Kentucky Derby live race updates, results, highlights from 2026 Triple Crown race

By | May 2, 2026
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“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” returns for the 152nd edition at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs has been the spot of the most captivating horse race in the world, and this year’s race will look to capitalize yet again. Last year’s winner, Sovereignty, was behind for a large portion of the race. However, jockey Junior Alvarado and his horse used a last section burst to take the first Triple Crown race. 

At 6:57 p.m. ET., 4-1 favorite Renegade will look to continue the trend of one of the race’s favorites taking home the win. 6-1 favorites Commandment and Further Ado round of the pecking order for the top three favorites.

The Sporting News is tracking all live race updates, highlights, and results from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

STREAM: Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby live with DIRECTV

Kentucky Derby live updates, highlights, results from 2026 race

(All times Eastern)

4:47 p.m. – Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson are in attendance at Churchill Downs.

4:42 p.m. – A couple of recent Derby trends to keep in mind:

  • After Justify’s 2018 win, a betting favorite has NOT won the Kentucky Derby.
  • The last five horses to win the Run for the Roses did NOT win their final prep race.

4:40 p.m. – One of the day’s biggest odds jumps in the Kentucky Derby comes from No. 21 Great White. Prior to today’s 29-1 line per the Kentucky Derby website, Great White was listed at 50-1.

4:32 p.m. – WNBA legend Sue Bird is in attendance at Churchill Downs.

4:28 p.m. – With about two and a half hours until the Kentucky Derby kicks off, 18 of the 19 horses set to race tonight are descendants of Secretariat.

4:09 p.m. – Favorite Stark Contrast (6-5) wins The American Turf race!

4:06 p.m. – One horse in The American Turf pre-race is named after Kobe Bryant: Remember Mamba (7-2). That race is now underway.

3:46 p.m. – Earlier today, The Puma (8-1) became the latest horse to be scratched from the Kentucky Derby. The horse was gaining a lot of betting action this week ahead of rumors of being connected to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

3:38 p.m. – Here are some of the most eye-catching outfits so far at the track:

3:36 p.m. – New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is in attendance at Churchill Downs, along with likely future Hall-of-Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski.

3:34 p.m. – Crude Velocity (5-2) wins the Grade II Pat Mile pre-race!

3:33 p.m. – With the first eight pre-races in the books, here are the winners:

  • Race 1: Powershift
  • Race 2: Out of the Woods
  • Race 3: Vibe
  • Race 4: R Disaster
  • Race 5: Yellow Card
  • Race 6: Tour Player
  • Race 7: Classic Q
  • Race 8: Crude Velocity

Kentucky Derby pre-race results

Race No.  Post time (ET) Winner
1  11 a.m. Powershift (3-1)
2  11:32 a.m. Out of the Woods (14-1)
3  12:05 p.m. Vibe (15-2)
4  12:38 p.m. R Disaster (7-1)
5  1:12 p.m. Yellow Card (9-2)
6 1:53 p.m. Tour Player (4-1)
7 2:38 p.m. Classic Q (6-1)
8 3:23 p.m. Crude Velocity (5-2)
9  4:06 p.m. Stark Contrast (6-5)
10  4:50 p.m. TBD
11 (Old Forester Turf Classic) 5:39 p.m. TBD

MORE KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS:

2026 Kentucky Derby post time

  • Date: Saturday, May 2
  • Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET, 3:57 p.m. PT

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 2. Eleven other races lead into the Run for the Roses (including the Old Forester Turf Classic), starting at 11 a.m. ET.

How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby

NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN, nearly seven hours before the post time for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The coverage will shift to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET.

There will be other races throughout the day at Churchill Downs, starting in the morning.

Viewers can stream the Kentucky Derby on Peacock, the NBC Sports App, or with DIRECTV, which offers a free trial for new users.

Kentucky Derby post positions 2026

Here’s a look at the post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby as well as the morning-line odds for the race.

Post Position Horse Odds
1. Renegade 5-1
2. Albus 50-1
3. Intrepido 55-1
4. Litmus Test 34-1
5. Right to Party 30-1
6. Commandment 7-1
7. Danon Bourbon 14-1
8. So Happy 6-1
9. The Puma 10-1
10. Wonder Dean 20-1
11. Incredibolt 27-1
12. Chief Wallabee 9-1
13. Silent Tactic 20-1
14. Potente 23-1
15. Emerging Market 11-1
16. Pavlovian 52-1
17. Six Speed 40-1
18. Further Ado 7-1
19. Golden Tempo 36-1
20. Fulleffort 20-1
21. Great White 29-1
22. Ocelli 50-1
23.  Robusta 50-1

MORE KENTUCKY DERBY HISTORY:

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