On Saturday, May 3rd, the 151st Kentucky Derby is gonna go down at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This event kicks off the Triple Crown chase in horse racing, where top-notch thoroughbreds and their jockeys battle it out for a major win in this epic race. If you’re pumped for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” then here’s the lowdown for you: 2025 Kentucky Derby Schedule & How to watch.
• TV: NBC, Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
• Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.
• Date: Saturday, May 3rd
• Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET (TV coverage from 2:30-7:30 p.m. ET)
If you’re wondering what time the Kentucky Derby starts, well, it’s set for 6:57 p.m. ET, and you can catch it live on NBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app (pre-Derby coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. ET). Who will emerge as the top horse chasing the Triple Crown? Let’s peep at the Derby contenders and their post positions:
Kentucky Derby horses, post positions, morning line odds
Below are the updated horses, post positions, and morning line odds from kentuckyderby.com:
• Citizen Bull (14-1)
• Neoequos (47-1)
• Final Gambit (15-1)
• Rodriguez (scratched)
• American Promise (12-1)
• Admire Daytona (37-1)
• Luxor Cafe (12-1)
• Journalism (3-1)
• Burnham Square (16-1)
• Grande (scratched)
• Flying Mohawk (33-1)
• East Avenue (32-1)
• Publisher (28-1)
• Tiztastic (18-1)
• Render Judgement (12-1)
• Coal Battle (27-1)
• Sandman (9-2)
• Sovereignty (9-1)
• Chunk of Gold (29-1)
• Owen Almighty (39-1)
• Baeza (23-1)
So, what exactly is the Kentucky Derby? It’s a major event held every year in Louisville, Kentucky, marking the start of the Triple Crown races. This Saturday, May 3rd at Churchill Downs, the “Run for the Roses” will crown its champion amidst all the tradition and excitement.
But how do the Kentucky Derby contenders even get picked? Well, each year, 20 lucky horses snag a rare shot to run in the Derby. They earn their spot through the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of races held nationwide and globally. Points are dished out to the top five finishers in these events, and the 20 horses with the most points get to line up on the big day in May. Even Japan and Europe-Middle East have their own “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series, giving one horse from each region a chance to join the Run for the Roses.
Now, let’s talk money. The 2025 Kentucky Derby purse is a whopping $5 million this year, a $2 million jump from the $3 million in 2023. The winner takes home $3.1 million, the runner-up pockets $1 million, and the third-place contender walks away with $500,000. Fourth place bags $250,000, and fifth place gets $150,000. Among the Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby boasts the fattest purse. This year, both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes offer $2 million each.
So, to all you horse racing fans out there, follow your faves and get all the deets about the games, news, and more. And hey, if you’re not really sure why this matters, just remember that the Kentucky Derby is a big deal in the world of horse racing. So saddle up, folks, and get ready for an exciting ride at Churchill Downs on May 3rd.
