2026 Kentucky Derby: Odds, Horses, Post Positions, Picks
The Kentucky Derby is a tried and real spring wagering custom. The 152nd running is taking place quickly, and is the first leg of the legendary Triple Crown.
Time and place
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
- Place: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Picks
When race day shows up, Covers' horse racing experts will secure their preferred picks and forecasts - consisting of a long-shot trifecta choice - for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. Check back soon for their selections.
Odds
Kentucky Derby chances are available year-round and shift as the race approaches. For up-to-date favorites, inspect back typically, as the 2026 Kentucky Derby chances could see rather a bit of motion right up till the race begins.
Horses
The field of Kentucky Derby horses will be set before the race. See who's riding these thoroughbreds and who their trainers are before making your bets.
Post positions
The Kentucky Derby post position draw for this year's race takes place on Saturday, April 25, 2026. It's an essential part of Derby week, as odds will move depending on which post position a horse draws. Discover more about how the post-draw impacts the race with our post-position guide.
Kentucky Derby for novices
For lots of bettors, the very first horse racing wager they'll make occurs at the Kentucky Derby. And making that very first horse racing bet can be confusing. From win-place-show bets to trifectas and superfectas, our how-to bet on the Kentucky Derby guide tells you what you require to understand before making a bet. And don't forget to have a look at our guide on pari-mutuel betting before you put down your very first wager.
How to view
Television coverage of the Kentucky Derby will start at 12 and run till 2:30 pm ET on the USA Network, and after that switch to NBC from 2:30 to 7:30 pm ET.
The Kentucky Derby can be streamed on Peacock and the NBC Sports app.
With a history dating back to 1872, the Kentucky Derby has among the wealthiest customs of any sporting event in the United States. From mint juleps and grand hats to "My Old Kentucky Home" and, of course, wagering, "The Run for the Roses" is the pinnacle occasion of American horse racing.
152 years and counting
Although the first race wasn't held up until 1875, the concept for the occasion started three years previously when Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to Europe and was motivated by the and the French Jockey Club. Upon his return, he arranged a regional club of horse racing fans to form the Louisville Jockey Club. Lewis also convinced his uncles, John, and Henry Churchill, to gift him the land needed to build the racetrack.
The first race was hung on May 17th, 1985, when the Louisville Jockey Club opened its doors and held the inaugural Kentucky Derby. Fifteen horses ran in front of around 10,000 fans that day, with Aristides retreating and becoming the very first Kentucky Derby champ. Eight years later, in 1883, the racetrack was formally called Churchill Downs.
Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Derby runs yearly at the renowned Churchill Downs track in Louisville. It opened in 1875 and has turned into one of the most famous race tracks worldwide, being designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. With the infield open, the existing capability of Churchill Downs is practically 170,000.
Hats
The tradition of those elegant Kentucky Derby hats you see each year dates back about as long as the race itself and is rooted in Clark's vision for the event. In the late 1800s, dressing up for races was the standard in Europe but not in the USA. Clark wanted the race to be an elite occasion more like the Epsom Derby than the common American horse races of the time, so, per KentuckyDerby.com, "he utilized classy women to recruit his target customers to go to the race. The occasion rapidly became simply as much about the fashion as the racing."
Mint juleps
The mint julep came later but has actually been the conventional Kentucky Derby beverage for nearly 100 years. The beverage was first presented to the racetrack in 1938 and has grown to the point where practically 120,000 mint juleps are served over the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend.
Where can I wager on the Kentucky Derby?
While horse racing is legal in nearly every jurisdiction, some sportsbooks do not publish Derby chances. You can bank on the Kentucky Derby through legal horse racing wagering sites like FanDuel Racing, which operates in a lot of U.S. states. The platform is readily available even in states where traditional online sports wagering isn't legal. Major sportsbooks, including FanDuel, likewise use Derby chances in states where racing and sports betting overlap.