The annual “Run for the Roses” is here.
The Kentucky Derby, set for today, May 2, is the first event in the annual triple crown of horse racing, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, both of which are scheduled for later this spring.
RELATED: The Post’s complete 2026 Kentucky Derby betting guide
The current favorite to win is Renegade, who is starting in the first post. The three-year-old horse is entering the Kentucky Derby off back-to-back wins in February and March.
2026 kentucky derby: what to know
- When: May 2, approximately 6:57 p.m. ET
- Where: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
Known as the fastest two minutes in sports, the race will be over in the blink of an eye — here’s how to make sure you don’t miss it.
2026 Kentucky Derby start time
The 2026 Kentucky Derby begins at 6:57 p.m. ET tonight, May 2. Pre-race coverage began on NBC and Peacock at 12 p.m. ET.
Where is the Kentucky Derby?
As it has been every year since 1875, the 2026 Kentucky Derby will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby for free:
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching hockey live for free — the five-day free trial of both its its MySports and MyNews genre packs includes NBA. When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $.99/month for your first two months and gain access to 20+ live sports or news channels, depending on the pack you choose.
You can also stream the Kentucky Derby with a subscription to Peacock, which costs $16.99/month after a seven-day free trial.
2026 Kentucky Derby full field of horses and odds
Per Twin Spires Horse Racing, one of our favorite apps for betting on this year’s race, these are the betting odds for the 2026 Kentucky Derby at the time of publishing, though these numbers may continue to change until the race begins.
| Post Position | Horse Name | Jockey | Trainer | Odds to Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | 5-1 |
| 2 | Albus | Manuel Franco | Riley Mott | 51-1 |
| 3 | Intrepido | Hector I. Berrios | Jeff Mullins | 59-1 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 37-1 |
| 5 | Right to Party | Christopher Elliott | Kenneth G. Mcpeek | 29-1 |
| 6 | Commandment | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | 7-1 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | Atsuya Nishimura | Manabu Ikezoe | 14-1 |
| 8 | So Happy | Mike E. Smith | Mark Glatt | 6-1 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | Ryusei Sakai | Daisuke Takayanagi | 20-1 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Jaime A. Torres | Riley Mott | 37-1 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | 12-1 |
| 14 | Potente | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | 26-1 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | 12-1 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Edwin A. Maldonado | Doug F. O’Neill | 49-1 |
| 17 | Six Speed | Brian J. Hernandez Jr. | Bhupat Seemar | 45-1 |
| 18 | Further Ado | John R. Velasquez | Brad H. Cox | 7-1 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Jose L. Ortiz | Cherie Devaux | 45-1 |
| 20 | Fullefort | Tyler Gaffalione | Brad H. Cox | 19-1 |
| 21 | Great White | Alex Achard | John Enis | 41-1 |
| 22 | Ocelli | Joseph D. Ramos | Whitworth D. Beckman | 50-1 |
| 23 | Robusta | Emisael Jaramillo | Doug F. O’Neill | 50-1 |
| 24 | Corono De Oro | Brian J. Hernandez Jr. | Dallas Stewart | 50-1 |
2026 Triple Crown Races dates
- Kentucky Derby: May 2, 6:57 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Preakness Stakes: May 17, 6:50 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Belmont Stakes: June 6, approximately 7 p.m. ET (NBC)
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
