Keith JenkinsMultiple AuthorsMay 2, 2026, 11:49 AM ET
Coverage of the 2026 Kentucky Derby begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Peacock will stream early coverage beginning at noon ET.
Twenty horses have the chance to compete in the Kentucky Derby, but 2026’s race will be run with 19 horses.
To earn a spot in the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby, a 3-year-old horse must compete in a series of designated races from September through mid-April. Points are awarded to the top five finishers in each race. The 20 horses with the most points, or the horses who win their international series, earn a spot in the starting gate in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.
The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes are the three races needed to accomplish the Triple Crown.
Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, won last year’s Kentucky Derby at 7-1 odds.
For the third straight year, the Kentucky Derby purse will be $5 million. The winner will receive $3.1 million, while the runner-up gets $1 million.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., opened as the 4-1 favorite.
What are the post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby? (Scratched horses not denoted)
Which post has produced the most Kentucky Derby winners?
What three races make up horse racing’s Triple Crown?
Check out the ESPN horse racing hub page for the latest news and notes ahead of the big race.
The post time for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is 6:57 p.m. ET.