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The Kentucky Derby prep races, officially the Road to the Kentucky Derby, are the series of races that decide which three-year-olds earn a place in the 20-horse starting gate for the 153rd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1st, 2027 at Churchill Downs. It starts in September of the two-year-old season and runs through April. Use the schedule below to see every race by date, track and points, and follow the points race on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
| 2027 Kentucky Derby Prep Races at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | Saturday, May 1st, 2027 at Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 miles for three-year-olds |
| Prep Season | September 12th, 2026 (Iroquois Stakes) to April 10th, 2027 (Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes) |
| Races on the Schedule | 36 American Road10 EURO-ME Road4 Japan Road50 Total |
| Who Earns Points | The top five finishers in each qualifying race |
| Winner's Points | 10-30 Early preps20-50 Mid-season races100 Major spring preps |
| 100-Point Preps | Mar 20 Louisiana DerbyMar 20 Jeff Ruby SteaksMar 27 Florida DerbyMar 27 UAE Derby EURO-ME RoadApr 3 Blue Grass StakesApr 3 Santa Anita DerbyApr 3 Wood MemorialApr 10 Arkansas Derby |
| Starting Gate | 20 horses, with up to three international spots |
| Live Standings | Kentucky Derby Leaderboard: who leads the points race right now |
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The Road to the Kentucky Derby begins months before the first Saturday in May. Follow the complete Kentucky Derby prep race schedule below, including race dates, tracks, and the number of qualifying points awarded to each winner.
| Date | Race | Track | Pts (1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | |||
| Sep 12 | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | 10 |
| Sep 26 | The Royal Lodge Stakes Euro-ME | Newmarket, England | 10 |
| Sep 26 | Churchill Tyres Beresford Stakes Euro-ME | Curragh, Ireland | 10 |
| October 2026 | |||
| Oct 3 | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | Keeneland | 10 |
| Oct 3 | American Pharoah | Santa Anita Park | 10 |
| Oct 3 | Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | 10 |
| Oct 4 | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère Euro-ME | Longchamp, France | 10 |
| Oct 24 | William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes Euro-ME | Doncaster, England | 10 |
| Oct 25 | Street Sense Stakes | Churchill Downs | 10 |
| Oct 30 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | Keeneland | 30 |
| November 2026 | |||
| Nov 28 | Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes | Churchill Downs | 10 |
| Nov 28 | Cattleya Japan Road | Tokyo Racecourse, Japan | 10 |
| December 2026 | |||
| Dec 5 | Remsen Stakes | Belmont Park | 10 |
| Dec 12 | Los Alamitos Futurity | Los Alamitos | 10 |
| Dec 16 | Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Japan Road | Kawasaki, Japan | 20 |
| Dec 19 | Gun Runner Stakes | Fair Grounds | 10 |
| Dec 19 | Remington Springboard Mile | Remington Park | 10 |
| January 2027 | |||
| Jan 2 | Smarty Jones Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 10 |
| Jan 16 | Lecomte Stakes | Fair Grounds | 20 |
| Jan 16 | Leonatus Stakes | Turfway Park | 10 |
| Jan 16 | Withers Stakes | Belmont Park | 20 |
| Jan 22 | UAE 2000 Guineas Euro-ME | Meydan Dubai | 20 |
| Jan 23 | Holy Bull Stakes | Gulfstream Park | 20 |
| February 2027 | |||
| Feb 6 | Saudi Derby Euro-ME | King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Saudi Arabia | 30 |
| Feb 6 | Sam F. Davis Stakes | Tampa Bay Downs | 20 |
| Feb 6 | Southwest Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 20 |
| Feb 6 | Robert B. Lewis Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 20 |
| Feb 13 | Risen Star Stakes | Fair Grounds | 50 |
| Feb 19 | Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes Euro-ME | Meydan Dubai | 20 |
| Feb 20 | Gotham Stakes | Belmont Park | 50 |
| Feb 20 | John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park | 20 |
| Feb 21 | Hyacinth Japan Road | Tokyo Racecourse, Japan | 30 |
| Feb 21 | Sunland Park Derby | Sunland Park | 20 |
| Feb 24 | Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes Euro-ME | Kempton, England | 20 |
| Feb 26 | The Patton Euro-ME | Dundalk, Ireland | 20 |
| Feb 27 | Fountain of Youth Stakes | Gulfstream Park | 50 |
| March 2027 | |||
| Mar 6 | Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | 50 |
| Mar 6 | San Felipe Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 50 |
| Mar 13 | Rebel Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 50 |
| Mar 13 | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | 50 |
| Mar 20 | Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | 100 |
| Mar 20 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | 100 |
| Mar 27 | Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | 100 |
| Mar 27 | UAE Derby Euro-ME | Meydan Dubai | 100 |
| Mar 27 | Fukuryu Japan Road | Nakayama, Japan | 40 |
| April 2027 | |||
| Apr 3 | Blue Grass Stakes | Keeneland | 100 |
| Apr 3 | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | 100 |
| Apr 3 | Wood Memorial | Belmont Park | 100 |
| Apr 10 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | 100 |
| Apr 10 | Lexington Stakes | Keeneland | 20 |
Pts (1st) is the number of qualifying points awarded to the winner. Euro-ME and Japan Road races are the international qualifiers.
Last Updated on 11/11/2026
The Kentucky Derby Prep Races, officially known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby, are a series of qualifying races that determine which horses earn a place in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.
The series begins during the 2-year-old season and continues through the spring of the horses' 3-year-old campaign. Horses earn qualifying points based on where they finish, with the most important races later in the season awarding significantly more points.
The goal is simple: accumulate enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby qualifying points are awarded to the top five eligible finishers in each designated prep race. Early-season races generally offer fewer points, while the major Championship Series races in February, March, and April carry much greater weight.
A horse may begin the Road earning 10 points for a victory in an early prep before competing for 50 or 100 points for a win in one of the major spring races.
| Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Early PrepsIroquois, Champagne, Remsen, Kentucky Jockey Club and the other early preps | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Select PrepsLecomte, Withers, Holy Bull, Southwest, Lexington and others | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 30-Point RacesBreeders' Cup Juvenile (Oct 30th, 2026), Saudi Derby (Feb 6th) and Hyacinth (Feb 21st) | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Mid-Season PrepsRisen Star, Gotham, Fountain of Youth, San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby, Rebel, Virginia Derby | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| Major PrepsLouisiana Derby, Jeff Ruby Steaks, Florida Derby, Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, Arkansas Derby | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| UAE DerbyMeydan, March 27th | 100 | 60 | 30 | 15 | 10 |
| FukuryuNakayama, Japan, March 27th | 40 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
For the 2027 Kentucky Derby, the field is limited to 20 starters. Up to three spots are reserved for international runners: the European-Middle East Road can send up to two and the Japan Road one. The leading point earners on the main Road fill the remaining gate positions.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby includes races at many of North America's leading racetracks. As Derby Day approaches, several major preps become especially important because of the number of qualifying points available.
Key races include the Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial and Jeff Ruby Steaks.
| 100-Point Kentucky Derby Prep Races | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race | Track | Date | Winner Earns |
| Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds, New Orleans | Mar 20, 2027 | 100 |
| Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park, Florence, KY | Mar 20, 2027 | 100 |
| Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, FL | Mar 27, 2027 | 100 |
| UAE Derby | Meydan, Dubai (EURO-ME Road) | Mar 27, 2027 | 100 |
| Blue Grass Stakes | Keeneland, Lexington, KY | Apr 3, 2027 | 100 |
| Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA | Apr 3, 2027 | 100 |
| Wood Memorial | Belmont Park, Elmont, NY | Apr 3, 2027 | 100 |
| Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, AR | Apr 10, 2027 | 100 |
Performances in these races can have a major impact on both the Kentucky Derby qualifying standings and the developing Kentucky Derby odds.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is not limited to the United States. International horses can also qualify through dedicated pathways in Europe, the Middle East and Japan.
The European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby includes qualifying races in countries such as England, Ireland, France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The leading eligible horses in that series can earn up to two invitations to the Kentucky Derby.
The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby operates as a separate points series in Japan, with an invitation available to its leading eligible horse.
| International Roads to the Kentucky Derby | ||
|---|---|---|
| Road | Qualifying Races | Derby Spots |
| European-Middle East Road | 10 races from September to March, ending with the UAE Derby at Meydan | Up to two |
| Japan Road | 4 races from November to March, ending with the Fukuryu | One |
These international pathways give leading horses from outside the United States a direct route to Churchill Downs and add a global dimension to the Kentucky Derby qualifying season.
Prep races do more than determine which horses qualify for the Kentucky Derby. They also give racing fans and bettors an opportunity to evaluate how the leading contenders are developing throughout the season.
Distance, running style, competition level, track surface, finishing speed, and how a horse responds as the races become more demanding can all provide valuable clues heading into Derby Day.
As the season progresses, every major prep helps reshape the Derby picture by revealing emerging contenders, potential favorites, and horses that could offer betting value before the final field reaches Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby prep races are the qualifying races that make up the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Horses earn points based on their finishing positions, with the leading eligible horses earning places in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Points are awarded to the top five eligible finishers in designated Kentucky Derby prep races. The number of points available increases as the season progresses, with major spring preps carrying the greatest qualifying value.
The Kentucky Derby field is limited to 20 starters. For 2027, up to three spots are reserved for international runners: the European-Middle East Road can send up to two and the Japan Road one. The leading point earners on the main Road fill the remaining gate positions.
Yes. The Kentucky Derby qualifying system includes the European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, giving eligible international horses a pathway to earn invitations to the race at Churchill Downs.
The major spring preps are especially important because they award the most qualifying points. These include races such as the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, and Jeff Ruby Steaks.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby begins during the horses' 2-year-old season and continues through the following spring, with the final major qualifying races taking place only weeks before the Kentucky Derby.
Yes. Strong or disappointing performances in major prep races can significantly change how horses are viewed heading into the Derby. Follow the latest Kentucky Derby odds as the qualifying season progresses.
The complete 2027 Kentucky Derby prep race schedule is listed in the table above, including race dates, tracks, and the number of qualifying points awarded to each winner.
The 153rd Kentucky Derby will be held on Saturday, May 1st, 2027 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
You can bet on the 2027 Kentucky Derby online through BUSR. Kentucky Derby betting markets typically include win, place, and show wagers, along with exotic bets such as exactas, trifectas, and superfectas.
The Kentucky Derby is traditionally broadcast in the United States by NBC Sports, with coverage available on NBC and Peacock. The official 2027 broadcast schedule will be confirmed closer to Saturday, May 1st, 2027. Eligible horse races may also be streamed through BUSR after placing a qualifying wager.
Yes. You can follow available Kentucky Derby prep race betting markets and wager online through BUSR.
| Kentucky Derby Guides and Tools | |
|---|---|
| Page | What You'll Find |
| Kentucky Derby | Race facts, the road to the starting gate, early contenders and the full replay. |
| Kentucky Derby Odds | Early contenders, how odds work and how the prep season moves the market. |
| Kentucky Derby Betting | Every bet type, payouts, futures wagers and how to get started. |
| Road to the Derby Leaderboard | Which three-year-olds lead the points race. |
| Kentucky Oaks | The Friday fillies race that opens Derby weekend. |
| Churchill Downs | The home of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. |
| Preakness Stakes | The second leg of the Triple Crown. |
| Belmont Stakes | The final leg of the Triple Crown. |
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