Your All-Access Pass to the Kentucky Derby 2026 is LIVE!
Welcome to our LIVE Kentucky Derby 2026 coverage! We’re reporting trackside at Churchill Downs to bring you every heart-pounding moment and essential detail from Kentucky Derby picks, odds, analysis, exclusive interviews, and Q&A's with our panel of experts.
Whether you're here for the betting slip or the fashion, we’ve got you covered. Stick with us all day.
The Kentucky Derby is set to happen on May 2, 2026 at 6:57 PM at Churchill Downs.
What is the minty cocktail associated with the Kentucky Derby?
The cocktail most famously associated with the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep.
It has been the traditional beverage of the race for nearly a century, with tens of thousands of them served at Churchill Downs over the course of Derby weekend.
The drink is a simple but refreshing "smash" that relies on high-quality ingredients:
Bourbon: The base spirit, paying homage to Kentucky’s whiskey heritage.
Mint: Fresh spearmint is usually preferred for its bright, aromatic quality.
Sugar: Traditionally added as a simple syrup or muddled directly with the mint.
Crushed Ice: This is crucial—the drink should be served in a silver or pewter cup packed with "snow" or finely crushed ice to create a thick frost on the outside of the vessel.
What horses are in the Kentucky Derby?
#1 Renegade
Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Pro: Barely broke a sweat in the Arkansas Derby (G1), and Irad sticks by him. | Con: Speed ratings perhaps not as high as some would prefer; post 1 likely hurts.
#2 Albus
Trainer: Riley Mott | Pro: Smart winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) coming off belated graduation. | Con: That was one of the slowest editions of the Aqueduct feature in a long time.
#3 Intrepido
Trainer: Jeff Mullins | Pro: G1 winner at two, though the form of that race hasn’t held up too well. | Con: No factor in Santa Anita Derby (G1) and seems a “Derby Fever” entry.
#4 Litmus Test
Trainer: Bob Baffert | Pro: The main thing to like is that the barn is a modern-day leader in Derby wins. | Con: Hard to like after modest-to-poor finishes in Oaklawn preps.
#5 Right to Party [SCR]
Trainer: Kenny McPeek | Pro: Fared well stretching out two turns in Wood Memorial; capable of more. | Con: New York preps were not very fast, so hard to like in this spot.
#6 Commandment
Trainer: Brad Cox | Pro: Prevailed in both major Gulfstream preps; winner here and plenty fast. |Con: Getting the right trip, perhaps, is the biggest concern.
#7 Danon Bourbon
Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe | Pro: Untouchable in a trio of starts in Japan; sire liked this track. | Con: Relative class unknown and might need a wet track for the best chance.
#8 So Happy
Trainer: Mark Glatt | Pro: Much improved effort in Santa Anita Derby, proving he can stay at least 9f. | Con: California contingent not overly deep, and an extra furlong might be a stretch.
#9 The Puma [SCR]
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado | Pro: Ran too good to lose in Florida Derby (G1); improving at the right time. | Con: Debuted in January, so has had to play a little catch-up.
#10 Wonder Dean
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi | Pro: Stamina should be no issue for UAE Derby (G2) winner. | Con: Closest rival at Meydan had distance limitations; relative class in doubt.
#11 Incredibolt
Trainer: Riley Mott | Pro: Won Street Sense (G3) here and rebounded well in the Virginia Derby. | Con: Enters off a longish break, and speed ratings don’t quite stack up.
#12 Chief Wallabee
Trainer: Bill Mott | Pro: Fits on form, barn won this last year, and he’ll add blinkers for this. | Con: Down 0-2 to Commandment, plus must deal with other good ones.
#13 Silent Tactic [SCR]
Trainer: Mark Casse | Pro: Eye-catching Southwest (G3) winner never worse than second in six starts. | Con: Others seem to be improving at a faster rate, ratings-wise.
#14 Potente
Trainer: Bob Baffert | Pro: Santa Anita Derby runner-up has come a long way in a short time. | Con: Baffert’s prior Derby winners seemed to have more going for them.
#15 Emerging Market
Trainer: Chad Brown | Pro: Up in time to win the Louisiana Derby (G2) despite relative inexperience. | Con: That was not an especially deep prep; enters off only two starts.
#16 Pavlovian
Trainer: Doug O’Neill | Pro: Much improved of late and narrowly missed upsetting the Louisiana Derby. | Con: Consistently beaten by far less in the past.
#17 Six Speed
Trainer: Seemar Bhupat | Pro: Fast colt figures to help carve out the pace. | Con: Suspect to last this far after tiring late in the shorter UAE Derby.
#18 Further Ado
Trainer: Brad Cox | Pro: Blue Grass (G1) win easily the fastest prep; tough if he repeats it. | Con: Runs lights out at Keeneland; not so much elsewhere, yet.
#19 Golden Tempo
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux | Pro: Lecomte (G3) hero has never been out of the money; easily bred to stay. | Con: Plodding type will need a pace meltdown; other closers look speedier.
#20 Fulleffort [SCR]
Trainer: Brad Cox | Pro: Experienced and consistent; could easily rally for a piece. | Con: Has raced exclusively on turf and synthetic to this point.
#21 Great White
Trainer: John Ennis | Pro: Edged next-out winner Fulleffort in the John Battaglia Memorial two back. | Con: Well beaten in the Blue Grass, his only start on dirt so far.
#22 Ocelli
Trainer: Whit Beckman | Pro: A surprise third in Wood Memorial, albeit in a slow renewal. | Con: Maidens typically need maidens for the best chance.
#23 Robusta
Trainer: Doug O’Neill | Pro: Surprise second in San Felipe (G2) for two-time Derby-winning barn. | Con: California form is too inconsistent and not very fast.
Where to watch the Kentucky Derby?
Watching the Kentucky Derby is easier than ever! You can watch it right here with TwinSpires LIVE as the race happens. Sign in to your account or create one, and click on the video button to view all Churchill Downs races and more!
Opt in and receive a Bonus Bet up to $10 back on your first single horse Win wager if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd in all eligible races at Churchill Downs from Saturday, April 25, 2026, through Saturday, May 2, 2026.
