Last year's 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs proved to be a spectacular occasion with a tight and thrilling three-way finish to the race. After several nerve-racking minutes, it was Mystik Dan’s connections who were left whooping and hollering. We are hoping for further equine excitement this time around as up to 20 of the world’s best 3-year-old thoroughbreds go for glory over the 1+1⁄4 mile (10 furlongs) trip in the annual ‘Run for the Roses’ at the Louisville track on May 3. And why the ‘Run for the Roses’ moniker, you may ask? Well, the winning horse is draped in a blanket of roses every year.
The Kentucky Derby, first held in 1875 and dubbed the ‘Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sport’, is the oldest continuously held major sporting event in America, alongside its sibling race, the Kentucky Oaks, which takes place the day before (May 2).
As the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown (followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes), the Kentucky Derby is the most watched and most attended flat race in the world. In 2024, the estimated Churchill Downs attendance for the annual event reached 150,000+, with NBC reporting a peak off-track audience of over 20 million viewers, making it the most-watched running of the race since 1989.
Getty ImagesIn addition to the big race itself, several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. As well as roses being draped over the winning horse, the mint julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup, has become the traditional beverage of the race. It’s also become the norm for celebrities to give the “Riders Up” command before the start of the Kentucky Derby. This year, the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time, Simone Biles, will give the order to the jockeys.
If you’re unable to get to Churchill Downs to catch the Kentucky Derby, why not tune in from home like millions of others? Let GOAL give you the lowdown on all the vital information, including which horses are going for glory this year and where you can watch or stream all the action live.
When is the Kentucky Derby 2025?
Getty ImagesThe Kentucky Derby 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 3, atChurchill Downs in Louisville, which has been its home since the inaugural event in 1875. The big race is the thrilling finale to the Kentucky Derby Festival, which is a two-week-long celebration. The extended program includes several other key races, including the Derby's sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (May 2). Coverage of the Kentucky Derby day meeting gets underway on NBC from 2.30 pm ET on May 3, with the feature race scheduled for a 6:57 pm ET start.
Where is the Kentucky Derby held?
Getty ImagesChurchill Downs is a horse racing complex located in southern Louisville, Kentucky. It was built on land owned by the Churchill family and was officially opened in 1875. The inaugural edition of the Kentucky Derby (and Kentucky Oaks) was held in the same year. With the infield open to spectators for the Kentucky Derby, the capacity of Churchill Downs is roughly 170,000. The track, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, has also hosted the renowned Breeders' Cup on numerous occasions, most recently in 2018.
Other Grade 1 races staged at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby Festival in May, aside from the Derby and the Oaks include the following:
- American Turf Stakes
- Churchill Downs Stakes
- Derby City Distaff Stakes
- La Troienne Stakes
- Turf Classic Stakes
Kentucky Derby Festival 2025: Derby week events schedule
Date | Event | 1st Race Start Time (ET) | What’s Going On |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat, April 26 | ‘Opening Night’ | 5 pm | Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks draws announced |
Tue, April 29 | ‘502'sDay’ | 12:45 pm | The track celebrates the life of Louisville’s own Muhammad Ali |
Wed, April 30 | 'Winsday' | 12:45 pm | A new day for 2025. Celebrating Louisville’s non-profit community |
Thu, May 1st | 'Thurby' | 12:45 pm | Celebrating Kentucky's spirited music & deep-rooted traditions |
Fri, May 2nd | 'Kentucky Oaks' | 11 am | America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies |
Sat, May 3rd | 'Kentucky Derby' | 11 am | The 151st running of the big race |
How to watch the Kentucky Derby 2025
Viewers can watch the Kentucky Derby 2025 on free-to-air with NBC, and it will also simulstream live on Peacock (NBC’s streaming service). You’ll only need Peacock Premium to catch all the action, which costs just $7.99 per month (or $80 annually for ad-supported streaming). Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
Another great streaming service that will let you watch the race live is fubo. Fubo packages start from $79.99 a month, and they offer all-inclusive free 7-day trials before you pay. Fubo’s massive streaming plans carry up to 200+ channels, and you can get even more depending on your location. For avid sports fans, Fubo is the ultimate choice as it also provides access to other popular sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL & MLS. International soccer fans can also enjoy some of the world’s best leagues, such as the Premier League and La Liga. Most Fubo plans allow you to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously.
Who are the Kentucky Derby 2025 runners?
Getty ImagesUp to 20 horses compete in the Kentucky Derby each year, with qualification settled through a series of precursor events known as the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’. There were three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the big race: the main Road consisting of races in North America, the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the Euro/MidEast road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, and France.
Below are the current contenders for the Kentucky Derby 2025 crown:
- Burnham Square
- Sandman
- Journalism
- Rodriguez
- Tiztastic
- Tappan Street
- Sovereignty
- Final Gambit
- Coal Battle
- Chunk of Gold
- Citizen Bull
- Owen Almighty
- East Avenue
- Publisher
- American Promise
- Flying Mohawk
- Grande
- Built
- Luxor Cafe
- Admire Daytona
Who is the favorite for the Kentucky Derby 2025?
Getty ImagesJournalism, sired by 2007 Preakness winner Curlin, is the current favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He comes into the big race on the back of four straight wins, the latest of those coming in the Santa Anita Derby at the start of April. The last winning favorite of the Churchill Downs feature was the Bob Baffert-trained Justify in 2018, who would go on to land the Triple Crown.
Kentucky Derby – Facts & Figures
- Fastest Time Secretariat scorched home with a time of 1:59.40 in 1973. The only other horse to break the two-minute mark since was the 2001 winner, Monarchos
- Biggest Winning Margin 8 lengths (a feat achieved by four different horses: Old Rosebud (1914), Johnstown (1939), Whirlaway (1941,) and Assault (1946)
- Biggest Winning Odds Donerail won at odds of 91-1 when landing the 1913 race. The second-biggest shock of all-time occurred more recently, when Rich Strike took the 2022 honours at the staggering price of 80-1
- Top Jockeys Eddie Arcaro & Bill Hartack both won the Kentucky Derby on five occasions
- Top Trainer Ben Jones and Bob Baffert both trained the Kentucky Derby winner on six occasions. The legendary Baffert could top the table if one of his runners this year claims the crown