Kentucky Derby Winners: Full List, Results and History (1875–2026)
The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in America. Every year on the first Saturday of May the best three-year-old Thoroughbreds in the world line up at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race has run every single year since 1875 without a break.
People call it the Run for the Roses. The winning horse gets covered in a garland of over 400 red roses. The Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown. A horse must win the Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in the same year to earn that title.
The race is one and a quarter miles on dirt. It lasts about two minutes. Millions of fans watch from home every May while hundreds of thousands fill the seats at Churchill Downs.

Quick Facts:
- 2026 Kentucky Derby Date: Saturday May 2 2026
- Post Time: 6:57 PM ET
- Venue: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance: 1 and a quarter miles on dirt
- TV: NBC and Peacock (2:30 PM to 7:30 PM ET)
- Total Purse: $5 million
- Winner’s Prize: $3.1 million
- 2025 Winner: Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado up, trained by Bill Mott)
- Defending Owner: Godolphin
- 2026 Morning Line Favorite: Renegade (4-1, trained by Todd Pletcher, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.)
- All-Time Record: 13 Triple Crown winners since 1875
Table of Contents
2026 Kentucky Derby: Date, Time, Field and How to Watch
The 152nd Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday May 2 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Post time is 6:57 PM ET. NBC and Peacock carry the main broadcast from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM ET. Undercard races run on Peacock and NBCSN from noon to 2:30 PM ET. FanDuel TV covers early racing from 10:30 AM ET. The race is also available on USA Network.
The 2026 Triple Crown schedule runs as follows. Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park in Maryland. Pimlico is under a $400 million renovation and returns in 2027. The Belmont Stakes runs on June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in New York for the third straight year while the new Belmont Park completes construction. The Belmont runs at 1 and a quarter miles at Saratoga again this year.
The total purse is $5 million with $3.1 million going to the winner. For the full breakdown of how the prize money splits between the owner, trainer and jockey, see our 2026 Kentucky Derby purse and prize money guide.
2026 Field and Contenders
Renegade enters as the morning line favorite at 4-1. Todd Pletcher trains him and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides him. Sired by Into Mischief, he went winless in three juvenile starts before winning both of his 3-year-old races, the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in February and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 28 by four lengths.
Commandment sits second at 7-1. Brad Cox trains him and Luis Saez rides him. He is a half-brother to Renegade, both sons of Into Mischief by different mares. Commandment won four races in a row including the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park, beating The Puma and Chief Wallabee. Further Ado, also trained by Brad Cox, posted the most dominant prep performance of the cycle. He won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 4 by 11 lengths. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez rides him for the first time in the Derby. Further Ado carries odds of 8-1 and is a son of Gun Runner. Brad Cox enters the 2026 Derby with three live contenders in Commandment, Further Ado and Fulleffort, a level of barn depth rarely seen in a single Derby.
Other contenders include The Puma at 12-1 ridden by Javier Castellano, Chief Wallabee at 13-1 ridden by Junior Alvarado and trained by Bill Mott, and Fulleffort at 20-1 ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Fulleffort won the Jeff Ruby Steaks and has finished first or second in every race since his third career start. Bob Baffert is chasing a record seventh Kentucky Derby win with Potente, ridden by Juan Hernandez. He currently shares the all-time trainer record of six wins with Ben A. Jones.
Post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby were drawn on April 25 at Churchill Downs. Update this section with the confirmed post position table after results are published.
2025 Kentucky Derby Results and Payouts
The 151st Kentucky Derby ran on Saturday May 3 2025 at Churchill Downs. Rain fell all day and the track was sloppy. Still 147,406 fans showed up. The race drew 17.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, the biggest Derby TV audience since 1989. At the peak moment 21.8 million people watched at the same time, an all-time record for NBC Sports Derby coverage. Total wagering on the Derby alone hit $234.4 million. The full race day at Churchill Downs handled $349 million. Both numbers broke all-time records.
The Winner: Sovereignty
Sovereignty won the race. He is a bay colt owned and bred by Godolphin LLC, the racing stable of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. Godolphin tried 12 times to win the Kentucky Derby before this. Sovereignty finally delivered that first win.
Bill Mott trained him. The Hall of Fame trainer picked up his second Derby win. His first came in 2019 when Country House moved to first after Maximum Security got disqualified. Junior Alvarado rode Sovereignty to his first career Kentucky Derby victory. He had 2,236 lifetime wins going into the race.
Race Facts
- Post position: Drew post 18, broke from post 16 after two scratches
- Closing odds: 8.98-1
- Winning time: 2:02.31
- Margin: 1 and a half lengths
- Track: Sloppy
- Winner’s prize: $3,100,000
How the Race Unfolded
Citizen Bull trained by Bob Baffert shot to the early lead. Sovereignty sat back in 16th place, 13 and a half lengths off the leader going into the backstretch.
Alvarado stayed patient. He found a lane on the far turn and took Sovereignty five and six horses wide. Sovereignty pulled up beside race favorite Journalism and they dueled down the stretch. In the final furlong Sovereignty pulled clear and won by one and a half lengths. Journalism finished second. Baeza closed hard from the back to grab third by a neck.
Race splits: quarter mile 22.81, half mile 46.23, three-quarter mile 1:10.78, one mile 1:36.84, final 2:02.31.
One week after the race Churchill Downs stewards fined jockey Alvarado $62,000 and gave him a two-day suspension for exceeding the six-strike crop limit.
2025 Full Order of Finish
| Finish | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott | 8.98-1 |
| 2nd | Journalism | Umberto Rispoli | Michael McCarthy | 3.70-1 |
| 3rd | Baeza | Flavien Prat | John Shirreffs | 14-1 |
| 4th | Final Gambit | Luan Machado | Brad Cox | 15-1 |
| 5th | Owen Almighty | Javier Castellano | Brian Lynch | 40-1 |
| 6th | Burnham Square | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian Wilkes | 15-1 |
| 7th | Sandman | Jose Ortiz | Mark Casse | 9-2 |
| 8th | East Avenue | Manuel Franco | Brendan Walsh | 37-1 |
| 9th | Chunk of Gold | Jareth Loveberry | Ethan West | 28-1 |
| 10th | Tiztastic | Joel Rosario | Steven Asmussen | 19-1 |
| 11th | Coal Battle | Juan Vargas | Lonnie Briley | 27-1 |
| 12th | Luxor Cafe | Joao Moreira | Noriyuki Hori | 11-1 |
| 13th | Neoequos | Luis Saez | Saffie Joseph Jr. | 49-1 |
| 14th | Publisher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Steven Asmussen | 28-1 |
| 15th | Citizen Bull | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 14-1 |
| 16th | American Promise | Nik Juarez | D. Wayne Lukas | 12-1 |
| 17th | Render Judgement | Julien Leparoux | Kenneth McPeek | 15-1 |
| 18th | Flying Mohawk | Joseph Ramos | Whit Beckman | 32-1 |
| 19th | Admire Daytona (JPN) | Christophe Lemaire | Yukihiro Kato | 41-1 |
Rodriguez scratched May 1 with a foot bruise. Grande scratched May 2 with a cracked heel. The field dropped from 20 to 19 horses. Baeza drew in from the also-eligible list.
2025 Payouts
| Place | Horse | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sovereignty | $3,100,000 |
| 2nd | Journalism | $1,000,000 |
| 3rd | Baeza | $500,000 |
| 4th | Final Gambit | $250,000 |
| 5th | Owen Almighty | $150,000 |
Jockey Alvarado earned approximately $310,000, the standard 10 percent cut from the winning purse. Trainer Bill Mott received 10 percent. Godolphin as the winning owner received 80 percent of first place.
What Happened to Sovereignty After the Derby
Sovereignty skipped the Preakness Stakes. His team aimed straight for the Belmont instead. Many critics questioned that decision at the time.
On June 7 2025 Sovereignty won the 157th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga by three lengths over Journalism. Baeza finished third again, the same 1-2-3 as the Derby. Winning time was 2:00.69. He became the first horse since Justify in 2018 to win two Triple Crown legs and the first Derby winner ever to skip the Preakness and still win the Belmont.
He then won the Jim Dandy Stakes on July 26 at Saratoga by one length. On August 23 he took the Travers Stakes by 10 lengths in a time of 2:00.84. That made him the fifth horse in history to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers. The last to do it was Thunder Gulch in 1995.
Sovereignty went to Del Mar as the 6-5 morning line favorite for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. He developed a fever after arriving and Mott scratched him Wednesday morning. His final 2025 record: 6 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, total earnings $5,692,000.
At the Eclipse Awards on January 22 2026 Sovereignty won Horse of the Year with 201 of 220 votes. He also took Champion 3-Year-Old Male with 219 of 220 votes. Bill Mott won Outstanding Trainer for the fifth time. Godolphin won Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder. Flavien Prat won Jockey of the Year for the second year in a row.
Sovereignty is racing as a 4-year-old in 2026 with the Breeders’ Cup Classic as the primary target. He returned to the track in April 2026, finishing second in the Oaklawn Handicap.
Kentucky Derby Winners List (1875–2025)
Every Kentucky Derby winner becomes part of American sports history. The list below covers all 151 runnings from the very first race in 1875 through the most recent in 2025.
** = Triple Crown Winner | + = Winner elevated via disqualification
Three notes before the table:
- 2025: Sovereignty gave Godolphin their first Derby win after 12 failed attempts. He won the Belmont Stakes and was named 2025 Horse of the Year.
- 2021: Medina Spirit crossed the line first but lost the title after a positive drug test. Mandaloun moved up to first. Bob Baffert’s official Derby win total stays at six.
- 2019: Maximum Security crossed first but lost the title for interference. Country House trained by Bill Mott moved to first.
- Pre-1896: The Derby ran at one and a half miles before 1896. The current distance of one and a quarter miles has been standard ever since.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott | Godolphin | 2:02.31 |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenny McPeek | Lance Gasaway et al. | 2:03.34 |
| 2023 | Mage | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | OGMA Investments et al. | 2:01.57 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric R. Reed | RED TR-Racing LLC | 2:02.61 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun+ | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farms | 2:01.02 |
| 2020 | Authentic | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Spendthrift Farm et al. | 2:00.61 |
| 2019 | Country House+ | Flavien Prat | William I. Mott | Mrs. J.V. Shields et al. | 2:03.98 |
| 2018 | Justify** | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | China Horse Club et al. | 2:04.20 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Brooklyn Boyz Stables et al. | 2:03.59 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | Doug F. O’Neill | Reddam Racing LLC | 2:01.31 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah** | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Ahmed Zayat | 2:03.02 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | Steve & Carolyn Coburn et al. | 2:03.66 |
| 2013 | Orb | Joel Rosario | Claude McGaughey III | Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable | 2:02.89 |
| 2012 | I’ll Have Another | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O’Neill | J. Paul Reddam | 2:01.83 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Team Valor International | 2:02.04 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | Calvin Borel | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm LLC | 2:04.45 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | Calvin Borel | Bennie Woolley Jr. | Double Eagle Ranch et al. | 2:02.66 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stable & P. Pompa Jr. | 2:01.82 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | Calvin Borel | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 2:02.17 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | Edgar Prado | Michael Matz | Lael Stables | 2:01.36 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | Mike Smith | John Shirreffs | Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss | 2:02.75 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Someday Farm | 2:04.06 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | Jose Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 2:01.19 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 2:01.13 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:59.97 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Kent Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Fusao Sekiguchi | 2:01.00 |
| 1999 | Charismatic | Chris Antley | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert & Beverly Lewis | 2:03.29 |
| 1998 | Real Quiet | Kent Desormeaux | Bob Baffert | Mike Pegram | 2:02.20 |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | Robert & Beverly Lewis | 2:02.40 |
| 1996 | Grindstone | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 2:01.00 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 2:01.20 |
| 1994 | Go for Gin | Chris McCarron | Nick Zito | Condren & Cornacchia | 2:03.60 |
| 1993 | Sea Hero | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 2:02.00 |
| 1992 | Lil E. Tee | Pat Day | Lynn Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 2:03.00 |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | Chris Antley | Nick Zito | BCC Stable | 2:03.00 |
| 1990 | Unbridled | Craig Perret | Carl Nafzger | Frances A. Genter | 2:02.00 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | Patrick Valenzuela | Charles Whittingham | H-G-W Partners | 2:05.00 |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 2:02.20 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | D. & P. Scharbauer | 2:03.40 |
| 1986 | Ferdinand | William Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 2:02.80 |
| 1985 | Spend a Buck | Angel Cordero Jr. | Cam Gambolati | Dennis Diaz | 2:00.20 |
| 1984 | Swale | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woodford Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 2:02.40 |
| 1983 | Sunny’s Halo | Eddie Delahoussaye | David C. Cross Jr. | D.J. Foster Stable | 2:02.20 |
| 1982 | Gato Del Sol | Eddie Delahoussaye | Edwin J. Gregson | Hancock & Peters | 2:02.40 |
| 1981 | Pleasant Colony | Jorge Velasquez | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 2:02.00 |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 2:02.00 |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Grover Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 2:02.40 |
| 1978 | Affirmed** | Steve Cauthen | Lazaro Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 2:01.20 |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew** | Jean Cruguet | Wm. H. Turner Jr. | Karen L. Taylor | 2:02.20 |
| 1976 | Bold Forbes | Angel Cordero Jr. | Lazaro Barrera | E. Rodriguez Tizol | 2:01.60 |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 2:02.00 |
| 1974 | Cannonade | Angel Cordero Jr. | Woodford Stephens | John M. Olin | 2:04.00 |
| 1973 | Secretariat** | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:59.40 |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stud | 2:01.80 |
| 1971 | Canonero II | Gustavo Avila | Juan Arias | Edgar Caibett | 2:03.20 |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | Mike Manganello | Don Combs | Robert E. Lehmann | 2:03.40 |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | William Hartack | John Longden | Frank M. McMahon | 2:01.80 |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Ismael Valenzuela | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 2:02.20 |
| 1967 | Proud Clarion | Robert Ussery | Loyd Gentry Jr. | Darby Dan Farm | 2:00.60 |
| 1966 | Kauai King | Don Brumfield | Henry Forrest | Ford Stable | 2:02.00 |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | William Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 2:01.20 |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | William Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:00.00 |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm | 2:01.80 |
| 1962 | Decidedly | William Hartack | Horatio Luro | El Peco Ranch | 2:00.40 |
| 1961 | Carry Back | John Sellers | Jack Price | Katherine Price | 2:04.00 |
| 1960 | Venetian Way | William Hartack | Victor Sovinski | Sunny Blue Farm | 2:02.40 |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | William Shoemaker | Frank E. Childs | Fred & Juliette Turner | 2:02.20 |
| 1958 | Tim Tam | Ismael Valenzuela | H.A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:05.00 |
| 1957 | Iron Liege | William Hartack | H.A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:01.20 |
| 1956 | Needles | David Erb | Hugh Fontaine | D&H Stable | 2:03.40 |
| 1955 | Swaps | William Shoemaker | M.A. Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 2:01.80 |
| 1954 | Determine | Raymond York | William Molter | Andrew J. Crevolin | 2:03.00 |
| 1953 | Dark Star | Henry Moreno | Eddie Hayward | Cain Hoy Stable | 2:02.00 |
| 1952 | Hill Gail | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:01.60 |
| 1951 | Count Turf | Conn McCreary | Sol Rutchick | Jack J. Amiel | 2:02.60 |
| 1950 | Middleground | William Boland | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 2:01.60 |
| 1949 | Ponder | Steve Brooks | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:04.20 |
| 1948 | Citation** | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:05.40 |
| 1947 | Jet Pilot | Eric Guerin | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 2:06.80 |
| 1946 | Assault** | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 2:06.60 |
| 1945 | Hoop Jr. | Eddie Arcaro | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 2:07.00 |
| 1944 | Pensive | Conn McCreary | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:04.20 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet** | John Longden | G.D. Cameron | Fannie Hertz | 2:04.00 |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Wayne D. Wright | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 2:04.40 |
| 1941 | Whirlaway** | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:01.40 |
| 1940 | Gallahadion | Carroll Bierman | Roy Waldron | Milky Way Farm | 2:05.00 |
| 1939 | Johnstown | James Stout | James Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:03.40 |
| 1938 | Lawrin | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Herbert M. Woolf | 2:04.80 |
| 1937 | War Admiral** | Charles Kurtsinger | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 2:03.20 |
| 1936 | Bold Venture | Ira Hanford | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 2:03.60 |
| 1935 | Omaha** | William Saunders | James Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:05.00 |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 2:04.00 |
| 1933 | Brokers Tip | Don Meade | H.J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:06.80 |
| 1932 | Burgoo King | Basil James | H.J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:05.20 |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | Charles Kurtsinger | James Rowe Jr. | Greentree Stable | 2:01.80 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox** | Earl Sande | James Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:07.60 |
| 1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | Linus McAtee | Clyde Van Dusen | Herbert P. Gardner | 2:10.80 |
| 1928 | Reigh Count | Charles Lang | Bert Michell | Fannie Hertz | 2:10.40 |
| 1927 | Whiskery | Linus McAtee | Fred Hopkins | Harry P. Whitney | 2:06.00 |
| 1926 | Bubbling Over | Albert Johnson | H.J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:03.80 |
| 1925 | Flying Ebony | Earl Sande | William Duke | Gifford A. Cochran | 2:07.60 |
| 1924 | Black Gold | John D. Mooney | Hanly Webb | Rosa M. Hoots | 2:05.20 |
| 1923 | Zev | Earl Sande | D.J. Leary | Rancocas Stable | 2:05.40 |
| 1922 | Morvich | Albert Johnson | Fred Burlew | Benjamin Block | 2:04.60 |
| 1921 | Behave Yourself | Charles Thompson | H.J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:04.20 |
| 1920 | Paul Jones | Ted Rice | William Garth | Ral Parr | 2:09.00 |
| 1919 | Sir Barton** | John Loftus | H. Guy Bedwell | J.K.L. Ross | 2:09.80 |
| 1918 | Exterminator | William Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 2:10.80 |
| 1917 | Omar Khayyam | Charles Borel | C.T. Patterson | Billings & Johnson | 2:04.60 |
| 1916 | George Smith | John Loftus | Hollie Hughes | John Sanford | 2:04.00 |
| 1915 | Regret | Joe Notter | James Rowe Sr. | Harry P. Whitney | 2:05.40 |
| 1914 | Old Rosebud | John McCabe | Frank D. Weir | H.C. Applegate | 2:03.40 |
| 1913 | Donerail | Roscoe Goose | Thomas P. Hayes | Thomas P. Hayes | 2:04.80 |
| 1912 | Worth | Carroll H. Shilling | Frank M. Taylor | Henry C. Hallenbeck | 2:09.40 |
| 1911 | Meridian | George Archibald | Albert Ewing | Richard F. Carman | 2:05.00 |
| 1910 | Donau | Robert Herbert | George Ham | William Gerst | 2:06.40 |
| 1909 | Wintergreen | Vincent Powers | Charles Mack | Jerome B. Respess | 2:08.20 |
| 1908 | Stone Street | Arthur Pickens | J.W. Hall | C.E. & J.W. Hamilton | 2:15.20 |
| 1907 | Pink Star | Andy Minder | W.H. Fizer | J. Hal Woodford | 2:12.60 |
| 1906 | Sir Huon | Roscoe Troxler | Pete Coyne | Bashford Manor Stable | 2:08.80 |
| 1905 | Agile | Jack Martin | Robert Tucker | Samuel S. Brown | 2:10.75 |
| 1904 | Elwood | Frank Prior | C.E. Durnell | Mrs. C.E. Durnell | 2:08.50 |
| 1903 | Judge Himes | Harold Booker | John P. Mayberry | Charles R. Ellison | 2:09.00 |
| 1902 | Alan-a-Dale | Jimmy Winkfield | T.C. McDowell | Thomas C. McDowell | 2:08.75 |
| 1901 | His Eminence | Jimmy Winkfield | Frank B. Van Meter | Frank B. Van Meter | 2:07.75 |
| 1900 | Lieut. Gibson | Jimmy Boland | Charles Hughes | Charles H. Smith | 2:06.50 |
| 1899 | Manuel | Fred Taral | Robert Walden | A.H. & D.H. Morris | 2:12.00 |
| 1898 | Plaudit | Willie Simms | John E. Madden | John E. Madden | 2:09.00 |
| 1897 | Typhoon II | Buttons Garner | J.C. Cahn | J.C. Cahn | 2:12.50 |
| 1896 | Ben Brush | Willie Simms | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Mike F. Dwyer | 2:07.75 |
| 1895 | Halma | James “Soup” Perkins | Byron McClelland | Byron McClelland | 2:37.50 |
| 1894 | Chant | Frank Goodale | H. Eugene Leigh | Leigh & Rose | 2:41.00 |
| 1893 | Lookout | Eddie Kunze | William McDaniel | Cushing & Orth | 2:39.25 |
| 1892 | Azra | Alonzo Clayton | John H. Morris | Bashford Manor Stable | 2:41.50 |
| 1891 | Kingman | Isaac Murphy | Dud Allen | Jacobin Stable | 2:52.25 |
| 1890 | Riley | Isaac Murphy | Edward Corrigan | Edward Corrigan | 2:45.00 |
| 1889 | Spokane | Thomas Kiley | John Rodegap | Noah Armstrong | 2:34.50 |
| 1888 | Macbeth II | George Covington | John Campbell | Chicago Stable | 2:38.25 |
| 1887 | Montrose | Isaac Lewis | John McGinty | Labold Brothers | 2:39.25 |
| 1886 | Ben Ali | Paul Duffy | Jim Murphy | J.B.A. Haggin | 2:36.50 |
| 1885 | Joe Cotton | Erkine Henderson | Abe Perry | James T. Williams | 2:37.25 |
| 1884 | Buchanan | Isaac Murphy | William Bird | William Cottrill | 2:40.25 |
| 1883 | Leonatus | William Donohue | Raleigh Colston | Chinn & Morgan | 2:43.00 |
| 1882 | Apollo | Babe Hurd | Green B. Morris | Morris & Patton | 2:40.25 |
| 1881 | Hindoo | James McLaughlin | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Bros. Stable | 2:40.00 |
| 1880 | Fonso | George Garrett Lewis | Tice Hutsell | J. Snell Shawhan | 2:37.50 |
| 1879 | Lord Murphy | Charlie Shauer | George Rice | Darden & Co. | 2:37.00 |
| 1878 | Day Star | Jimmy Carter | Lee Paul | T.J. Nichols | 2:37.25 |
| 1877 | Baden-Baden | William Walker | Edward D. Brown | Daniel Swigert | 2:38.00 |
| 1876 | Vagrant | Bobby Swim | James Williams | William Astor Jr. | 2:38.25 |
| 1875 | Aristides | Oliver Lewis | Ansel Williamson | Hal P. McGrath | 2:37.75 |
Kentucky Derby Winners FAQ
Who holds the fastest time in Kentucky Derby history?
Secretariat set the all-time record in 1973 with a time of 1:59.40. Monarchos ran the second-fastest in 2001 at 1:59.97. Secretariat is the only horse to break the two-minute mark at Churchill Downs in the Derby.
Which jockey has won the most Kentucky Derby races?
Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack each won five times. No jockey has matched that record in over 50 years.
Which trainer has won the most Kentucky Derbies?
Ben A. Jones and Bob Baffert both hold the record at six wins each. Baffert is chasing a record seventh win at the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2 with Potente, ridden by Juan Hernandez.
Who is the 2026 Kentucky Derby favorite?
Renegade is the morning line favorite at 4-1. Todd Pletcher trains him and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides him. He won the Sam F. Davis Stakes and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in back-to-back 3-year-old starts. Commandment sits second at 7-1, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez, after winning the Florida Derby. Further Ado at 8-1, also trained by Cox and ridden by John Velazquez, won the Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths and posted the most dominant prep performance of the cycle.
What is the 2026 Kentucky Derby purse?
The total purse is $5 million with $3.1 million going to the winner. See our full 2026 Kentucky Derby purse and prize money guide for the complete breakdown by owner, trainer and jockey.
How often does the favorite win the Derby?
About one in three races goes to the favorite. That works out to roughly 35 percent of all Kentucky Derby winners.
What is the largest upset in Derby history?
Donerail won in 1913 at 91-1 odds. Rich Strike in 2022 was the second-biggest upset at 80-1.
What is the largest winning margin in Derby history?
Four horses share the 8-length record: Old Rosebud in 1914, Johnstown in 1939, Whirlaway in 1941 and Assault in 1946.
Has a female jockey ever won the Kentucky Derby?
No female jockey has won the Derby yet. Diane Crump was the first woman to ride in the race in 1970. The best finish by a female jockey was fifth place by Rosie Napravnik in 2013.
Where and when is the Kentucky Derby held every year?
The Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday of May every year since 1875.
Who was the youngest and oldest jockey to win the Derby?
Alonzo Clayton was 15 when he won aboard Azra in 1892. James “Soup” Perkins also won at 15 aboard Halma in 1895. Bill Shoemaker was the oldest winner at age 54 on Ferdinand in 1986.
How are horses selected for the Kentucky Derby?
Horses earn points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race series. The top 18 point earners get into the gate. International qualifiers earn spots through the Japan Road and the European and Middle East Road. The maximum field size is 20 horses.
Did Sovereignty win the Triple Crown?
No. Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes but skipped the Preakness Stakes. Journalism won the 2025 Preakness. Because Sovereignty did not run all three races the Triple Crown title was not possible. He is the first Derby winner ever to skip the Preakness and still win the Belmont Stakes.
