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2025 Kentucky Derby News and Notes
2025 Kentucky Derby complete coverage from expert racing analyst picks to engaging rich features and original studies with new knowledge to consider when handicapping.
Kentucky Derby
How Keeler Johnson is betting the 2025 Kentucky Derby
Planning my Kentucky Derby (G1) bets feels refreshingly straightforward this year, because I’m confident #8 Journalism (3-1) will deliver a victory.
Racing
LIVE Kentucky Oaks Day: Expert Picks, LIVE odds, entries, results, horse racing news, & handicapping analysis
Kentucky Oaks day has arrived! We'll be here all day with up-to-minute updates, LIVE odds, expert picks, horse racing news, and in-depth handicapping analysis.
Racing
Hanson: Betting the Kentucky Derby and 2000 Guineas
The horse that beat Baeza in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), morning line favorite #8 Journalism (3-1), remains our top selection.
Racing
Hanson: The best longshot to bet in the 2025 Kentucky Derby
Determining the best longshot to play in the Kentucky Derby (G1) is very much like choosing your top selection.
Kentucky Derby
Experts vs. AI Revisited: Who will win the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Fast forward to 2025, what does this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) look like?
Kentucky Derby
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Scully: Pick 3 play on Kentucky Oaks Day
Friday’s program at Churchill Downs features plenty of star quality.
Features
Tipsheet: 2025 Kentucky Oaks
An exciting field of 14 three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill Downs main oval in Friday’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Racing
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Kentucky Oaks undercard
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard on Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs, including a Pick 4 ending in the Oaks.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby Day spot plays
In addition to the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Saturday program at Churchill Downs offers a plethora of intriguing graded stakes, most of which have no short-priced stickouts.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby purse: How much prize money will the winning owner and trainer earn
Have you ever wondered how much prize money the winning Kentucky Derby owner receives? Or how much prize money the trainer takes home? We have the answers.
Racing
Dosage Index and birthdates for 2025 Kentucky Derby contenders
I regard it as more akin to reading tea leaves than offering meaningful insights into a horse’s genetic inheritance, or aptitude for 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby Purse: How Much Prize Money the Winning Jockey Will Earn
How much prize money will the jockey of the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner receive? It’s a hefty six-figure payday.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby Brisnet Late Pace rating report
Brisnet Late Pace ratings have done well in identifying potential Kentucky Derby (G1) winners in recent years.
Racing
Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday
An especially challenging sequence of four Grade 1 races, concluding with the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1), will make up the Pick 4 of the Week.
Racing
Pick 3 of the Week: Churchill Downs Friday
A very appealing three-race sequence of graded stakes tilts for the ladies on the Friday card at Churchill Downs comprises the Pick 3 of the Week.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby Odds, Top Contenders & Betting Favorites
Explore the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) odds and top contenders. Compare betting favorites, track odds movement, and get expert insights.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby Horses: Full List of Contenders & Entries
See the full list of 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) horses, contenders, and official entries. Track updates, odds, and key profiles.
Racing
Exotics plays for the Edgewood Stakes
On Friday, an excellent field of eight sophomore fillies will vie in the $600,000 Edgewood S. (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Oaks Day spot plays
With 27 races carded for Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs, including, of course, the Kentucky Derby (G1), there is no shortage of options for bettors to sink their teeth into on the most popular weekend in American racing.
Racing
“It Was Toby’s Dream” – Toby Keith’s Render Judgment Represents the Late Singer Saturday
Thanks to the points the colt earned on this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby, Render Judgment will be breaking from post 15, with a shot to make the late country music star’s dream come true.
Racing
Jockeys and weight in the Kentucky Derby
Being the most identifiable human participants on average in Thoroughbred racing, jockeys will be a major focus in this week’s 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
The 10 best Kentucky Derby winners of all time
The greatest Kentucky Derby winners didn’t just run the race of their lives as three-year-olds on the first Saturday in May. They built resumes, often as older horses, that stand the test of time.
Kentucky Derby
Betting for Beginners: The Best Way to Bet $10 on the Kentucky Derby
You don't have to be a seasoned pro or bet a lot to wager on the Kentucky Derby. Here is the best way for beginners to bet $10 on the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
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LIVE Thurby Kentucky Derby Week: Expert Picks, LIVE odds, schedule, horse racing news & handicapping analysisKentucky Derby 2025 is only a day away. Stay with us all day as we keep you updated on all the latest horse racing news for Thurby all while preparing you for one of the two biggest race days of the year the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
Racing
Kentucky Derby race length and distance: how long is the race?
To beat out a field of up to 20 three-year-olds vying for the Kentucky Derby crown and the customary garland of roses, it takes a combination of strength, stamina, and tactical speed to breeze through a 1 1/4-mile race in nearly 120 seconds.
Racing
Top 10 fastest Kentucky Derby times in history
From a legendary Triple Crown winner to a high-priced yearling who stole the heart of a Japanese racing enthusiast, here are the 10 horses with the fastest winning times in Kentucky Derby history.
Racing
10 Top Winning Kentucky Derby Jockeys of All Time
Here we recount the riders who have celebrated triumph inside the Winner's Circle most, as we list the top 10 winningest Kentucky Derby jockeys of all time.
Racing
How has the winning time of the Kentucky Derby changed over time?
Below we explore how the average winning Kentucky Derby time has transformed over history.
Kentucky Derby
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Thurby plays at Churchill Downs
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, May 1 at Churchill Downs, along with a horse to single in Hawthorne’s $7,717 Pick 6 carryover.
Racing
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for May 1, 2025
Jason shares some final thoughts on the Kentucky Derby and gives his official picks!
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast May 1, 2025
Jason discusses the Kentucky Derby and shares some final thoughts on the undercard and the event itself. Kellie Reilly joins us for the International Radar segment to discuss Luxor Cafe and Admire Daytona's chances on Saturday.
Racing
2025 Kentucky Derby Brisnet Speed Rating report
We will focus on the final two prep races, ranking the Kentucky Derby field by last-out number.
Kentucky Derby
STUDY: Do Kentucky Derby winners earn more per second than other athletes?
When Mystik Dan battled to a narrow victory in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), he claimed a first-prize purse worth $3.1 million.
Analysis
Betting With, and Against, Mindframe in the Churchill Downs Stakes
An excellent field of 11 will travel seven-eighths on the famed main oval in Louisville in Saturday’s lucrative, $1 million Churchill Downs S. (G1).
Racing
Post Positions That Produced The Most & Fewest Kentucky Derby Winners
What post position wins the Kentucky Derby the most? When analyzing Kentucky Derby winners by post position, it is important to look at the win percentage and in-the-money percentage of each position.
Racing
The biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history
From Donerail in 1913 to Country House in 2019, we rank the five most shocking upsets in Kentucky Derby history.
Racing
Kentucky Derby scratches that changed history
While a comprehensive list of Kentucky Derby scratches since 1875 is not possible, these four withdrawals perhaps were the most significant.
Kentucky Derby
Japanese Horses In the Kentucky Derby: Racing Stars From Japan
Japanese Horses In the Kentucky Derby: Racing Stars From Japan
Racing
Who was the biggest underdog ever to win the Kentucky Derby?
Most recent underdogs weren’t facing an overwhelming favorite or toppling a budding superstar or two. In fact, many underdog winners can be judged less on how much they paid, but by who they beat.
Kentucky Derby
Best trainers never to have won the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is America's signature race, but victory in it unfortunately eluded (or has) some of the finest and most accomplished horsemen in history.
Features
Top 10 Most Successful Trainers in Kentucky Derby History
Based on overall number of victories, as well as second- and third-place finishes, here are the 10 most successful trainers in Kentucky Derby history.
Kentucky Derby
20 Fun and Memorable Kentucky Derby Quotes & Sayings
What are some of the most iconic Kentucky Derby quotes and Kentucky Derby sayings that have stayed with fans throughout history?
Racing
20 songs for your Kentucky Derby playlist
Do you know these 20 familiar songs referencing horse racing or the Kentucky Derby?
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast April 30, 2025
Jason welcomes in TwinSpires' own Darin Zoccali to join him to preview all the contenders in this year's Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Exotics plays for the American Turf Stakes
An overflow field of 18 three-year-olds has been entered to contest the lucrative, $1 million American Turf S. (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Racing
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: The Tabulator’s sibling debuts
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, April 30 at Churchill Downs and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a first-time starter at 10-1 odds.
Racing
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Luxor Cafe, Admire Daytona
After Japan came closer than ever in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1), the two Japanese shippers for the 2025 Run for the Roses will attract plenty of attention.
Racing
The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets, and Fades for May 2-3, 2025
A special TwinSpires Jury of James Scully, Darin Zoccali, Ashley Anderson, and Nick Tammaro gather ahead of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) to dish out their top picks in the big races at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3.
Racing
Horses: $177 Billion annually to the US Economy
For many Americans, Kentucky Derby day is the one big day when they take an interest in horse racing. In the popular mindset, all roads lead to the first Saturday in May at Louisville. But as spectacular as that one day is, it’s merely the high point of a multi-billion dollar industry that employs thousands of people.
Features
Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: West Hollywood can rebound
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, April 29 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, including a cold double bet.
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast April 29, 2025
Jason is joined by Gulfstream Park announcer Pete Aiello to discuss this years Kentucky Oaks and all the contenders.
Racing
Churchill Downs: How to bet the 2025 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes
This year’s Kentucky Juvenile has drawn an eight-horse field, and morning-line favorite #5 Pinky Finger (8-5) looks like a standout.
Racing
Race for the Crown episode 3 recap: The Road to the Derby - Part 2
Race for the Crown episode 3—titled "The Road to the Derby: Part 2"—slightly deviates from the chronological sequence of the 2024 Derby preps, focusing on the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Latest workouts and position post draw
The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is five days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the first Saturday in May approaches:
Racing
Churchill Downs: How to bet the 2025 Isaac Murphy Marathon
Since its inaugural edition in 2019, high-quality marathoners like Next and Lone Rock have won the Isaac Murphy Marathon. Lambeth looks ready to join the club.
Racing
STUDY: Is the Kentucky Derby's Apollo Curse a negative or positive?
Is a lack of juvenile racing experience a detriment in the Kentucky Derby, or is the Apollo Curse a myth resulting from an insufficient sample size of horses?
Racing
Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Mendelssohns Music should like turf
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, April 28 at Will Rogers Downs, Thistledown, and Turf Paradise, including a trifecta.
Racing
Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem for April 28, 2025
Jason discusses the week ahead as we build up to the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast April 28, 2025
Jason discusses some racing from this past weekend and also talks Kentucky Derby and Oaks draws, morning lines, and much more!
Racing
STUDY: Is the average age of Kentucky Derby-winning jockeys rising?
Anecdotally, it appears the average age of Kentucky Derby-winning jockeys has increased over the past 100 years. Does this hold up under closer scrutiny?
Racing
Analyzing Sunday carryovers at Hawthorne and Santa Anita
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in a pair of Sunday carryovers at Hawthorne and Santa Anita, including a first-time starter at 6-1 odds.
Racing
Journalism draws post 8, pegged as 3-1 favorite in 2025 Kentucky Derby
Post positions and morning-line odds for the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks
Racing
LIVE
2025 Kentucky Derby post position draw with LIVE handicapping commentaryJoin our expert panel as they comment on the contenders post positions prior, after, and during the draw, and so much more!
Analysis
Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [April 26-27]
Find out everything you need to know about key races, top horse, and best bets with TwinSpires horse racing this weekend.
Analysis
Plays for the $800 Churchill Downs KDBC Qualifier tournament
Saturday is opening day of the Churchill Downs spring meet, and there are a couple of excellent reasons to play the 10-race card.
Racing
A Glass Full of Memories: A History of the Derby's Iconic Mint Julep Glasses
From their humble beginnings in the 1930s to their collectible designs in 2025, the mint julep glass is another piece of the Kentucky Derby experience that leaves fans with lasting memories of their day under the Twin Spires.
Education
Kentucky Derby: 4 stories of ordinary bettors winning big
You don’t need to be a millionaire to win a big bet on the Kentucky Derby (G1). Play the right horse(s) in the right situation, and even a small budget can yield a lucrative payoff.
Racing
Synthetic vs. turf vs. dirt: How surface transitions affect horse racing
When a horse transitions from one racing surface to another, the impact on their performance can be substantial.
Racing
Race for the Crown episode 2 recap: The Road to the Derby - Part 1
Episode 2 of Race for the Crown, titled “The Road to the Derby – Part 1,” highlights two critical Kentucky Derby prep races: the Florida Derby (G1) and the Blue Grass S. (G1), both offering Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.
Racing
Race for the Crown episode 1 recap: The Greatest 2 Minutes in Sports
Race for the Crown opens with episode 1, “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” spotlighting the difficulty of getting to the Kentucky Derby. A voiceover sets the stakes: “20,000 horses born every year. 20 in the starting gate.”
Racing
Champions Day in Hong Kong: Tabbing El Vencedor in QEII Cup
Sha Tin plays host to a 10-race Champions Day program that boasts three Group 1 events, and the action kicks off late Saturday night 12:45 a.m. ET.
Racing
Growth in Kentucky Derby Day betting virtually unabated in its modern history
Growth in Kentucky Derby Day is not up for debate. Betting virtually is firmly a part of modern history.
Racing
Pick 3 of the Week: Aqueduct Saturday
The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Aqueduct on Saturday in a sequence that includes the headliner of the afternoon, the $125,000 Woodhaven S. on the grass for three-year-olds.
Racing
How to bet the Natural State Breeders’ Stakes
A total of 10 Arkansas-bred fillies and mares will travel one-mile in Sunday’s $150,000 Natural State Breeders’ S. at Oaklawn Park.
Racing
How to bet the Royal Heroine Stakes
A massive field of 13 fillies and mares will go eight panels on the Santa Anita lawn in Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Heroine S. (G3).
Racing
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Santa Anita’s $68,636 Pick 6 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, April 25 at Aqueduct and Keeneland, along with a single for the $68,638 Pick 6 carryover at Santa Anita.
Racing
Betting With, and Against, Sandy Bottom in the Roxelana Stakes
The opening-night feature at Churchill Downs on Saturday is the $200,000 Roxelana S. Seven fillies and one mare will go postward in the six-furlong heat on the main oval.
Racing
Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday
The last of the three Pick 4 wagers offered at Churchill Downs on opening day comprises the final four races on the slate, including the feature, the Roxelana S.
Wagering
Exotics Plays for the Monroe Stakes
A total of 11 fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream Park green in Saturday’s $75,000 Monroe S.
Wagering
How to bet the Bewitch Stakes
The closing-day feature at Keeneland on Friday is the $350,000 Bewitch S. (G3), a 1 1/2-mile turf affair for fillies and mares.
Wagering
The Jury: Expert Picks, Bets, and Fades for April 26, 2025
The TwinSpires Jury of Ashley Anderson and guest Nick Tammaro are back to debate their best bets and fades at Churchill Downs for Opening Night of the 43-day spring meet, plus they look at a high-profile matching at Aqueduct on Saturday.
Racing
Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for April 24, 2025
Jason discusses 'wise guy' and 'narrative' horses that might get bet in this year's Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast April 24, 2025
Jason is joined by TwinSpires' own Kellie Reilly for this week's International Radar segment. Then we welcome in Joe Kristufek from Churchill Downs to talk Kentucky Derby and Oaks.
Racing
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Single for Keeneland’s $25,217 Pick 6 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, April 24 at Keeneland and Turf Paradise, including a horse to single in Keeneland’s $25,217 Pick 6 carryover
Racing
The Official EARLY 2025 Kentucky Derby Betting Guide
The EARLY 2025 Kentucky Derby Betting Guide focuses on getting to know the contenders probable to enter the Kentucky Derby.
Analysis
British Spot Plays: Sandown selections April 25
The two fixtures for older horses at Sandown on Friday appear wide open.
Racing
Render Judgment – Kentucky Derby Context
Runner-up in the Virginia Derby, Render Judgement will face a tall challenge if he makes the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field.
Kentucky Derby
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Keeneland’s $10,587 Super High 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, April 23 at Keeneland, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Charles Town, including horses to play in Keeneland’s $10,587 Super High 5 carryover.
Racing
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast April 23, 2025
Jason discusses the reaction to the recently released Netflix series about horse racing and discusses some betting topics for horseplayers.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Workouts, jockeys, shipping plans
The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 12 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as two-dozen contenders finalize preparations for the first Saturday in May:
Racing
Racing Roundtable: Easter weekend review and appealing longshots for the Kentucky Derby, Oaks
The Racing Roundtable of Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Vance Hanson congregate to go over what caught their eye over the weekend in racing, but mostly to look ahead to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Racing
Hong Kong: Selections for Happy Valley April 23
Racing at Happy Valley begins at 6:40 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.
Racing
Race for the Crown Premiers on Netflix: Follow Along with TwinSpires
Race for the Crown premieres on Netflix April 22. The six-part docuseries follows jockeys, trainers, and owners through the 2024 Triple Crown season, beginning with the previous season’s Breeders’ Cup.
Racing
STUDY: How many prep races are ideal for Kentucky Derby horses?
How many prep races are ideal to prepare a horse for victory in the Kentucky Derby? Let’s crunch the numbers and find out.
Racing
Built - Kentucky Derby Context
Built established himself as a promising prospect over the winter, recording a pair of commendable stakes efforts at Fair Grounds, but his last two performances raise doubts about his affinity for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby distance.
Kentucky Derby
Rodriguez – Kentucky Derby Context
After placing in his first two stakes, Rodriguez shipped east to record a convincing win in the Wood Memorial (G2)—the speedy colt figures to add speed to the Kentucky Derby for six-time winner Bob Baffert.
Kentucky Derby
Luxor Café – Kentucky Derby Context
A winner of four straight, Luxor Cafe qualified for the Kentucky Derby via the Japan Road and the late runner will bring a strong turn of foot to his first international appearance at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby
POPULAR ARTICLES
How Keeler Johnson is betting the 2025 Kentucky Derby
LIVE Kentucky Oaks Day: Expert Picks, LIVE odds, entries, results, horse racing news, & handicapping analysis
Hanson: Betting the Kentucky Derby and 2000 Guineas
Hanson: The best longshot to bet in the 2025 Kentucky Derby
Experts vs. AI Revisited: Who will win the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
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