The first Saturday in May belongs to the Kentucky Derby. The 152nd running of this classic race promises plenty of excitement as the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Post time is set for 6:57 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with early action streaming on Peacock from noon ET.
This year’s Derby features 19 horses after one scratch. Twenty horses normally compete, but The Puma was ruled out due to a swollen leg from a skin infection.
Horses earn their spot through a series of qualifying races from September to mid-April, where points go to the top finishers. The top 20 earners, plus any international qualifiers, make up the field.
Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., opened as the 4-1 morning-line favorite.
Here are the post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (scratches noted where applicable):
- Post 1: Renegade (4-1)
- Post 2: Albus (30-1)
- Post 3: Intrepido (50-1)
- Post 4: Litmus Test (50-1)
- Post 6: Commandment (6-1)
- Post 7: Danon Bourbon (20-1)
- Post 8: So Happy (15-1)
- Post 10: Wonder Dean (30-1)
- Post 11: Incredibolt (20-1)
- Post 12: Chief Wallabee (8-1)
- Post 14: Potente (20-1)
- Post 15: Emerging Market (15-1)
- Post 16: Pavlovian (30-1)
- Post 17: Six Speed (50-1)
- Post 18: Further Ado (6-1)
- Post 19: Golden Tempo (30-1)
- Post 21: Great White (50-1)
- Post 22: Ocelli (50-1)
- Post 23: Robusta (50-1)
Post 5 has historically produced the most winners, with 10 victories.
The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
Last year’s winner was Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado at 7-1 odds.
The purse remains $5 million for the third year in a row, with $3.1 million going to the winner and $1 million to second place.
The field was reduced to 19 after The Puma’s scratch, announced just hours before the race. Renegade stays the favorite and would make history as the first horse to win from the No. 1 post in four decades if victorious.