Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade 1 stakes race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky and is run over a distance of 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs).

The 2025 Kentucky Derby has a purse of $5,000,000 and will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Scroll down for details on this year's horses, odds, results and more.

Kentucky Derby Information

Kentucky Derby History

The Kentucky Derby, dating back to 1875, is one of the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the United States. The Kentucky Derby is the first race in the Triple Crown series (the other two being the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes).

The Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky every year in May. Around 160,000 fans come to watch three-year-old horses race 1.25 miles.

Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., inspired by horse races in Europe, founded the Kentucky Derby. With land from his uncles, the Churchill brothers, he created the Louisville Jockey Club and built the famous racetrack which would later be called Churchill Downs.

The Derby has also been known for its traditions over the years, including the rose garland, mint juleps and singing “My Old Kentucky Home”.

Also known as the “Run for the Roses,” this race has seen unforgettable winners like Secretariat in 1973, who set the record for the fastest Derby time (1:59 2/5 seconds).

In addition to its rich history and traditions, the Kentucky Derby has also been a platform for social and cultural events. Over the years, it has attracted celebrities, dignitaries, and enthusiasts from around the world, highlighting the prestige of the event.

Attendance at the Kentucky Derby has consistently drawn large crowds, with an average attendance of over 150,000 spectators each year.

Kentucky Derby Entries

View our horse racing entries section for the Kentucky Derby closer to race day for details on each horse. 

Fan Odds provides morning line and current odds, along with insights on each horse's past performance.

Kentucky Derby Past Performances

View our free past performances section for the Kentucky Derby closer to race day for detailed insights on each horse, including their win, place and show strike rate percentages.

Kentucky Derby 2025 Horses & Field

View this year's Kentucky Derby horses, jockeys, trainers and field information closer to race day.

In the meantime, you can view the 2024 field.

Kentucky Derby 2025 Favorites

This year's Kentucky Derby favorites will be listed below closer to the race.

Kentucky Derby 2025 Picks

When available – See this year's Kentucky Derby top picks below.

How To Bet On The Kentucky Derby

To start betting on the Kentucky Derby, follow these simple steps: 

Step 1: Choose a Racebook

Start by choosing an online racebook. We recommend TwinSpires but there are other legal and registered racebooks available like TVG and FanDuel.

Step 2: Sign Up 

Signing up with a racebook is easy: verify you're 18+, fill in your details, and you're set!

Step 3: Deposit Funds

After signing up with a racebook, add funds to your account using your card or an approved deposit method like PayPal. Remember to review the minimum deposit and any fees for your chosen deposit method.

Step 4: Place Your Bets 

With funds now in your account, you're ready to bet. To learn about the various Kentucky Derby bet types available, keep reading below.

Bet Types For The Kentucky Derby

There are many ways to bet on the Kentucky Derby. You can place a bet to win or hedge your bets with an exacta, trifecta or superfecta.

You can split bet types for the Kentucky Derby into three different categories:

• Straight Bets (Win, Place & Show)
• Horizontal Bets (Parlay)
• Vertical Bets (Exotic)

Straight Bets

Straight bets are straightforward and ideal for newcomers or more casual horse racing fans. 

Horizontal Bets

Horizontal bets are parlay bets – to win, you must correctly select the winner of consecutive races.

Vertical Bets

Vertical bets are exotic bets – to win, you must correctly select the finishing order of multiple horses in a single race.

Kentucky Derby Past Winners

See a list of past winners for the Kentucky Derby since the year 2000 below.

Kentucky Derby 2024 Results

See the full list of results for the 2024 Kentucky Derby below.

Kentucky Derby 2024 Replay

See the full replay for the 2024 Kentucky Derby below.

How To Watch The Kentucky Derby

Racing fans wanting to watch the Kentucky Derby have several viewing options to chose from.

On Television

NBC airs the Kentucky Derby, providing comprehensive coverage from early afternoon through the event's conclusion. For those with traditional TV setups, simply tune into your local NBC station.

Streaming Online

For race fans who prefer streaming on a computer or mobile, NBC Sports and the NBC Sports app offer live coverage (iOS & Android). Peacock, NBC's streaming service, also streams the Kentucky Derby.

Alternative Streaming Services

Several streaming platforms include NBC, allowing you to watch the Kentucky Derby without a cable subscription. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV all feature NBC in their channel offerings, with some providing trials for new subscribers.

For International Fans

Viewers outside the United States can use a VPN to access the Kentucky Derby broadcast. A VPN connection to a US server, enables race fans anywhere to subscribe to US-based streaming services like Peacock or Sling TV.