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Kentucky Derby Roundup: Final field taking shape
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 11 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the first Saturday in May draws closer:
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Ocelli
A rallying third-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) launched Ocelli into the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) picture.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Stark Contrast
A multiple turf stakes winner and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Stark Contrast secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby field, finishing second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Turfway Park’s synthetic track.
Racing
2026 Kentucky Derby Brisnet Speed Rating Report
The 2026 Kentucky Derby Brisnet Speed Rating Report analyzes the numbers earned by contestants in a projected 20-horse field at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Six Speed
Dubai-based Six Speed was purchased privately by an American ownership group before he jumped on the Euro/Mideast Road, and he repaid their investment.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Stark Contrast
Does Stark Contrast have the pedigree to handle racing on dirt in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1)?
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Intrepido
A Grade 1-winning juvenile, Intrepido opened his three-year-old season with a close second in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and will look to outrun projected long odds in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
AI Handicapping: Kentucky Derby Predictive Visual Analysis with Gemini
If Gemini had a $100, who would the Agentic AI suggest to bet when presented with four solid data sets?
Kentucky Derby
AI Handicapping: Kentucky Derby Predictive Visual Analysis with Claude
The data says Renegade, but three horses could flip it. Market prices him slightly longer despite the point's edge. That's the definition of underlaid.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Albus
An improving three-year-old, Albus will look to keep stepping up in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Chip Honcho
Runner-up in the Risen Star (G2), Chip Honcho projects to show early speed if he makes the Kentucky Derby (G1) field.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Ottinho
Runner-up in the Blue Grass (G1), Ottinho will seek to keep progressing by offering a strong late run in the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Tall Tales of the Track – Two Necks and a Couple of Brothers
The 1961 Kentucky Oaks and Derby featured a pair of brothers, two close finishes, and a couple of interesting coincidences.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Context: Commandment
A winner of four consecutive races, Commandment established himself as a major Kentucky Derby (G1) contender by narrowly winning the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2) over quality competition.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Further Ado
A romping winner of the Blue Grass (G1), Further Ado will take some beating if he carries his form forward in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Renegade
A smashing four-length winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1), probable favorite Renegade rates as the horse to beat in the Kentucky Derby
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Trendsetter wins the Lexington
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 17 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
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
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
Kentucky Derby Context: So Happy
So Happy’s numbers stack up well against his main rivals, and he’ll aim to position himself for a serious challenge as the field turns for home in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: The Puma
Since making his career debut in mid-January, The Puma has improved in every start, and the stalker will look to offer a serious challenge in the final furlongs of the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Iron Honor
An early/presser, Iron Honor will look to rebound with a better showing in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and his tactical ability offers appeal in a field packed with off-the-pace runners.
Racing
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
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
Five of the biggest shocks in Kentucky Derby history
Unlike games of chance that you might encounter in a casino, the result of a Thoroughbred horse race is far from a random outcome event. That’s not to say that there aren’t inexplicable surprises from time to time. In its century and a half of longevity, the Kentucky Derby has seen its share.
Kentucky Derby
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
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
Top 10 Biggest Horse Races In The World
Let's look at the 10 biggest horse races in the world, from the “race that stops a nation” to the “fastest two minutes in sports.”
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
Top 10 best racehorses of all time
Ranking the greatest racehorse of all time is an exercise fraught with challenges and subjectivity. But I'm going to give it a try.
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
Kentucky Derby Context: Danon Bourbon
Unbeaten from three starts in Japan, Danon Bourbon possesses the tractability to make his own trip in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Six Speed
Runner-up in the UAE Derby (G2), Six Speed promises to bring early speed to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Wonder Dean
Based in Japan, Wonder Dean will enter the Kentucky Derby (G1) off a convincing win in the UAE Derby (G2).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Civil Liberty breaks through
Typically, horses that break their maidens 20 days prior to the Kentucky Derby (G1) don’t wind up in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. But Civil Liberty isn’t your typical maiden winner.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Trendsetter
Trendsetter wrapped up the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby with a 32-1 upset victory in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) at Keeneland.
Racing
Does a Recent Prep Race Win Guarantee Kentucky Derby Success?
Do horses entering the Kentucky Derby (G1) off victories outperform those exiting defeats? We’re ready to provide a data-driven answer.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Grittiness
Runner-up finishes in the Withers S. and Virginia Derby have propelled Grittiness into the picture as a 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.
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
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Danon Bourbon
Danon Bourbon earned his Kentucky Derby (G1) ticket via the Japan Road, where he captured the final leg in race-record time to remain perfect.
Racing
Kentucky Derby International Scouting Report: Wonder Dean
The fifth straight Japanese-trained winner of the UAE Derby (G2), and sixth overall, Wonder Dean will try to score an historic breakthrough in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
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
10 interesting facts about Justify, the legendary horse and Triple Crown winner
Justify is the 13th and most recent Triple Crown winner, having achieved his milestone in 2018 in remarkable circumstances. Below are 10 interesting facts about Justify.
Racing
10 interesting facts about American Pharoah, the legendary horse and Triple Crown winner
American Pharoah was the 12th Triple Crown winner, having broken a 37-year drought to win the famed trio of races in 2015.
Racing
20 songs for your Kentucky Derby playlist
Do you know these 20 familiar songs referencing horse racing or the Kentucky Derby?
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
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
Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [April 11, 2026]
Find out everything you need to know about key races, top horse, and best bets with TwinSpires horse racing this weekend.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Chief Wallabee
After commendable showings in the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2), Chief Wallabee will look to break through in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Emerging Market
Unbeaten from two outings, Emerging Market will try to buck a long-standing trend by winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his third start.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Fulleffort
Fulleffort will look to make a serious impact in the Kentucky Derby (G1) if he takes to the main track at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Right to Party
Right to Party will bring a late kick to the Kentucky Derby (G1) following his closing second in the Wood Memorial (G2).
Racing
The oddest horse names in Kentucky Derby history
There are a number of weird and wonderful horse names that have made it to the biggest stage of all. Here are the 10 best in Kentucky Derby history.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Chief Wallabee
There are no certainties in horse racing, but it seems reasonable to conclude Chief Wallabee has the pedigree to relish racing 1 1/4 miles in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Right to Party
Right to Party, a late nominee to the Triple Crown, stamped his ticket to the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) with top-three finishes in the Gotham (G3) and Wood Memorial (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Golden Tempo
If he can keep improving in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Golden Tempo will look to make a serious impact from off the pace.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Incredibolt
After showing an affinity for Churchill Downs last year, Virginia Derby romper Incredibolt will return for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Pavlovian
Pavlovian will face a class check in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he can make his own trip with tactical speed and enters on an upward trajectory.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Potente
Potente will enter the Kentucky Derby (G1) off a frontrunning second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), an experience that may sharpen him up for a good showing at Churchill Downs.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Context: Silent Tactic
Oaklawn stakes winner Silent Tactic, runner-up to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby (G1), promises to be finishing fast if the early pace is hot and/or contested in the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2026 Lexington Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2025 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Analysis
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Further Ado crushes the Blue Grass
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 25 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Racing
Fastest Kentucky Derby Times: What History Tells Us
The Kentucky Derby (G1) adopted its current 1 1/4-mile distance in 1896. In the ensuing decades, the fastest and average winning times have decreased significantly.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: So Happy
After enjoying early success in sprints, So Happy stretched out over 1 1/8 miles to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Albus
Can Albus, a son of tried-and-true sprinter Yaupon, handle the testing distance of 1 1/4 miles in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1)?
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: 4 Triple Crown nominees triumph
Less than four weeks out from the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Road to the Kentucky Derby is nearly complete.
Racing
Renegade closes as 4-1 favorite in KDFW Pool 6
Final odds for Pool 6, the last Kentucky Derby Future Wager ahead of the May 2 Run for the Roses.
Racing
LIVE Wood Memorial 2026: odds, entries, post times, results, and picks
Welcome to our Wood Memorial 2026 LIVE coverage!
Analysis
LIVE Blue Grass Stakes 2026: Picks, odds, entries, and results
Join our live coverage of the Blue Grass Stakes 2026 happening at Keeneland.
Racing
LIVE
LIVE Santa Anita Derby 2026: entries, picks, odds, betting tips, and moreWelcome to our Santa Anita Derby 2026 LIVE coverage!
Analysis
Handicapping All-Stakes Pick 5 at Keeneland April 4, 2026
James Scully handicaps All-Stakes Pick 5 on Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes card at Keeneland.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2026 Blue Grass Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2026 Wood Memorial Stakes
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Analysis
Tipsheet: 2026 Blue Grass Stakes
A fine field of nine three-year-olds will run 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Keeneland in Saturday’s $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1).
Wagering
Tipsheet: 2026 Wood Memorial Stakes
A deep field of 13 three-year-olds will travel 1 1/8 miles over the Aqueduct main oval in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2).
Wagering
Tipsheet: 2026 Santa Anita Derby
A high-quality and well-matched group of seven sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Santa Anita dirt in Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Racing
Meet the Contenders: 2026 Santa Anita Derby
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita on April 4. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Commandment, Renegade score big wins
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 32 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Racing
Renegade 4-1 ML choice in Pool 6 of KDFW
Wagering opens at noon ET on Thursday and closes at 6 p.m. Saturday in advance of the Blue Grass (G1), Wood Memorial (G2), and Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Kentucky Derby
Which prep races have produced the most Kentucky Derby winners?
Not all Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races are equally productive. Some Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers yield Kentucky Derby winners with greater frequency than others.
Racing
Which Kentucky Derby winners had the best careers after the race?
Determining which Kentucky Derby winners enjoyed the best post-Derby careers is subjective and depends on which achievements one values most.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Sovereign Law graduates for Cox
Time is running out for inexperienced maiden winners to join the Road to the Kentucky Derby and earn points toward a start in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Wonder Dean
Wonder Dean stamped his ticket to the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) with a determined victory in the UAE Derby (G2) on dirt at Meydan in Dubai.
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Danon Bourbon
A powerful homestretch drive carried Danon Bourbon to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Fukuryu S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Racing
LIVE Arkansas Derby 2026 odds, picks, post time, horses & race coverage
Welcome to our LIVE Arkansas Derby 2026 race coverage!
Analysis
LIVE Florida Derby 2026 picks, odds, post time, & entries
Welcome to our LIVE Florida Derby 2026 race day coverage!
Racing
Late Pick 5 Preview: How to Bet Gulfstream Saturday [VIDEO]
Navigating the late Pick 5 sequence at Gulfstream Park requires more than just picking winners—it requires a tactical approach to ticket construction and value identification.
Analysis
How to bet the 2026 UAE Derby
The Europe/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby ends on Saturday morning U.S. time with the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan in Dubai.
Wagering
Meet the Contenders: 2026 Florida Derby
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Racing
Tipsheet: 2026 Florida Derby
A fantastic field of eight sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Gulfstream Park main strip in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1).
Wagering
Tipsheet: 2026 Arkansas Derby
A strong field of eight three-year-olds will run 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Oaklawn Park in Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).
Racing
2026 Kentucky Derby News and Notes
The Kentucky Derby news and notes offers all of our coverage cultivated in one place!
Analysis
Meet the Contenders: 2026 Arkansas Derby
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Roundup: Fulleffort tops the leaderboard
The 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 39 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Fulleffort
After spending his first seven starts competing on turf and Tapeta, stretch-running Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort must switch to dirt for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Emerging Market
It wasn’t surprising to see Emerging Market handle 1 3/16 miles with aplomb in the Louisiana Derby (G2), charging with determination to win the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier by a head.
Racing
Kentucky Derby Maiden Watch: Four Triple Crown noms graduate
One of the flashiest three-year-olds to graduate last week was Make My Day, a second-time starter from the Hall of Fame barn of Todd Pletcher.
Racing
LIVE Louisiana Derby 2026: Expert Top Picks and Live Results as Kentucky Derby Points Hang in the Balance
Welcome to our Louisiana Derby 2026 LIVE coverage!
Analysis
Kentucky Derby 2026
Kentucky Derby news
Each of these series serve fresh, weekly updates - except for pedigree profiles which follow Road to the Kentucky Derby prep-races.
Kentucky Derby information
Below are hubs for key topics surrounding important aspects of the Kentucky Derby. From contenders to odds to the Future Wager.
Learn about the 2026 Kentucky Derby
What is the Kentucky Derby?
- Location: Churchill Downs
- Inaugural Race: 1875
- Current Distance: 1 & 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualification: Three-year-olds
- 2026 Purse: $5 million
- 2026 Race Date: Saturday, May 2nd
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Kentucky Derby Video & Official Race Replays
A Brief History of the Kentucky Derby
The most famous horse race in the world is the most thrilling two minutes in sport. It takes place on the first Saturday in May at the historic Churchill Downs racecourse in Louisville, Kentucky and regularly attended by more than 150,000 people. The record attendance was 165,307 in 2012, and in 2014 164,906 watched California Chrome win "the run for the roses".
The inaugural Kentucky Derby took place in 1875 after Col. Meriweather Lewis Clark, Jr had visited England three years earlier and witnessed the Epsom Derby, a famous race which had been run since 1780 on the outskirts of London. The Kentucky Derby was originally raced over the same distance of 1 & 1/2 miles as the Epsom Derby (it was changed to its current distance of 1 & 1/4 miles in 1896. An estimated crowd of 10,000 watched the colt Aristides crowned winner of the first running of the race at the newly constructed Churchill Downs racecourse.
The first live radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby was in 1925, and it wasn't until 1949 that the first television coverage of the race happened. In 2016 the race will be covered live by NBC with real-time payouts and results from horse racing's premier event available all day on BetAmerica.com.
The race is so popular that in the preceding two weeks leading up to the running, the city of Louisville holds the Kentucky Derby Festival, Kentucky’s largest single annual event. The Kentucky Derby Festival is comprised of several events, including Thunder Over Louisville (the biggest annual fireworks display in North America), the Great Balloon Race, the Pegasus Parade (one the countries largest), and The Great Steamboat Race.
Entries into the Kentucky Derby include some of the most famous racehorses to ever compete. Notable entries into the race include Regret, Sir Burton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Citation, Northern Dancer, Seattle Slew, War Emblem, and California Chrome.
Visit our Kentucky Derby Trivia page for more insights into the most famous race in the world, including detailed facts about entries, records, and winners.
TwinSpires is a licensed supplier of online betting on the Kentucky Derby. You can bet on the Kentucky Derby legally online at TwinSpires.com with a regulated U.S. based website where your deposits are safe and your winnings are guaranteed. All bets are placed directly into the official Churchill Downs betting pools and all winnings are paid at full track odds.
Kentucky Derby Race Records
Fastest Time Recorded
- 1.59.40
Secretariat - 1973
Biggest Odds Winner
- 91-1
Donerail - 1913
Biggest Win Margin
- 8 lengths
Assault (1946) & Whirlaway (1941)
Most Wins by a Jockey
- 5
Eddie Arcaro (1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952) & Bill Hartack (1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969)
Most Wins by an Owner
- 8
Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1968)
Most Wins by a Trainer
- 6
Ben A Jones (1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952)
Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021*)
Kentucky Derby prep-race listing:
View a complete list of prep-races that award points along the Road to the Kentucky Derby trail. Prep-races are valuable stepping stones for horses looking to compete on the First Saturday in May.
Kentucky Derby Party & Fun Facts
- KELLY: One Hundred Years Ago, Colonel Bradley Goes for the One-Two
- KELLY: More Than One Way to Wear Roses
- HANSON: D. Wayne Lukas the best asset for fillies in Kentucky Derby preps
- HANSON: Phenom to Journeyman: The Riding Life of Bill Boland
- KELLY: Some Things Stay the Same: One Hundred Days, One Hundred Years Ago
- HANSON: 1945 - When the Kentucky Derby moved from May to June