Kentucky Derby race schedule 2025: Post times, TV channels for Churchill Downs horse racing
The 151st Kentucky Derby, known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," is set to take place this weekend at Churchill Downs, featuring 20 horses in the first leg of the Triple Crown. The race highlights include an early favorite, Journalism, with strong contenders like Sovereignty and Sandman also in the mix. The weekend's events also include the Kentucky Oaks, a premier race for 3-year-old fillies, with nearly 30 races scheduled across two days. TV coverage starts Friday on USA Network and continues Saturday on NBC, with streaming options available through Fubo and Peacock. Horse racing fans can also listen to live coverage on SiriusXM, providing comprehensive access to this prestigious event.
The Kentucky Derby, held at Churchill Downs, is a major event in horse racing, featuring 20 horses competing for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Journalism is the early favorite, though horses like Sovereignty and Sandman are also considered strong competitors.
The Kentucky Oaks, a race for 3-year-old fillies, will take place on Friday, May 2, around 5:51 p.m. ET, part of a nearly 30-race schedule throughout the weekend.
Race coverage will be broadcasted live, with Friday's events starting at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network and Saturday's coverage split between USA Network at noon and NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET. Streaming is available on Fubo and Peacock.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, allowing fans to stream the Kentucky Derby along with over 200 live TV and sports channels, including ESPN and NBC, without a cable subscription.
SiriusXM channel 85 will provide live audio coverage of the Kentucky Derby, available through NBC Sports Radio, offering fans another way to follow the races if they prefer listening over watching.
Historically, horses starting from inside positions (1-10) in the Kentucky Derby have a higher chance of winning compared to those starting from outside positions. This information is vital for those analyzing odds and betting.
Jordan Greer, a journalist with The Sporting News since 2015 and a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University, provides insights and coverage of this prestigious event, continuing a tradition of expert reporting.
Get ready, horse racing fans — it's time for "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports."
The 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby will be held this weekend, featuring 20 horses chasing down the title in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Journalism is considered the early favorite, but other contenders like Sovereignty and Sandman shouldn't be dismissed.
Of course, the Kentucky Derby is just one of the many events on the Churchill Downs schedule, which also includes the Kentucky Oaks, the top competition for 3-year-old fillies. Racing enthusiasts won't want to miss all of the action on Friday and Saturday.
Here is everything you need to know about the Kentucky Derby schedule, including TV and streaming options for races.
Kentucky Derby race schedule 2025
- Dates: Friday, May 2 | Saturday, May 3
Nearly 30 total races will be run on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. The Kentucky Oaks is expected to start around 5:51 p.m. ET on Friday, and the Kentucky Derby should begin at approximately 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Friday, May 2
| Race | Post time (ET) |
| 1 | 11 a.m. |
| 2 | 11:29 a.m. |
| 3 | 11:58 a.m. |
| 4 | 12:29 p.m. |
| 5 | 1:03 p.m. |
| 6 | 1:42 p.m. |
| 7 | 2:23 p.m. |
| 8 | 3:12 p.m. |
| 9 | 4:07 p.m. |
| 10 | 4:51 p.m. |
| 11 | 5:51 p.m. (Kentucky Oaks) |
| 12 | 6:27 p.m. |
| 13 | 7:02 p.m. |
Saturday, May 3
| Race | Post time (ET) |
| 1 | 11 a.m. |
| 2 | 11:32 a.m. |
| 3 | 12:05 p.m. |
| 4 | 12:38 p.m. |
| 5 | 1:12 p.m. |
| 6 | 1:53 p.m. |
| 7 | 2:38 p.m. |
| 8 | 3:23 p.m. |
| 9 | 4:06 p.m. |
| 10 | 4:50 p.m. |
| 11 | 5:39 p.m. (Old Forester Turf Classic) |
| 12 | 6:57 p.m. (Kentucky Derby) |
| 13 | 8 p.m. |
| 14 | 8:33 p.m. |
Where to watch Kentucky Derby races 2025: TV channels, live streams
- Dates: Friday, May 2 | Saturday, May 3
- Time: 1 p.m. ET (Friday) | Noon and 2:30 p.m. ET (Saturday)
- TV channels: NBC | USA Network
- Live streams: Fubo | Peacock
Live coverage of Friday's races will begin at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network. Coverage of Saturday's races will be split between USA Network (noon ET) and NBC (2:30 p.m. ET).
Races will also be available to stream on Fubo and Peacock. Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
| Date | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Friday, May 2 | 1 p.m. | USA Network, Fubo, Peacock |
| Saturday, May 3 | Noon | USA Network, Fubo, Peacock |
| 2:30 p.m. | NBC, Fubo, Peacock |
Kentucky Derby radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM channel 85
You can listen to the 2025 Kentucky Derby live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on NBC Sports Radio (channel 85).
Get SiriusXM for free for your first four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Kentucky Derby horses 2025: Odds, post positions, jockeys, trainers
Here is the field for this year's Kentucky Derby, along with each horse's odds, post position, jockey and trainer.
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Citizen Bull | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 20-1 |
| 2 | Neoequos | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Flavien Prat | 30-1 |
| 3 | Final Gambit | Brad H. Cox | Luan Machado | 30-1 |
| 4 | Rodriguez | Bob Baffert | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 5 | American Promise | D. Wayne Lukas | Nik Juarez | 30-1 |
| 6 | Admire Daytona | Yukihiro Kato | Christophe Lemaire | 30-1 |
| 7 | Luxor Cafe | Noriyuki Hori | Joao Moreira | 15-1 |
| 8 | Journalism | Michael W. McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli | 3-1 |
| 9 | Burnham Square | Ian R. Wilkes | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 12-1 |
| 10 | Grande | Todd A. Pletcher | John Velazquez | 20-1 |
| 11 | Flying Mohawk | D. Whitworth Beckman | Joseph Ramos | 30-1 |
| 12 | East Avenue | Brendan P. Walsh | Manuel Franco | 20-1 |
| 13 | Publisher | Steven M. Asmussen | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 20-1 |
| 14 | Tiztastic | Steven M. Asmussen | Joel Rosario | 20-1 |
| 15 | Render Judgment | Kenneth G. McPeek | Julien Leparoux | 20-1 |
| 16 | Coal Battle | Lonnie Briley | Juan Vargas | 30-1 |
| 17 | Sandman | Mark E. Casse | Jose Ortiz | 6-1 |
| 18 | Sovereignty | William I. Mott | Junior Alvarado | 5-1 |
| 19 | Chunk of Gold | Ethan W. West | Jareth Loveberry | 30-1 |
| 20 | Owen Almighty | Brian Lynch | Javier Castellano | 30-1 |
Kentucky Derby winners by post position
History shows horses on the inside, starting from positions one to 10, are much more likely to win the Kentucky Derby than those starting on the outside.
Here are the all-time Kentucky Derby winners by post position:
| Post position | Kentucky Derby winners |
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 8 |
| 8 | 9 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 9 |
| 11 | 2 |
| 12 | 3 |
| 13 | 5 |
| 14 | 2 |
| 15 | 6 |
| 16 | 4 |
| 17 | 0 |
| 18 | 2 |
| 19 | 1 |
| 20 | 2 |