LIVE 2026 Kentucky Derby horse racing news, exclusive interviews, picks, analysis, and odds

Your LIVE 2026 Kentucky Derby horse racing news has arrived!

Welcome to our LIVE 2026 Kentucky Derby horse racing news! We'll be trackside all day giving you everything you need to know to have a successful Derby experience, including Kentucky Derby odds, picks, post times, Kentucky Derby horses, outfits, cocktails and more. 

INDEX

Kentucky Derby Post Times

Post times for the 2026 Kentucky Derby

2026 Kentucky Derby Odds

2026 Kentucky Derby Results

Who won the 2026 Kentucky Derby?

Winner: TBD

Kentucky Derby Schedule of Special Guests

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Vance
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Dean
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Vance
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Keeler
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Kellie

When is Derby 2026?

The Kentucky Derby is set to happen on May 2, 2026 at 6:57 PM at Churchill Downs.

What is the minty cocktail associated with the Kentucky Derby?

The cocktail most famously associated with the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep.

It has been the traditional beverage of the race for nearly a century, with tens of thousands of them served at Churchill Downs over the course of Derby weekend.

The drink is a simple but refreshing "smash" that relies on high-quality ingredients:

Bourbon: The base spirit, paying homage to Kentucky’s whiskey heritage.

Mint: Fresh spearmint is usually preferred for its bright, aromatic quality.

Sugar: Traditionally added as a simple syrup or muddled directly with the mint.

Crushed Ice: This is crucial—the drink should be served in a silver or pewter cup packed with "snow" or finely crushed ice to create a thick frost on the outside of the vessel.

What horses are in the Kentucky Derby?

#1 Renegade 

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Pro: Barely broke a sweat in the Arkansas Derby (G1), and Irad sticks by him.

Con: Speed ratings perhaps not as high as some would prefer; post 1 likely hurts.

#2 Albus

Trainer: Riley Mott

Pro: Smart winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) coming off belated graduation.

Con: That was one of the slowest editions of the Aqueduct feature in a long time.

#3 Intrepido

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

Pro: G1 winner at two, though the form of that race hasn’t held up too well.

Con: No factor in Santa Anita Derby (G1) and seems a “Derby Fever” entry.

#4 Litmus Test

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Pro: The main thing to like is that the barn is a modern-day leader in Derby wins.

Con: Hard to like after modest-to-poor finishes in Oaklawn preps.

#5 Right to Party [SCR]

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Pro: Fared well stretching out two turns in Wood Memorial; capable of more.

Con: New York preps were not very fast, so hard to like in this spot.

#6 Commandment

Trainer: Brad Cox

Pro: Prevailed in both major Gulfstream preps; winner here and plenty fast.

Con: Getting the right trip, perhaps, is the biggest concern.

#7 Danon Bourbon

Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe

Pro: Untouchable in a trio of starts in Japan; sire liked this track.

Con: Relative class unknown and might need a wet track for the best chance.

#8 So Happy

Trainer: Mark Glatt

Pro: Much improved effort in Santa Anita Derby, proving he can stay at least 9f.

Con: California contingent not overly deep, and an extra furlong might be a stretch.

#9 The Puma [SCR]

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Pro: Ran too good to lose in Florida Derby (G1); improving at the right time.

Con: Debuted in January, so has had to play a little catch-up. 

#10 Wonder Dean

Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi

Pro: Stamina should be no issue for UAE Derby (G2) winner.

Con: Closest rival at Meydan had distance limitations; relative class in doubt.

#11 Incredibolt

Trainer: Riley Mott

Pro: Won Street Sense (G3) here and rebounded well in the Virginia Derby.

Con: Enters off a longish break, and speed ratings don’t quite stack up.

#12 Chief Wallabee

Trainer: Bill Mott

Pro: Fits on form, barn won this last year, and he’ll add blinkers for this.

Con: Down 0-2 to Commandment, plus must deal with other good ones.

#13 Silent Tactic [SCR]

Trainer: Mark Casse

Pro: Eye-catching Southwest (G3) winner never worse than second in six starts.

Con: Others seem to be improving at a faster rate, ratings-wise.

#14 Potente

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Pro: Santa Anita Derby runner-up has come a long way in a short time.

Con: Baffert’s prior Derby winners seemed to have more going for them.

#15 Emerging Market 

Trainer: Chad Brown

Pro: Up in time to win the Louisiana Derby (G2) despite relative inexperience.

Con: That was not an especially deep prep; enters off only two starts.

#16 Pavlovian

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Pro: Much improved of late and narrowly missed upsetting the Louisiana Derby.

Con: Consistently beaten by far less in the past.

#17 Six Speed

Trainer: Seemar Bhupat

Pro: Fast colt figures to help carve out the pace.

Con: Suspect to last this far after tiring late in the shorter UAE Derby.

#18 Further Ado

Trainer: Brad Cox

Pro: Blue Grass (G1) win easily the fastest prep; tough if he repeats it.

Con: Runs lights out at Keeneland; not so much elsewhere, yet.

#19 Golden Tempo

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Pro: Lecomte (G3) hero has never been out of the money; easily bred to stay.

Con: Plodding type will need a pace meltdown; other closers look speedier.

#20 Fulleffort [SCR]

Trainer: Brad Cox

Pro: Experienced and consistent; could easily rally for a piece.

Con: Has raced exclusively on turf and synthetic to this point.

#21 Great White                       

Trainer: John Ennis

Pro: Edged next-out winner Fulleffort in the John Battaglia Memorial two back.

Con: Well beaten in the Blue Grass, his only start on dirt so far.

#22 Ocelli                                       

Trainer: Whit Beckman

Pro: A surprise third in Wood Memorial, albeit in a slow renewal.

Con: Maidens typically need maidens for the best chance.

#23 Robusta                                 

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Pro: Surprise second in San Felipe (G2) for two-time Derby-winning barn.

Con: California form is too inconsistent and not very fast.

Where to watch the Kentucky Derby?

Watching the Kentucky Derby is easier than ever! You can watch it right here with TwinSpires LIVE as the race happens. Sign in to your account or create one, and click on the video button to view all Churchill Downs races and more! 

CLICK HERE TO TRAVEL TO CHURCHILL DOWNS TRACK! 

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