So, why did I bet on Giacomo at that year’s Derby?
Let’s put it this way: I’m a sucker for the underdog. If there was a horse called Rocky, I would have bet on him based on principle.
I didn’t bet on Charismatic at the 1999 Kentucky Derby (I would have if I was there- he was a long shot, too—31-1 odds) but I bet on Lemon Drop Kid at the 1999 Belmont Stakes.
It’s not that I wasn’t on the Charismatic bandwagon—I wasn’t a Triple Crown hater.
I bet Lemon Drop Kid because my sister loved lemon drops (I think it was the Cosmopolitan drink of ’99 before Sex and the City ushered in Cosmos). I wasn’t following racing back then—I didn’t know Chris Antley’s story and Charismatic’s, either.
So, now the Derby is coming close. The first Saturday in May, it’s easy to remember. And it always takes place at Churchill Downs.
I hope that if you are betting on the Kentucky Derby for the first time you will consider a long shot. Bet for the underdog. Sometimes, he may not have fleas. Sometimes, he might just rise to the occasion. And sometimes. . . just sometimes, a 50-1 long shot will put a bankroll in your pocket!
Good luck with your bets and everybody at US Racing hopes you pick a winner! (If you happen to lose, we wish you have an extra mint julep at arm’s length.).
When is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby?
At BUSR: Odds are Live!
What channel is the Kentucky Derby on?
Watch the Kentucky Derby live on TV with NBC at 5:00 pm EST
Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, the "twin spires design," "Road to the Roses" and Churchill Downs Incorporated-related trademarks are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated or its affiliates (collectively CDI). CDI does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with US Racing or its products, services or promotions. US Racing provides free information, odds, facts and commentary about the Kentucky Derby and horse racing and betting, in general. Third party marks may be referenced in a transformative, editorial, informational, nominative, critical, analytical or comparative context. US Racing may reference marks belonging to third parties pursuant to our right to engage in fair use, fair comment, statutory fair use or trade mark fair use doctrine. As such, US Racing does not contribute to any dilution of any trade or service marks. US Racing provides this information in an effort to educate and grow the sport of thoroughbred racing in North America with an emphasis on attracting new fans of the sport.
