Big hats and roses, Kentucky Derby brings out the traditions
As the Kentucky Derby kicks off at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, here are some of the traditions that are celebrated.
Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY
The calendar has turned to May, and in the world of horse racing, that means it’s officially Kentucky Derby week.
The 2024 Kentucky Derby will be the 150th Run for the Roses and is set for Saturday, May 4. Twenty horses are set to compete in the race that’s happened annually – and without interruption – since 1875, including one substitute after a scratch from the race was announced Tuesday.
As the first leg of the American horse racing Triple Crown, it’s the most-watched and highest-attended horse race in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people have already flocked to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky for the race and preceding festivities while millions more are projected to tune in on TV.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
KENTUCKY DERBY: Full horses list and odds for the 2024 Run for the Roses
HOW TO WATCH: See the full Kentucky Derby with a subscription to Peacock
Each year, Churchill Downs decides the starting post position of each horse with a draw. One official will pull a piece of paper with a horse’s name out of a pile while another draws a paper with a gate number out of a separate pile.
In years past, this draw occurred on the Monday before the race, five days ahead of time. This year, the post-position draw occurred on Saturday, April 27, a full week before race day.
The Kentucky Oaks, the Derby’s sister race, is a stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies, or female horses.
This year’s Kentucky Oaks will take place one day before the Kentucky Derby – Friday, May 3, 2024. The drawing for post position for the Oaks occurred before the drawing for the Derby on April 27.
Here is the updated list of horses and their posts after the post-position drawing and Encino’s withdrawal from the race.
Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
1 | Dornoch | Danny Gargan | Luis Saez |
2 | Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | Tyler Gaffalione |
3 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez Jr. |
4 | Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | Flavien Prat |
5 | Catalytic | Saffie Joseph Jr. | José Ortiz |
6 | Just Steel | D. Wayne Lukas | Keith Asmussen |
7 | Honor Marie | Whit Beckman | Ben Curtis |
8 | Just a Touch | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux |
9 | T O Password | Daisuke Takayanagi | Kazushi Kimura |
10 | Forever Young | Yoshito Yahagi | Ryusei Sakai |
11 | Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario |
12 | West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | Jesús Castañón |
13 | Endlessly | Michael McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli |
14 | Domestic Product | Chad Brown | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
15 | Grand Mo the First | Victor Barboza Jr. | Emisael Jaramillo |
16 | Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez |
17 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | Antonio Fresu |
18 | Resilience | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado |
19 | Society Man | Danny Gargan | Frankie Dettori |
20 | Epic Ride | John Ennis | Adam Beschizza |
Each year’s Kentucky Derby features 20 horses. They qualify from the United States as well as the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” and “European Road to the Kentucky Derby,” according to the official race website.
The annual Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 miles of racing, or 10 furlongs. It is about two kilometers.
Secretariat set the record at Churchill Downs in 1973 with a time of 1:59.4.
Odds via CBS Sports, as of Sunday, April 28. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting app offering horse racing promos for this weekend.
Post | Horse | Morning-line odds (American odds)* |
1 | Dornoch | 20-1 (+2000) |
2 | Sierra Leone | 3-1 (+300) |
3 | Mystik Dan | 20-1 (+2000) |
4 | Catching Freedom | 8-1 (+800) |
5 | Catalytic | 30-1 (+3000) |
6 | Just Steel | 20-1 (+2000) |
7 | Honor Marie | 20-1 (+2000) |
8 | Just a Touch | 10-1 (+1000) |
9 | T O Password | 30-1 (+3000) |
10 | Forever Young | 10-1 (+1000) |
11 | Track Phantom | 20-1 (+2000) |
12 | West Saratoga | 50-1 (+5000) |
13 | Endlessly | 30-1 (+3000) |
14 | Domestic Product | 30-1 (+3000) |
15 | Grand Mo the First | 50-1 (+5000) |
16 | Fierceness | 5-2 (+250) |
17 | Stronghold | 20-1 (+2000) |
18 | Resilience | 20-1 (+2000) |
19 | Society Man | 50-1 (+5000) |
20 | Epic Ride | 30-1 (+3000) |
KENTUCKY DERBY BETTING: How to bet on the Kentucky Derby with tips and strategies
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