Race Events > Kentucky Derby 2023
Bet on the 2023 Kentucky Derby at TwinSpires
Experience the excitement of the 2023 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6th. Wager online with TwinSpires! Signing up is easy, and we’ll provide your new account with a risk-free betting opportunity for your first WIN bet. TwinSpires will refund your first win bet up to $25, if your horse doesn’t finish first.
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2023 Kentucky Derby Race Info
- Location: Churchill Downs
- Inaugural Race: 1875
- TV Coverage: NBC, TwinSpires.com, TwinSpires App or Roku
- Current Distance: 1 & 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
- Age Qualification: Three-year-olds
- 2023 Purse: $3 million
- 2023 Race Date: Saturday, May 6th
Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Where can I WATCH the Kentucky Derby?
- TwinSpires
- Register for free at TwinSpires to access our LIVE Simulcast Show and global horse racing offerings.
- Kentucky Derby works show
- Almost two weeks of LIVE streaming workouts and listening to industry experts analyze the 20+ possible Derby contenders.
- NBC & Peacock
Where can I LISTEN to the Kentucky Derby?
- Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
- Inside the Kentucky Derby Podcast
- HRRN
- Steve Byk
Where can I FOLLOW the Kentucky Derby?
Kentucky Derby Results, Payouts, Post Position Draw & Morning Line Odds
In one of the most shocking upsets in sports history, 80-1 long shot Rich Strike took down favorites Epicenter and Zandon with an epic stretch run to win the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby!
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon / Eric R. Reed | $163.60 / $74.20 / $29.40 |
| 3 | Epicenter | Joel Rosario / Steven M. Asmussen | $7.40 / $5.20 |
| 10 | Zandon | Flavien Prat / Chad C. Brown | $5.60 |
| 13 | Simplification | Jose L. Ortiz / Antonio Sano | |
| 1 | Mo Donegal | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher | |
| 14 | Barber Road | Reylu Gutierrez / John Alexander Ortiz | |
| 18 | Tawny Port | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Brad H. Cox | |
| 5 | Smile Happy | Corey J. Lanerie / Kenneth G. McPeek | |
| 9 | Tiz the Bomb | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek | |
| 19 | Zozos | Manuel Franco / Brad H. Cox | |
| 17 | Classic Causeway | Julien R. Leparoux / Brian A. Lynch | |
| 12 | Taiba | Mike E. Smith / Tim Yakteen | |
| 7 | Crown Pride (JPN) | Christophe Patrice Lemaire / Koichi Shintani | |
| 2 | Happy Jack | Rafael Bejarano / Doug F. O'Neill | |
| 6 | Messier | John R. Velazquez / Tim Yakteen | |
| 15 | White Abarrio | Tyler Gaffalione / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | |
| 8 | Charge It | Luis Saez / Todd A. Pletcher | |
| 16 | Cyberknife | Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox | |
| 11 | Pioneer of Medina | Joe Bravo / Todd A. Pletcher | |
| 4 | Summer Is Tomorrow | Mickael Barzalona / Bhupat Seemar |
Exotic Payouts:
- $2 Exacta (21-3): $4,101.20
- $1 Trifecta (21-3-10): $14,870.70
- $1 Superfecta (21-3-10-13): $321,500.10
2022 Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw & Morning Line Odds
| POST POSITION | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ML ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mo Donegal | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 10-1 |
| 2 | Happy Jack | Doug O’Neill | Rafael Bejarano | 30-1 |
| 3 | Epicenter | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario | 7-2 |
| 4 | Summer Is Tomorrow | Bhupat Seemar | Mickael Barzalona | 30-1 |
| 5 | Smile Happy | Kenny McPeek | Corey Lanerie | 20-1 |
| 6 | Messier | Tim Yakteen | John Velazquez | 8-1 |
| 7 | Crown Pride | Koichi Shintani | Christophe Lemaire | 20-1 |
| 8 | Charge It | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 20-1 |
| 9 | Tiz the Bomb | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 30-1 |
| 10 | Zandon | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 3-1 |
| 11 | Pioneer of Medina | Todd Pletcher | Joe Bravo | 30-1 |
| 12 | Taiba | Tim Yakteen | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 13 | Simplification | Antonio Sano | Jose Ortiz | 20-1 |
| 14 | Barber Road | John Ortiz | Reylu Gutierrez | 30-1 |
| 15 | White Abarrio | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione | 10-1 |
| 16 | Cyberknife | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 20-1 |
| 17 | Classic Causeway | Brian Lynch | Julien Leparoux | 30-1 |
| 18 | Tawny Port | Brad Cox | Ricardo Santana Jr. | 30-1 |
| 19 | Zozos | Brad Cox | Manny Franco | 20-1 |
| 20 | Ethereal Road | D. Wayne Lukas | Luis Contreras | 30-1 |
| Also eligible | ||||
| 21 | Rich Strike | Eric Reed | Sonny Leon | 30-1 |
| 22 | Rattle N Roll | Kenny McPeek | James Graham | 30-1 |
Kentucky Derby History
The Run for the Roses. The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. No matter what moniker you care to use, the Kentucky Derby has become an American institution. Its date – the first Saturday in May – is unforgettable, its location – Churchill Downs with its Twin Spires – iconic.
First run in 1875 and patterned after the English Derby at Epsom Downs, the inaugural Kentucky Derby was won by Aristides over 1 1/2 miles, which remained the Derby distance until 1896 when it was shortened to 1 1/4 miles.
“I do not care if she never wins another race, nor if she ever starts in another race, she has won the greatest race in America and I am satisfied,” owner Harry Payne Whitney remarked when Regret became the first filly ever to win the Kentucky Derby in 1915. In so doing, he validated Churchill Downs president Col. Matt Winn’s efforts to make the Derby the most important and prestigious brand in American racing, a position it’s held for more than a century.
The starting point of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, has witnessed all 13 of the series’ winners, from Sir Barton in 1919 to Justify in 2018. The Derby counted as one of the mighty Citation’s 16 consecutive victories, while Secretariat, who many consider the greatest Thoroughbred ever seen on the American turf, maintains the Derby race record of 1:59.40.
For the non-Triple Crown winner, a victory in the Kentucky Derby nonetheless ensures a spot in the sport’s pantheon. It’s counted among the highlights in the careers of such Hall of Fame performers as Exterminator, Swaps, Northern Dancer, Spectacular Bid, Alysheba, and Sunday Silence, plus the fillies Genuine Risk and Winning Colors.
The human element is also woven deeply into the Derby fabric. The father-son trainer combo of Ben and H.A. “Jimmy” Jones graced the Derby winner’s circle a collective eight times from 1938 through 1958. Among jockeys, the legendary Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack each captured the classic five times. Among Arcaro’s quintet were the Triple Crown winners Whirlaway and Citation.
Befitting its position as the most sought-after prize in racing, the Derby is also well known for its attendance and viewership, as well as the amount of betting it generates. Crowds of more than 150,000 have become commonplace at the hallowed Louisville course, while television ratings exceed those of any other race in the country and nearly all other sporting events on the day.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby Day card hovers around $200 million, a large chunk of it on the Derby itself as the only race throughout the year with as many as 20 starters. Interest on betting the Derby is not only at an all-time high, but begins months beforehand with the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) offered four times throughout the winter and spring at various tracks, off-track facilities, and online platforms like TwinSpires.com.
With Derby thoughts immediately swirling at the sight a good-looking two-year-old winner, the Kentucky Derby has truly become a year-round phenomenon.
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