Kentucky Derby 2024: Date, post-time, odds and past winners

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of America's Triple Crown and it takes place each year at Churchill Downs racecourse on the first Saturday in May.

Dubbed the 'Run for the Roses' - stemming from the blanket of roses draped over the winner – the Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875. 

It is dubbed the most exciting two minutes in sport by American audiences and is open to three-year-olds horses (male and female) though it is largely contested by colts, with fillies normally heading to the Kentucky Oaks instead. 

When is the 2025 Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is run in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May – the 2025 race will be the 151st renewal and will take place on 3rd May, at 23:24 UK Time. 

Where is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is run at the world-famous Churchill Downs racecourse on Central Avenue in South Louisville, Kentucky – the place it has called home since first being run in 1875.

The Derby is run over a mile-and-a-quarter trip on the left-handed Dirt surface at Churchill Downs and it carries a purse in the region $3,000,000.

Who is the most successful Kentucky Derby trainer?

That honour is held jointly by Ben Jones (1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1952) and Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020). 

Jones' wins came with Lawrin, Whirlaway, Pensive, Citation, Ponder and Hill Gail - with Whirlaway and Citation going on to win the Triple Crown. 

Baffert's maiden win came via Silver Charm in 1997 and he's scored since with Real Quiet, War Emblem, American Pharoah, Justify and Authentic - with American Pharoah and Justify giving him two Triple Crown winners in four years.

Who is the most successful Kentucky Derby jockey?

The record is shared by Eddie Arcaro (1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952) and Bill Hartack (1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969) with five wins apiece.

Calvin Borel managed three wins in four years from 2007 – a record – while John Velazquez (2011, 2017, 2020) has a treble under his belt in modern times.  

Which horse ran the fastest ever Kentucky Derby?

The race was once run over a mile-and-a-half and, in that era, Spokane's time of 2:34:05 in 1889 was the fastest. 

Since The Derby was moved to 10 furlongs, it is 1973 winner Secretariat that holds the record, stopping the clock in an impressive 1:59:40 - as yet the only winner to break the two-minute barrier. 

Secretariat is regarded as an all-time American racing great, going on to complete the Triple Crown in that outstanding three-year-old season.

What is the greatest Kentucky Derby upset?

The 1913 Kentucky Derby was won by Donerail at odds 91/1 for trainer Thomas P Hayes, based at nearby Lexington, Kentucky with Roscoe Goose in the saddle. 

An Honourable mention in this category goes to Mine That Bird, the 50/1 winner in 2009 under Calvin Borel for trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. 

Borel and Mine That Bird came from second-last on the home bend with a daring run up the rail, making their final challenge through an unlikely gap that resulted in the racecourse commentator missing the move completely as they led by three lengths before he caught sight of the paint-hugging winner.

Which horses have won the Kentucky Derby most recently?

Here are the winners of the Run for the Roses since 2010.

YEAR	HORSE	JOCKEY	TRAINER
2010	Super Saver	Calvin Borel	Todd Pletcher
2011	Animal Kingdom	John Velazquez	H. Graham Motion
2012	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill
2013	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude McGaughey III
2014	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert
2016	Nyquist	Mario Gutierrez	Doug O'Neill
2017	Always Dreaming	John Velazquez	Doug O'Neill
2018	Justify	Mike Smith	Bob Baffert
2019	Country House	Flavien Prat	Bill Mott
2020	Authentic	John Velazquez	Bob Baffert
2021	Mandaloun	Florent Geroux	Brad Cox
2022	Rich Strike	Sonny Leon	Eric Reed
2023	Mage	Javier Castellano	Gustavo Delgado
2024	Mystik Dan	Brian Hernandez Jr	Kenneth G. McPeek