Attention turns to Churchill Downs Saturday for 151st Kentucky Derby

The first Saturday in May means it’s time for the 151st Kentucky Derby, America’s longest continuously held sporting event.

Twenty horses stampeding 1 1/4 miles around Churchill Downs isn’t just a race. It’s 150,000 fans jammed under the Twin Spires for a fashion show mixed with an all-day party that is heavy on traditions like mint juleps, singing “My Old Kentucky Home” and a garland of red roses draped on the winner.

Post time is 5:57 p.m., but the event is a full day of pomp and racing. Derby Day television coverage begins at 11 a.m. on USA Network and streaming on Peacock. NBC and Peacock have coverage from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

The Derby is for male and female 3-year-olds only, meaning a horse is eligible just once in its career. Only three fillies have won, the last was in 1988.

As of early this week, Journalism was the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The Southern California-based colt is trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli. Journalism will break from the No. 8 post, which has had nine winners, the last being Mage in 2023. He has won four races in a row. The morning-line favorite has won 18 times, the last was Justify in 2018.

Sovereignty was the early second choice at 5-1. The Florida Derby winner is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado. He drew the No. 18 post, putting him outside most of the 20-horse field.

Third choice on the morning line was Sandman at 6-1 odds. The Arkansas Derby winner is trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Jose Ortiz. He will break from post 17, which has never produced a winner.

Six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert is back after serving a three-year suspension by Churchill Downs. He has 12-1 shot Rodriguez, who won the Wood Memorial with a front-running style, and is ridden by two-time Derby winner Mike Smith. Baffert’s other horse is 20-1 long shot Citizen Bull, last year’s 2-year-old champion. He drew the dreaded No. 1 post with Martin Garcia aboard. No horse has won from the inside post since 1986.

Hall of Famer trainer D. Wayne Lukas saddles his 51st Derby starter — second-most ever — with 30-1 shot American Promise. He has four Derby victories and at 89, he would be the oldest trainer to win. The colt drew the No. 5 post, which has had the most Derby winners with 10.

The late country singer Toby Keith’s Dream Walkin Farms is a part-owner of 30-1 shot Render Judgment.

Former Philadelphia Phillies star Jayson Werth, whose stable is Two Eight Racing in a nod to his old jersey number, is a co-owner of Flying Mohawk, also at 30-1.

For the second straight year, the Derby total purse is $5 million, with the winning owner earning $1.3 million and a gold trophy. Second place is worth $1 million, with payouts down to fifth place. The winning horse’s breeding rights are likely to soar. The winning jockey typically receives 10% of the purse and a smaller trophy.


Predawn training sessions at Churchill Downs lead up to the 151st Kentucky Derby.  (AP Photo Charlie Riedel)