2026 Kentucky Derby: Odds, Horses, Post Positions, Picks & how To Bet
The Kentucky Derby is an attempted and real spring wagering tradition. The 152nd running is occurring quickly, and is the first leg of the famous 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 choices and forecasts - consisting of a long-shot trifecta pick - for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. Check back quickly for their choices.
Odds
Kentucky Derby chances are readily available year-round and shift as the race methods. For up-to-date favorites, examine back often, as the 2026 Kentucky Derby chances could see quite a bit of motion right up till the race starts.
Horses
The field of Kentucky Derby horses will be set before the race. See who's riding these thoroughbreds and who their fitness instructors are before making your bets.
Post positions
The Kentucky Derby post position draw for this year's race occurs on Saturday, April 25, 2026. It's a crucial part of Derby week, as chances will shift depending upon which post position a horse draws. Find out more about how the post-draw impacts the race with our post-position guide.
Kentucky Derby for newbies
For numerous gamblers, the very first horse racing wager they'll make occurs at the Kentucky Derby. And making that very first horse racing bet can be complicated. From win-place-show bets to trifectas and superfectas, our how-to bet on the Kentucky Derby guide informs you what you need to understand before making a bet. And do not forget to inspect out our guide on pari-mutuel wagering before you lay down your first wager.
How to enjoy
Television coverage of the Kentucky Derby will start at 12 and run until 2:30 pm ET on the USA Network, and then 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 one of the wealthiest traditions of any sporting occasion in the United States. From mint juleps and grand hats to "My Old Kentucky Home" and, obviously, betting, "The Run for the Roses" is the pinnacle event of American horse racing.
152 years and counting
Although the first race wasn't held up until 1875, the idea for the occasion began three years earlier when Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to Europe and was inspired by the Epsom Derby and the French Jockey Club. Upon his return, he organized a regional club of horse racing fans to form the Louisville Jockey Club. Lewis likewise convinced his uncles, John, and Henry Churchill, to present him the land required to build the racetrack.
The very 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 pulling away and becoming the very first Kentucky Derby champion. Eight years later, in 1883, the racetrack was formally called Downs.
Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Derby runs annual at the famed Churchill Downs track in Louisville. It opened in 1875 and has become one of the most well-known race tracks worldwide, being designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. With the infield open, the present capacity of Churchill Downs is nearly 170,000.
Hats
The tradition of those expensive 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 a classy event more like the Epsom Derby than the typical American horse races of the time, so, per KentuckyDerby.com, "he used classy women to hire his target clients to attend the race. The event rapidly became just as much about the style as the racing."
Mint juleps
The mint julep came later on however has been the conventional Kentucky Derby beverage for nearly 100 years. The drink was initially introduced to the racetrack in 1938 and has actually grown to the point where practically 120,000 mint juleps are served over the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend.
Where can I bank on the Kentucky Derby?
While horse racing is legal in practically every jurisdiction, some sportsbooks do not post Derby chances. You can wager on the Kentucky Derby through legal horse racing wagering sites like FanDuel Racing, which operates in the majority of U.S. states. The platform is readily available even in states where standard online sports wagering isn't legal. Major sportsbooks, including FanDuel, also offer Derby odds in states where racing and sports betting overlap.