The 152nd Kentucky Derby is this weekend!
The 2026 Run for the Roses is in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 2. A whole week of events, which kicked off April 25, ends with the annual race at Churchill Downs.
But what time does the race start? Here's what you should know about the fastest two minutes in sports.
When is the Kentucky Derby 2026?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is May 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.
What time does the Kentucky Derby start?
Gates open at 9 a.m., and the first post is scheduled for 11 a.m. There are 14 races in total, but the official Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. The 150th Run for the Roses will be race No. 12 of the day.
2026 Kentucky Derby post times
• Race 1: 11 a.m.
• Race 2: 11:32 a.m.
• Race 3: 12:05 p.m.
• Race 4: 12:38 p.m.
• Race 5: 1:12 p.m.
• Race 6: 1:53 p.m.
• Race 7: 2:38 p.m.
• Race 8: 3:23 p.m.
• Race 9: 4:06 p.m.
• Race 10: 4:50 p.m.
• Race 11: 5:39 p.m.
• Race 12: 6:57 p.m.
• Race 13: 8:00 p.m.
• Race 14: 8:33 p.m.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is a top-rank, Grade l stakes race for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses and the first leg of the Triple Crown races. A total of 20 horses compete.
The 1 ¼-mile race is run on the dirt race track in Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, where it has been held every year since its start in 1875. According to the Kentucky Derby website, more than 150,000 people attend the event yearly. The 2026 Kentucky Derby will feature a purse of $5 million.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What time does the Kentucky Derby start? A list of post times
