Overview
The Kentucky Derby is America’s longest continuously held major sporting event, run every year since 1875 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Three-year-old Thoroughbreds cover 1¼ miles (10 furlongs) on dirt, carrying 126 pounds for colts and geldings and 121 pounds for fillies. Held on the first Saturday in May, the Derby opens the Triple Crown and is famously nicknamed “The Run for the Roses” for the blanket of red roses draped over the winner.
The 2026 running, the 152nd Kentucky Derby, was held on May 2, 2026, and was won by Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by José Ortiz. The 153rd Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs, with a total purse of $5,000,000.
Entries & Odds
Full-field entries and morning-line odds for the 2027 Kentucky Derby will be published here as the field is finalized closer to race day.
Race Day Schedule
The full Kentucky Derby Day schedule of races at Churchill Downs will be posted here as post positions and race times are confirmed.
History
The Kentucky Derby was first run on May 17, 1875, in front of an estimated 10,000 spectators, and it has been held every year since: the longest unbroken streak of any major sporting event in the United States. Only twice has the race strayed from its traditional first-Saturday-in-May date: in 1945, wartime travel restrictions pushed the Derby to June 9, and in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the race to September 5. In both cases, Churchill Downs kept the race alive rather than canceling it outright.
The Derby’s most storied performance came in 1973, when Secretariat ran the 1¼ miles in 1:59 2/5: still the track and race record more than five decades later: on his way to becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. The race is wrapped in tradition: the winner is draped in a blanket of more than 400 red roses (a custom dating to 1896 that gave the race its “Run for the Roses” nickname in 1925), fans sip mint juleps throughout the afternoon, and the crowd sings “My Old Kentucky Home” as the horses are walked to the post. Since 2015, Woodford Reserve has served as the race’s official bourbon sponsor.
The most recent chapter was written in 2026, when Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by José Ortiz, won the 152nd running to add his name to the Derby’s long list of champions.
Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | José Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 2:02.27 |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | 2:02.31 |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth G. McPeek | 2:03.34 |
| 2023 | Mage | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | 2:01.57 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric Reed | 2:02.61 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | 2:01.02 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Kentucky Derby run?
The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May each year at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The 2027 running is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2027.
How long is the Kentucky Derby?
The Derby is run at 1¼ miles (10 furlongs), making it the longest race in the Triple Crown series for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
What is the purse for the Kentucky Derby?
The 2027 Kentucky Derby carries a total purse of $5,000,000, with the winning owner’s share worth roughly $3.1 million.
Who holds the Kentucky Derby course record?
Secretariat holds the record, completing the 1¼ miles in 1:59 2/5 during his 1973 Triple Crown-winning run: a mark that still stands today.
Who won the most recent Kentucky Derby?
Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, ridden by José Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux.