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.

kentucky derby winners
  • 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

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

FinishHorseJockeyTrainerOdds
1stSovereigntyJunior AlvaradoBill Mott8.98-1
2ndJournalismUmberto RispoliMichael McCarthy3.70-1
3rdBaezaFlavien PratJohn Shirreffs14-1
4thFinal GambitLuan MachadoBrad Cox15-1
5thOwen AlmightyJavier CastellanoBrian Lynch40-1
6thBurnham SquareBrian Hernandez Jr.Ian Wilkes15-1
7thSandmanJose OrtizMark Casse9-2
8thEast AvenueManuel FrancoBrendan Walsh37-1
9thChunk of GoldJareth LoveberryEthan West28-1
10thTiztasticJoel RosarioSteven Asmussen19-1
11thCoal BattleJuan VargasLonnie Briley27-1
12thLuxor CafeJoao MoreiraNoriyuki Hori11-1
13thNeoequosLuis SaezSaffie Joseph Jr.49-1
14thPublisherIrad Ortiz Jr.Steven Asmussen28-1
15thCitizen BullMartin GarciaBob Baffert14-1
16thAmerican PromiseNik JuarezD. Wayne Lukas12-1
17thRender JudgementJulien LeparouxKenneth McPeek15-1
18thFlying MohawkJoseph RamosWhit Beckman32-1
19thAdmire Daytona (JPN)Christophe LemaireYukihiro Kato41-1

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

PlaceHorsePrize
1stSovereignty$3,100,000
2ndJournalism$1,000,000
3rdBaeza$500,000
4thFinal Gambit$250,000
5thOwen 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.
YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
2025SovereigntyJunior AlvaradoBill MottGodolphin2:02.31
2024Mystik DanBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenny McPeekLance Gasaway et al.2:03.34
2023MageJavier CastellanoGustavo DelgadoOGMA Investments et al.2:01.57
2022Rich StrikeSonny LeonEric R. ReedRED TR-Racing LLC2:02.61
2021Mandaloun+Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte Farms2:01.02
2020AuthenticJohn VelazquezBob BaffertSpendthrift Farm et al.2:00.61
2019Country House+Flavien PratWilliam I. MottMrs. J.V. Shields et al.2:03.98
2018Justify**Mike E. SmithBob BaffertChina Horse Club et al.2:04.20
2017Always DreamingJohn VelazquezTodd PletcherBrooklyn Boyz Stables et al.2:03.59
2016NyquistMario GutierrezDoug F. O’NeillReddam Racing LLC2:01.31
2015American Pharoah**Victor EspinozaBob BaffertAhmed Zayat2:03.02
2014California ChromeVictor EspinozaArt ShermanSteve & Carolyn Coburn et al.2:03.66
2013OrbJoel RosarioClaude McGaughey IIIStuart Janney III & Phipps Stable2:02.89
2012I’ll Have AnotherMario GutierrezDoug O’NeillJ. Paul Reddam2:01.83
2011Animal KingdomJohn VelazquezH. Graham MotionTeam Valor International2:02.04
2010Super SaverCalvin BorelTodd PletcherWinStar Farm LLC2:04.45
2009Mine That BirdCalvin BorelBennie Woolley Jr.Double Eagle Ranch et al.2:02.66
2008Big BrownKent DesormeauxRichard Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stable & P. Pompa Jr.2:01.82
2007Street SenseCalvin BorelCarl NafzgerJames B. Tafel2:02.17
2006BarbaroEdgar PradoMichael MatzLael Stables2:01.36
2005GiacomoMike SmithJohn ShirreffsMr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss2:02.75
2004Smarty JonesStewart ElliottJohn ServisSomeday Farm2:04.06
2003Funny CideJose SantosBarclay TaggSackatoga Stable2:01.19
2002War EmblemVictor EspinozaBob BaffertThe Thoroughbred Corp.2:01.13
2001MonarchosJorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley1:59.97
2000Fusaichi PegasusKent DesormeauxNeil D. DrysdaleFusao Sekiguchi2:01.00
1999CharismaticChris AntleyD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis2:03.29
1998Real QuietKent DesormeauxBob BaffertMike Pegram2:02.20
1997Silver CharmGary StevensBob BaffertRobert & Beverly Lewis2:02.40
1996GrindstoneJerry BaileyD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm2:01.00
1995Thunder GulchGary StevensD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor2:01.20
1994Go for GinChris McCarronNick ZitoCondren & Cornacchia2:03.60
1993Sea HeroJerry BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable2:02.00
1992Lil E. TeePat DayLynn WhitingW. Cal Partee2:03.00
1991Strike the GoldChris AntleyNick ZitoBCC Stable2:03.00
1990UnbridledCraig PerretCarl NafzgerFrances A. Genter2:02.00
1989Sunday SilencePatrick ValenzuelaCharles WhittinghamH-G-W Partners2:05.00
1988Winning ColorsGary StevensD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein2:02.20
1987AlyshebaChris McCarronJack Van BergD. & P. Scharbauer2:03.40
1986FerdinandWilliam ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck2:02.80
1985Spend a BuckAngel Cordero Jr.Cam GambolatiDennis Diaz2:00.20
1984SwaleLaffit Pincay Jr.Woodford StephensClaiborne Farm2:02.40
1983Sunny’s HaloEddie DelahoussayeDavid C. Cross Jr.D.J. Foster Stable2:02.20
1982Gato Del SolEddie DelahoussayeEdwin J. GregsonHancock & Peters2:02.40
1981Pleasant ColonyJorge VelasquezJohn P. CampoBuckland Farm2:02.00
1980Genuine RiskJacinto VasquezLeRoy JolleyDiana M. Firestone2:02.00
1979Spectacular BidRonnie FranklinGrover DelpHawksworth Farm2:02.40
1978Affirmed**Steve CauthenLazaro BarreraHarbor View Farm2:01.20
1977Seattle Slew**Jean CruguetWm. H. Turner Jr.Karen L. Taylor2:02.20
1976Bold ForbesAngel Cordero Jr.Lazaro BarreraE. Rodriguez Tizol2:01.60
1975Foolish PleasureJacinto VasquezLeRoy JolleyJohn L. Greer2:02.00
1974CannonadeAngel Cordero Jr.Woodford StephensJohn M. Olin2:04.00
1973Secretariat**Ron TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable1:59.40
1972Riva RidgeRon TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stud2:01.80
1971Canonero IIGustavo AvilaJuan AriasEdgar Caibett2:03.20
1970Dust CommanderMike ManganelloDon CombsRobert E. Lehmann2:03.40
1969Majestic PrinceWilliam HartackJohn LongdenFrank M. McMahon2:01.80
1968Forward PassIsmael ValenzuelaHenry ForrestCalumet Farm2:02.20
1967Proud ClarionRobert UsseryLoyd Gentry Jr.Darby Dan Farm2:00.60
1966Kauai KingDon BrumfieldHenry ForrestFord Stable2:02.00
1965Lucky DebonairWilliam ShoemakerFrank CatroneAda L. Rice2:01.20
1964Northern DancerWilliam HartackHoratio LuroWindfields Farm2:00.00
1963ChateaugayBraulio BaezaJames P. ConwayDarby Dan Farm2:01.80
1962DecidedlyWilliam HartackHoratio LuroEl Peco Ranch2:00.40
1961Carry BackJohn SellersJack PriceKatherine Price2:04.00
1960Venetian WayWilliam HartackVictor SovinskiSunny Blue Farm2:02.40
1959Tomy LeeWilliam ShoemakerFrank E. ChildsFred & Juliette Turner2:02.20
1958Tim TamIsmael ValenzuelaH.A. JonesCalumet Farm2:05.00
1957Iron LiegeWilliam HartackH.A. JonesCalumet Farm2:01.20
1956NeedlesDavid ErbHugh FontaineD&H Stable2:03.40
1955SwapsWilliam ShoemakerM.A. TenneyRex C. Ellsworth2:01.80
1954DetermineRaymond YorkWilliam MolterAndrew J. Crevolin2:03.00
1953Dark StarHenry MorenoEddie HaywardCain Hoy Stable2:02.00
1952Hill GailEddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:01.60
1951Count TurfConn McCrearySol RutchickJack J. Amiel2:02.60
1950MiddlegroundWilliam BolandMax HirschKing Ranch2:01.60
1949PonderSteve BrooksBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:04.20
1948Citation**Eddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:05.40
1947Jet PilotEric GuerinTom SmithMaine Chance Farm2:06.80
1946Assault**Warren MehrtensMax HirschKing Ranch2:06.60
1945Hoop Jr.Eddie ArcaroIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper2:07.00
1944PensiveConn McCrearyBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:04.20
1943Count Fleet**John LongdenG.D. CameronFannie Hertz2:04.00
1942Shut OutWayne D. WrightJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable2:04.40
1941Whirlaway**Eddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:01.40
1940GallahadionCarroll BiermanRoy WaldronMilky Way Farm2:05.00
1939JohnstownJames StoutJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2:03.40
1938LawrinEddie ArcaroBen A. JonesHerbert M. Woolf2:04.80
1937War Admiral**Charles KurtsingerGeorge ConwayGlen Riddle Farm2:03.20
1936Bold VentureIra HanfordMax HirschMorton L. Schwartz2:03.60
1935Omaha**William SaundersJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2:05.00
1934CavalcadeMack GarnerRobert A. SmithBrookmeade Stable2:04.00
1933Brokers TipDon MeadeH.J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley2:06.80
1932Burgoo KingBasil JamesH.J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley2:05.20
1931Twenty GrandCharles KurtsingerJames Rowe Jr.Greentree Stable2:01.80
1930Gallant Fox**Earl SandeJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2:07.60
1929Clyde Van DusenLinus McAteeClyde Van DusenHerbert P. Gardner2:10.80
1928Reigh CountCharles LangBert MichellFannie Hertz2:10.40
1927WhiskeryLinus McAteeFred HopkinsHarry P. Whitney2:06.00
1926Bubbling OverAlbert JohnsonH.J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley2:03.80
1925Flying EbonyEarl SandeWilliam DukeGifford A. Cochran2:07.60
1924Black GoldJohn D. MooneyHanly WebbRosa M. Hoots2:05.20
1923ZevEarl SandeD.J. LearyRancocas Stable2:05.40
1922MorvichAlbert JohnsonFred BurlewBenjamin Block2:04.60
1921Behave YourselfCharles ThompsonH.J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley2:04.20
1920Paul JonesTed RiceWilliam GarthRal Parr2:09.00
1919Sir Barton**John LoftusH. Guy BedwellJ.K.L. Ross2:09.80
1918ExterminatorWilliam KnappHenry McDanielWillis Sharpe Kilmer2:10.80
1917Omar KhayyamCharles BorelC.T. PattersonBillings & Johnson2:04.60
1916George SmithJohn LoftusHollie HughesJohn Sanford2:04.00
1915RegretJoe NotterJames Rowe Sr.Harry P. Whitney2:05.40
1914Old RosebudJohn McCabeFrank D. WeirH.C. Applegate2:03.40
1913DonerailRoscoe GooseThomas P. HayesThomas P. Hayes2:04.80
1912WorthCarroll H. ShillingFrank M. TaylorHenry C. Hallenbeck2:09.40
1911MeridianGeorge ArchibaldAlbert EwingRichard F. Carman2:05.00
1910DonauRobert HerbertGeorge HamWilliam Gerst2:06.40
1909WintergreenVincent PowersCharles MackJerome B. Respess2:08.20
1908Stone StreetArthur PickensJ.W. HallC.E. & J.W. Hamilton2:15.20
1907Pink StarAndy MinderW.H. FizerJ. Hal Woodford2:12.60
1906Sir HuonRoscoe TroxlerPete CoyneBashford Manor Stable2:08.80
1905AgileJack MartinRobert TuckerSamuel S. Brown2:10.75
1904ElwoodFrank PriorC.E. DurnellMrs. C.E. Durnell2:08.50
1903Judge HimesHarold BookerJohn P. MayberryCharles R. Ellison2:09.00
1902Alan-a-DaleJimmy WinkfieldT.C. McDowellThomas C. McDowell2:08.75
1901His EminenceJimmy WinkfieldFrank B. Van MeterFrank B. Van Meter2:07.75
1900Lieut. GibsonJimmy BolandCharles HughesCharles H. Smith2:06.50
1899ManuelFred TaralRobert WaldenA.H. & D.H. Morris2:12.00
1898PlauditWillie SimmsJohn E. MaddenJohn E. Madden2:09.00
1897Typhoon IIButtons GarnerJ.C. CahnJ.C. Cahn2:12.50
1896Ben BrushWillie SimmsHardy Campbell Jr.Mike F. Dwyer2:07.75
1895HalmaJames “Soup” PerkinsByron McClellandByron McClelland2:37.50
1894ChantFrank GoodaleH. Eugene LeighLeigh & Rose2:41.00
1893LookoutEddie KunzeWilliam McDanielCushing & Orth2:39.25
1892AzraAlonzo ClaytonJohn H. MorrisBashford Manor Stable2:41.50
1891KingmanIsaac MurphyDud AllenJacobin Stable2:52.25
1890RileyIsaac MurphyEdward CorriganEdward Corrigan2:45.00
1889SpokaneThomas KileyJohn RodegapNoah Armstrong2:34.50
1888Macbeth IIGeorge CovingtonJohn CampbellChicago Stable2:38.25
1887MontroseIsaac LewisJohn McGintyLabold Brothers2:39.25
1886Ben AliPaul DuffyJim MurphyJ.B.A. Haggin2:36.50
1885Joe CottonErkine HendersonAbe PerryJames T. Williams2:37.25
1884BuchananIsaac MurphyWilliam BirdWilliam Cottrill2:40.25
1883LeonatusWilliam DonohueRaleigh ColstonChinn & Morgan2:43.00
1882ApolloBabe HurdGreen B. MorrisMorris & Patton2:40.25
1881HindooJames McLaughlinJames G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Bros. Stable2:40.00
1880FonsoGeorge Garrett LewisTice HutsellJ. Snell Shawhan2:37.50
1879Lord MurphyCharlie ShauerGeorge RiceDarden & Co.2:37.00
1878Day StarJimmy CarterLee PaulT.J. Nichols2:37.25
1877Baden-BadenWilliam WalkerEdward D. BrownDaniel Swigert2:38.00
1876VagrantBobby SwimJames WilliamsWilliam Astor Jr.2:38.25
1875AristidesOliver LewisAnsel WilliamsonHal P. McGrath2:37.75

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.