The 2024 Kentucky Derby is the 150th running of the high-profile race, known as the Run for the Roses and the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The race is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the U.S., dating back to 1875. The Derby takes place on the first Saturday of May at 6:57 p.m. EDT, following tradition that was momentarily disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
The Kentucky Derby has been 1 1/4 miles long since 1896, and is significantly longer than the dirt track at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Oaks, the all-filly race held the day before the Derby, has a post time of 5:51 p.m. EDT. The field for the Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 horses, a rule that has been in place since 1975. The morning line favorite for the 2024 Derby is Fierceness, who won the Florida Derby in March.
The complete list of horses running in the Kentucky Derby includes several competitors with varying morning line odds. The Kentucky Derby purse was raised to $5 million for the 150th running, with the winner collecting $3.1 million. Ticket prices for the event range from $130 for general admission to thousands of dollars for reserved seats throughout Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby will be televised on NBC and streamed on Peacock for those interested in watching the historic race.
In the 2023 Kentucky Derby, Mage emerged as the winner with 15-1 odds, finishing ahead of Two Phil’s and Angel of Empire in second and third place. Secretariat holds the record for the fastest Kentucky Derby time, completing the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.40 in 1973. Viewers can catch the excitement of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock, with post time scheduled for 6:57 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
