2026 Kentucky Derby: Everything to know for first leg of Triple Crown

Steve Gardner, USA TODAYMon, April 27, 2026 at 11:01 AM UTC

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Kentucky Derby week has arrived and "the greatest two minutes in sports" is now less than a week away.

As the first leg of the American horse racing Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is the most-watched and highest-attended horse race in the United States. This year's running at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, will be the 152nd in the race's illustrious history.

Arkansas Derby winner and prerace favorite Renegade will start from the rail after drawing the No. 1 post position. Commandment, fresh off a Florida Derby victory, and The Puma are also top contenders.

Here's everything to know ahead of the 152nd Run for the Roses.

Kentucky Derby 2026: TV, streaming and where to watch -

When: Saturday, May 2

Coverage starts: 2:30 p.m. ET

Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET

Where: Churchill Downs; Louisville, Kentucky

TV: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

How are starting positions decided in 2026 Kentucky Derby?

Each year, Churchill Downs decides the starting post position of each horse with a draw. One official pulls a piece of paper with a horse's name out of a pile while another draws a paper with a gate number out of a separate pile.

This year's Kentucky Derby draw was held on Saturday, April 25.

2026 Kentucky Derby post positions

Here's where each horse will start on Saturday, along with the horse's trainer, jockey and odds:

1. Renegade, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., 4-1

2. Albus, Riley Mott, Manny Franco, 30-1

3. Intrepido, Jeff Mullins, Hector Berrios, 50-1

4. Litmus Test, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 30-1

5. Right to Party, Kenny McPeek, Chris Elliott, 30-1

6. Commandment, Brad Cox, Luis Saez, 6-1

7. Danon Bourbon, Manabu Ikezoe, Atsuya Nishimura, 20-1

8. So Happy, Mark Glatt, Mike Smith, 15-1

9. The Puma, Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, 10-1

10. Wonder Dean, Daisuke Takayanagi, Ryusei Sakai, 30-1

11. Incredibolt, Riley Mott, Jaime Torres, 20-1

12. Chief Wallabee, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 8-1

13. Silent Tactic, Mark Casse, Cristian Torres, 20-1

14. Potente, Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 20-1

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15. Emerging Market, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 15-1

16. Pavlovian, Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, 30-1

17. Six Speed, Bhupat Seemar, Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1

18. Further Ado, Brad Cox, John Velazquez, 6-1

19. Golden Tempo, Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz, 30-1

20. Fulleffort, Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione, 20-1

Also eligible in event of scratches:

21. Great White, John Ennis, Alex Achard, 50-1

22. Ocelli, Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos, 50-1

23. Robusta, Doug O’Neill, Emisael Jaramillo, 50-1

24. Corona de Oro, Dallas Stewart, Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1

Renegade trains on the track during a morning workout at Churchill Downs on April 26, 2026, in preparation for the 152nd Kentucky Derby.Kentucky Derby winners, by post position

History shows horses on the inside, starting from positions one to 10, are much more likely to win the Derby than those starting on the outside. Here are the all-time Derby winners by post position:

1 - 8

2 - 7

3 - 6

4 - 5

5 - 10

6 - 2

7 - 8

8 - 9

9 - 4

10 - 9

11 - 2

12 - 3

13 - 5

16 - 1 (2025 winner Sovereignty)

How many horses race in the Kentucky Derby?

Each year's Kentucky Derby features 20 horses. They qualify from the United States as well as the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby" and "European Road to the Kentucky Derby," according to the official race website.

How long is the Kentucky Derby?

The annual Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 miles of racing, or 10 furlongs. It is about two kilometers.

What is the Kentucky Derby record?

Secretariat set the record at Churchill Downs in 1973 with a time of 1:59.4.

When is the Kentucky Oaks 2026?

The Kentucky Oaks, the Derby's sister race, is a stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies, or female horses. This year's Kentucky Oaks will take place one day before the Kentucky Derby – Friday, May 1, 2026.

Odds for 2026 Kentucky Derby

Here are the odds for the 2026 Kentucky Derby from the Louisville Courier-Journal, listed in order of post position.

1. Renegade, 4-1

2. Albus, 30-1

3. Intrepido, 50-1

4. Litmus Test, 30-1

5. Right to Party, 30-1

6. Commandment, 6-1

7. Danon Bourbon, 20-1

8. So Happy, 15-1

9. The Puma, 10-1

10. Wonder Dean, 30-1

11. Incredibolt, 20-1

12. Chief Wallabee, 8-1

13. Silent Tactic, 20-1

14. Potente, 20-1

15. Emerging Market, 15-1

16. Pavlovian, 30-1

17. Six Speed, 50-1

18. Further Ado, 6-1

19. Golden Tempo, 30-1

20. Fulleffort, 20-1

Who won last year's Kentucky Derby?

Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, emerged victorious at the 2025 Kentucky Derby, prevailing over the 19-horse field through thick mud in 2:02.31 at Churchill Downs after daylong showers.

Sovereignty came out of the 16th gate and went off with the fourth-best odds at 7-1 as the race started. Journalism, which came in as the favorite at 3-1, placed second with Baeza (13-1 odds) rounding out the top three.

Bob Baffert, appearing in his first Kentucky Derby since 2021 due to suspension, fell short in his bid to become the winningest trainer in Kentucky Derby history as Citizen Bull placed 15th. Baffert's six Kentucky Derby wins are tied with Ben Jones.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky Derby 2026 post positions, odds, TV channel, how to watch

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