The 151st Kentucky Derby is nearly here. On Saturday, 20 horses will take the track at Churchill Downs looking to win horse racing’s most prestigious event.
Journalism enters the event as the favorite, but that hasn’t been a major indicator of success at the event in recent years. Can Journalism live up to the hype, or will another horse in the field etch a name for itself at the event?
Advertisement
With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Kentucky Derby ahead of the race.
When is the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
The 2025 Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 3. The race has traditionally taken place the first Saturday in May, though it didn’t start that way. From 1875 to 1931, the race usually occurred in the middle of the month. That changed in 1932, when the event started being held the first Saturday in May.
That schedule has remained consistent since 1932, though did change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Derby was scheduled for the first Saturday in May originally, but had to be moved to Sept. 5 due to the pandemic.
Kentucky Derby 2025 start time
Coverage of the 2025 Kentucky Derby will begin much earlier in the day, but the post time for the race is 6:57 p.m. ET. That time is not exact, and will move based on how quickly and easily the horses get set up in their posts.
Where is the Kentucky Derby in 2025?
The Kentucky Derby is always held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race has been held at the track since its inception. Churchill Downs is named after John and Henry Churchill, who leased the land for the racetrack.
Advertisement
The track is currently operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Kentucky Derby 2025 field, post positions and odds
Below is the field, post positions and odds for each horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
-
Citizen Bull (20-1)
-
Neoequos (30-1)
-
Final Gambi (30-1)
-
Rodriguez (12-1)
-
American Promise (30-1)
-
Admire Daytona (30-1)
-
Luxor Cafe (15-1)
-
Journalism (3-1)
-
Burnham Square (12-1)
-
Grande (20-1)
-
Flying Mohawk (30-1)
-
East Avenue (20-1)
-
Publisher (20-1)
-
Tiztastic (20-1)
-
Render Judgment (30-1)
-
Coal Battle (30-1)
-
Sandman (6-1)
-
Sovereignty (5-1)
-
Chunk of Gold (30-1)
-
Owen Almighty (30-1)
Journalism enters the event as the favorite at 3-1. The morning-line favorite hasn’t won the event since 2018, however. The last morning-line favorite to win the Kentucky Derby was Justify.
Post position matters quite a bit at the Kentucky Derby. Horses in the earlier post positions have traditionally performed better than horses in the later post positions at the event. The fifth post position has resulted in the most wins at the Kentucky Derby, with 10 horses winning from that slot during the race’s history.
Advertisement
No horse has ever won the race from the No. 17 post, though horses have won the Kentucky Derby from the 18th, 19th and 20th posts in the past.
Kentucky Derby 2025 weather updates
Louisville is expected to be hit with storms throughout the week. On the actual day of the Kentucky Derby, it’s supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 67 degrees in Louisville. While rain isn’t likely on the day of the race, the track will be hit with a lot of precipitation early in the week, which could affect the outcome of the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby 2025 payout, purse
The winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby will receive roughly $3.1 million. That’s what 2024 winner Mystik Dan won last year.
Advertisement
In total, the event has a purse of $5 million. The horse that finishes in second place will win roughly $1 million.
The total purse at the event used to be about $3 million, but that changed in 2024, when it shot up to $5 million total.
Bob Baffert is back for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Andy Lyons via Getty Images)
Does Bob Baffert have a horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Controversial trainer Bob Baffert is allowed to return for the 2025 Kentucky Derby after serving a three-year ban from the race. Baffert was banned from the event after 2021 winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned steroid.
Medina Spirit was stripped of its win following a second positive test, leading to Baffert’s suspension. Mandaloun was named the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Advertisement
Baffert — who has a lengthy history of his horses failing drug tests — has trained two horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby: Citizen Bull and Rodriguez.
Does Toby Keith have a horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Late country music star Toby Keith owned racehorses for two decades prior to his 2024 death from stomach cancer. He owned a “Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation” called Dream Walkin Farms, according to WLKY News.
Render Judgment — which sits in the No. 15 post — is owned by Keith’s operation. In the leadup to the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Keith’s estate tweeted about Render Judgment’s inclusion in the field, saying it “was Toby’s dream” to have one of his horses run in the Kentucky Derby.
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby
While the race won’t begin until 6:57 p.m. ET, coverage of the Kentucky Derby will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Peacock will also stream early coverage, which starts at noon ET.
This year will mark the 25th time the Kentucky Derby has aired on NBC.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
49ers add veteran D.J. Humphries to bring needed depth at offensive tackle
No, none of the San Francisco 49ers’ 17 incoming rookies play offensive tackle.But the team is bringing in a familiar veteran, D.J. Humphries, to compete for the swing tackle spot. The 31-year-old, who spent nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, has agreed to terms on a one-year deal, his agency announced on Tuesday. Tuesday was the first day teams could sign free agents without the addition counting against the compensatory draft pick formula in 2026. Back healthy and ready to work 😤 #AMDG pic.twitter.com/Q9YjMANO5X — AMDG Sports (@SportsAmdg) April 29, 2025The 49ers’ situation at tackle has been well-documented.Their left tackle, Trent Williams, hasn’t played a full season since 2013 and turns 37 in July. No one is certain how many more seasons he’ll play.Right tackle Colton McKivitz, meanwhile, is only signed through the upcoming season. The only other tackles on […]
Spurs’ Stephon Castle wins NBA Rookie of the Year award
There was no Victor Wembanyama or Paolo Banchero, no Ja Morant or Luka Dončić vying to be NBA Rookie of the Year this season, which means there was no singular candidate whose statistics, style or charisma made them the obvious choice or set them on a clear path to stardom.But there was Stephon Castle, whose availability to his team, solid play that improved over the season and surprisingly raw power as a dunker were enough to earn him billing as the league’s top rookie in a 2024 draft class that lived up to its reputation as something short of spectacular. Castle was announced the winner of this year’s award on TNT on Tuesday night, prior to Game 5 between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year is… Stephon Castle!#NBAAwards | #KiaROY | […]
Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year as second straight Spurs player to win the award
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle was named NBA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, joining Victor Wembanyama as the second consecutive Spurs player to win the award.Castle overwhelmingly won the award over Atlanta Hawks star Zaccharie Risacher, who was the No. 1 overall pick in last summer's draft, and Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells. He earned 482 total points, compared to the 245 that Risacher earned. Wells finished in third.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCastle joined the Spurs as the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft after a single standout season at UConn in which he helped lead the Huskies to a second straight NCAA championship as a freshman.Playing on a Spurs team with veteran Chris Paul at point guard, Castle started his rookie season coming off the bench. He eventually earned a part-time spot in the starting lineup that evolved to a full-time […]
Shedeur Sanders has third-best odds to be the Browns’ starting QB for Week 1 | First Things First
first things first Video Details Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes and Coach Eric Mangini break down the odds of Shedeur Sanders being named the Cleveland Browns' starting QB ahead of Week 1. Sanders currently has the third highest odds to start at (+300), trailing Joe Flacco (+200) and Kenny Pickett (+110). 1 MIN AGO・first things first・6:10
Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad suspended 2 games for hit on Lightning’s Brandon Hagel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are without Aaron Ekblad again.Ekblad, the veteran defenseman who recently returned from a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, was suspended two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for his controversial hit in Game 4 against Tampa Bay. Ekblad hits Hagel, who goes to the locker room. No call on the play, somehow pic.twitter.com/fwhRkvkCgI — Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) April 29, 2025During the second period against the Lightning on Monday, Ekblad struck Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel in the head with his forearm.Ekblad, who was not penalized on the play, later scored the tying goal in the 4-2 Florida victory.The defenseman was not available to reporters following the game.“We’ve been through it with Aaron out,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said before the ruling on […]
Trump administration says Penn violated Title IX by allowing transgender swimmer
The Trump administration said Monday that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by letting a transgender swimmer compete on the school’s women’s team and enter into women’s facilities. It gave Penn 10 days to voluntarily resolve the violations, proposing that Penn do so by stripping Lia Thomas — a transgender woman who formerly swam on the Penn women’s team from the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons — of her national championship.AdvertisementThe statement does not name Thomas specifically, but says Penn should “restore to all female athletes all individual athletic records, titles, honors, awards or similar recognition for Division I swimming competitions misappropriated by male athletes competing in female categories.”The Trump administration also proposed that Penn send an apology letter to the female athletes “whose individual recognition is restored” by stripping Thomas of her title.If Penn does not voluntarily resolve the […]
Related
49ers add veteran D.J. Humphries to bring needed depth at offensive tackle
No, none of the San Francisco 49ers’ 17 incoming rookies play offensive tackle.But the team is bringing in a familiar veteran, D.J. Humphries, to compete for the swing tackle spot. The 31-year-old, who spent nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, has agreed to terms on a one-year deal, his agency announced on Tuesday. Tuesday was the first day teams could sign free agents without the addition counting against the compensatory draft pick formula in 2026. Back healthy and ready to work 😤 #AMDG pic.twitter.com/Q9YjMANO5X — AMDG Sports (@SportsAmdg) April 29, 2025The 49ers’ situation at tackle has been well-documented.Their left tackle, Trent Williams, hasn’t played a full season since 2013 and turns 37 in July. No one is certain how many more seasons he’ll play.Right tackle Colton McKivitz, meanwhile, is only signed through the upcoming season. The only other tackles on […]
Spurs’ Stephon Castle wins NBA Rookie of the Year award
There was no Victor Wembanyama or Paolo Banchero, no Ja Morant or Luka Dončić vying to be NBA Rookie of the Year this season, which means there was no singular candidate whose statistics, style or charisma made them the obvious choice or set them on a clear path to stardom.But there was Stephon Castle, whose availability to his team, solid play that improved over the season and surprisingly raw power as a dunker were enough to earn him billing as the league’s top rookie in a 2024 draft class that lived up to its reputation as something short of spectacular. Castle was announced the winner of this year’s award on TNT on Tuesday night, prior to Game 5 between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year is… Stephon Castle!#NBAAwards | #KiaROY | […]
Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year as second straight Spurs player to win the award
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle was named NBA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, joining Victor Wembanyama as the second consecutive Spurs player to win the award.Castle overwhelmingly won the award over Atlanta Hawks star Zaccharie Risacher, who was the No. 1 overall pick in last summer's draft, and Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells. He earned 482 total points, compared to the 245 that Risacher earned. Wells finished in third.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCastle joined the Spurs as the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft after a single standout season at UConn in which he helped lead the Huskies to a second straight NCAA championship as a freshman.Playing on a Spurs team with veteran Chris Paul at point guard, Castle started his rookie season coming off the bench. He eventually earned a part-time spot in the starting lineup that evolved to a full-time […]
Shedeur Sanders has third-best odds to be the Browns’ starting QB for Week 1 | First Things First
first things first Video Details Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes and Coach Eric Mangini break down the odds of Shedeur Sanders being named the Cleveland Browns' starting QB ahead of Week 1. Sanders currently has the third highest odds to start at (+300), trailing Joe Flacco (+200) and Kenny Pickett (+110). 1 MIN AGO・first things first・6:10
Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad suspended 2 games for hit on Lightning’s Brandon Hagel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are without Aaron Ekblad again.Ekblad, the veteran defenseman who recently returned from a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, was suspended two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for his controversial hit in Game 4 against Tampa Bay. Ekblad hits Hagel, who goes to the locker room. No call on the play, somehow pic.twitter.com/fwhRkvkCgI — Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) April 29, 2025During the second period against the Lightning on Monday, Ekblad struck Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel in the head with his forearm.Ekblad, who was not penalized on the play, later scored the tying goal in the 4-2 Florida victory.The defenseman was not available to reporters following the game.“We’ve been through it with Aaron out,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said before the ruling on […]
Trump administration says Penn violated Title IX by allowing transgender swimmer
The Trump administration said Monday that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX by letting a transgender swimmer compete on the school’s women’s team and enter into women’s facilities. It gave Penn 10 days to voluntarily resolve the violations, proposing that Penn do so by stripping Lia Thomas — a transgender woman who formerly swam on the Penn women’s team from the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons — of her national championship.AdvertisementThe statement does not name Thomas specifically, but says Penn should “restore to all female athletes all individual athletic records, titles, honors, awards or similar recognition for Division I swimming competitions misappropriated by male athletes competing in female categories.”The Trump administration also proposed that Penn send an apology letter to the female athletes “whose individual recognition is restored” by stripping Thomas of her title.If Penn does not voluntarily resolve the […]
Be the first to leave a comment