Editor’s note: Follow up-to-date coverage of the 2026 Kentucky Derby throughout Derby Day on Saturday, May 2.
Kentucky Derby festivities continue Friday with the Kentucky Oaks races taking place, just ahead of Saturday’s “Run for the Roses.”
It’s been a chaotic week. An already wide-open field has some newcomers after a few scratches ahead of Saturday. Silent Tactic first bowed out of the race with a bruised foot. Then, on Thursday, it was revealed that Fulleffort would be the Derby’s second scratch (bone chip in left ankle). And Right to Party was announced Friday as the third horse to be sidelined after being diagnosed with right front lameness.
That means Great White, Ocelli and Robusta were added to the party and will run from the outside gates. They join the likes of contenders like Renegade, Commandment and So Happy.
USA TODAY Sports will have ongoing updates, news and highlights from the day’s events as we inch ever closer to the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
Here are the starting positions and odds, according to kentuckyderby.com, for all the horses participating in the 152nd Kentucky Derby. Odds as of 8 p.m. ET.
Fans can view the Kentucky Derby on NBC and USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock.
- Date: Saturday, May 2
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET-7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC, USA Network
- Stream: Peacock
Always a Runner won Friday’s $1.5 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Always a Runner covered the 1⅛ miles in 1:48.82.
Meaning was second, and Counting Stars was third. — Jason Frakes, Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network
Always a Runner (based on a $2 bet)
- Win: $13.04
- Place: $7.46
- Show: $5.44
Meaning (based on a $2 bet)
- Place: $7.44
- Show: $5.62
Counting Stars (based on a $2 bet)
Payouts on the finishing combos for Kentucky Oaks 2026
- Exacta (based on a $2 bet)
- Trifecta (based on a $0.50 bet)
- Superfecta (based on a $1 bet)
- Other payouts
$1 Double(3/9)$21.03$3 Pick 3(5/3/9)$295.68$0.50 Pick 4(5/5/3, 7/9)$305.14$0.50 Pick 5(8/5/5/3,7/9)$2,351.11$0.20 Pick 6(9/8/5/5/3,7/9)$4,352.86
- Always a Runner, 5-1
- Meaning, 5-1
- Counting Stars, 6-1
- Explora, 7-1
- Prom Queen, 6-1
- Zany, 5-1
- Percy’s Bar, 5-1
- Dazzling Dame, 40-1
- Resist, 56-1
- Search Party, 45-1
- Pashmina, 20-1
- Lovely Grey, 14-1
- Brooklyn Blonde, 32-1
Odds, courtesy of kentuckyderby.com, are as of 8 p.m. ET
- No. 1: Explora | odds: 8-1
- No. 2: Zany | odds: 9-2
- No. 3: Search Party | odds: 41-1
- No. 4: Counting Stars | odds: 10-1
- No. 5: Meaning | odds: 9-1
- No. 7: Dazzling Dame | odds: 39-1
- No. 9: Always A Runner | odds: 5-1
- No. 10: Prom Queen | odds: 7-1
- No. 11 Percy’s Bar | odds: 4-1
- No. 13: Pashmina | odds: 23-1
- No. 14: Brooklyn Blonde | odds: 27-1
- No. 15: Lovely Grey | odds: 6-1
- No. 16: Nycon | SCRATCHED
- No. 17: Resist | odds: 65-1
Did music superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce buy a stake in The Puma ahead of the 2026 Kentucky Derby? Will the power couple be in attendance at Churchill Downs for the first Triple Crown race of the year to watch this horse they may or may not be financially tied to now?
Those have been among the talking points around the track, and The Puma’s owner didn’t put the speculation to rest when he had the chance. Click the link below for what to know about the potential connection between 2026 Kentucky Derby contender The Puma and the power couple of Swift and Kelce:
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot’s AI chatbot to produce a simulation of the 2026 Kentucky Derby field with full results, including the winner of this year’s first Triple Crown race. It was told to use the latest odds and conditions, as well as analysis of favorites, best bets, expert picks, previous results and race history with the post positions for all 20 horses set. Just like earlier this week, Microsoft Copilot picked Further Ado to win.
Here’s a breakdown of the Kentucky Derby predictions made by Microsoft Copilot AI, including its picks to win, show and place at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2. — Mark Giannotto
What’s is your Kentucky Derby horse name? And is it good enough to go down in history? The Louisville Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, has the answer. Enter your first name and last initial into our Kentucky Derby Horse Name Generator and find out.
And be sure to share your name on your social media channels!
Jockey Mike Smith is 59, which has not escaped the attention of his colleagues. Some of them call him grandpa, according to Smith.
“I get it all, man,” he said, but added, “At my age, I’m still doing the things I was doing when I was 30, man. It’s crazy.”
Smith, a two-time winner in the Kentucky Derby, will be in position to become the oldest jockey to win the race. The late Willie Shoemaker was 54 when he rode Ferdinand to victory in the 1986 Kentucky Derby and he remains the oldest jockey to win the race.
Read the full story from Josh Peter.
The Kentucky Derby is renowned for its bold, spring-inspired fashion, with attendees donning vibrant pastel colors, floral prints, and extravagant hats that have become synonymous with the event. This sartorial tradition dates back to the inaugural Derby in 1875, when founder Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. encouraged guests to attend in “full morning dress,” reflecting his vision of the Derby as a high-society affair. Over the decades, Derby fashion has evolved beyond formality to embrace creativity, individuality, and a festive spirit, making the event as much a celebration of style as of sport.
A maximum of 20 horses compete in the Kentucky Derby each year, making it one of the most competitive events in the sport. Entry into the prestigious starting gate is determined by a rigorous system of qualifying prep races held across the country and internationally. In these races, horses accumulate points based on their performance, with the highest point earners earning a coveted spot in the Derby field. In addition to the 20 primary qualifiers, a small group of “also-eligible” horses is designated in case one of the original contenders is forced to withdraw before race day.
Louisville Courier Journal: Commandment is No. 1 pick
The USA TODAY Network outlet’s final ranking of the horses leading into Kentucky Derby week placed Commandment in the No. 1 spot, followed by Renegade, The Puma, Further Ado and Emerging Market
KentuckyDerby.com: Commandment leads pack
Of the seven handicappers and experts listed at the Kentucky Derby’s official website, four had Commandment ranked as the No. 1 horse in this year’s field. Two experts picked Renegade as their top pick and The Puma also received one No. 1 ranking.
Horse Racing Nation: Watch out for Chief Wallabee
“(Chief Wallabee) adds blinkers for this race, which should focus him enough to put it all together. It is true that the addition of blinkers is rare and often unsuccessful in the (Kentucky) Derby, but if anyone knows what they are doing it is (trainer) Bill Mott. … (Chief Wallabee) has the perfect tracking style to get first run on the deep closers and offers a square price in a wide-open Kentucky Derby.”
Right to Party, trained by Kenneth G. McPeek, has been scratched from the upcoming Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old colt had one victory in four career starts, with that win coming in January in a one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct. Despite modest experience, he was entered in the Derby field with 30-1 morning line odds. Right to Party is the third horse scratched from the Derby.
The 152nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs is scheduled for Saturday, May 2. Fans can view the Kentucky Derby on NBC and USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock.
- Date: Saturday, May 2
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET-7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC, USA Network
- Stream: Peacock
- Location: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)
