DERBY
One horse will stop and smell the roses in the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle. Who will it be?
The 151st edition of the “Run for the Roses” is set to kick off next week and a new champion will soon be crowned with a garland of roses at the legendary Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The field is made up of 20 horses.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes (May 17) and Belmont Stakes (June 7). The Kentucky Derby is 1¼ miles long, approximately 2,200 yards. The Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races at 1½ miles, while the Preakness Stakes is the shortest at 1 3/16 miles long.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Kentucky Derby field:
When is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 3. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will give the iconic “Rider’s Up” command ahead of the race.
Horses competing in Kentucky Derby
The top 20 horses on the leaderboard will earn a spot at the starting gate at Churchill Downs. Points are earned through a series of designated races throughout the world, running from mid-September to March.
We won’t know the official field until the post-position draw on Saturday, but here’s a look at the top 20 thoroughbreds on the leaderboard, as of Wednesday evening:
- Burnham Square
- Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
- Trainer: Ian Wilkes
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Sandman
- Owners: D.J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
- Trainer: Mark Casse
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Journalism
- Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Robert LaPenta
- Trainer: Michael McCarthy
- Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
- Rodriguez
- Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
- Jockey: Mike Smith
- Tiztastic
- Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John (Susan) Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith
- Trainer: Steve Asmussen
- Jockey: Joel Rosario
- Tappan Street
- Owners: WinStar Farm LLC, CHC, Inc. and Cold Press Racing
- Trainer: Brad H. Cox
- Jockey: Luis Saez
- Sovereignty
- Owner: Godolphin
- Trainer: William I. Mott
- Jockey: Manuel Franco
- Final Gambit
- Owners: Juddmonte
- Trainer: Brad H. Cox
- Jockey: Luan Machado
- Coal Battle
- Owner: Norman Stables LLC
- Trainer: Lonnie Briley
- Jockey: Juan P. Vargas
- Chunk of Gold
- Owner: Terry L. Stephens
- Trainer: Ethan W. West
- Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
- Citizen Bull
- Owners: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
- Jockey: Martin Garcia
- Owen Almighty
- Owners: Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC
- Trainer: Brian Lynch
- Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
- East Avenue
- Owner: Godolphin, LLC
- Trainer: Brendan P. Walsh
- Jockey: Luan Machado
- Publisher
- Owners: King, Gus and Estate of Brereton C. Jones
- Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- American Promise
- Owner: BC Stables LLC
- Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
- Jockey: Nik Juarez
- Flying Mohawk
- Owners: Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing LLC and Kaleta Racing
- Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
- Jockey: Joseph D. Ramos
- Grande
- Owner: Repole Stable
- Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
- Jockey: Dylan Davis
- Built
- Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
- Trainer: Wayne M. Catalano
- Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
- Luxor Cafe
- Owner: Koichi Nishikawa
- Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
- Jockey: N/A
- Admire Daytona (JPN)
- Owner: Junko Kondo
- Trainer: Yukihiro Kato
- Jockey: N/A
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby
The 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on NBC, which has served as the home of the annual “Run for the Roses” since 2001. NBC Sports signed a multi-year extension with Churchill Downs last year to carry the Kentucky Derby through 2032.
You can also stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.
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