The race for the Triple Crown once again starts in Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
A time-honored tradition, the Kentucky Derby marks its 151st running in 2025 — but it might be hard to match the excitement of last year’s race, when a photo finish determined Mystik Dan was the winner.
For those playing the odds, recent history shows the odds of chaos at the Kentucky Derby are high. In the last seven years alone, Churchill Downs has seen two winner disqualifications, one photo finish, one 80-1 upset one winner go on to capture the Triple Crown.
MORE: Tracking best, worst outfits from 2025 Kentucky Derby
The “Run for the Roses” always seems to deliver, and this year’s field has plenty of storylines with controversial trainer Bob Baffert back in the fray. Journalism, Sovereignty and Sandman settled in as the early favorites after the post draw, but upsets are quickly becoming the standard at the Kentucky Derby. Is another one in store on Saturday?
The Sporting News is tracking live race updates and results from the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Follow along with the “Run for the Roses” below.
JUMP TO: Kentucky Derby live updates | Pre-race results | How to watch
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This section will be updated after the Kentucky Derby ends.
MORE: Fast facts to know before picking Kentucky Derby winner
Kentucky Derby live updates, highlights, results from 2025 race
(All times Eastern)
6:08 p.m. — We are close to 50 minutes until the start of the Kentucky Derby, and some of the horses are already on the move.
6:00 p.m. — Journalism remains the favorite at 7-2, followed by Sandman (5-1), Luxor Cafe (8-1) and Sovereignty (9-1). Neoequos (39-1), Admire Daytona (39-1) and East Avenue (39-1) have the most distant odds.
5:45 p.m. — Spirit of St. Louis wins the Old Forester Turf Classic! The Kentucky Derby is next up in more than an hour.
Spirit of St Louis closes strong under @jockeyfranco to win the G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic for trainer Chad Brown! 🏆
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/c0PCGx3wrj
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
5:33 p.m. — The broadcast reports the skies are darkening again at Churchill Downs as some showers move back into the area.
5:15 p.m. — Free agent QB Aaron Rodgers is in the building!
NBC finds Aaron Rodgers at the Kentucky Derby. #NFL pic.twitter.com/t9r4qS5t2a
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 3, 2025
5:12 p.m. — Grace Potter is performing the national anthem at Churchill Downs as post time inches closer.
4:56 p.m. — Kopion rockets ahead and wins the Derby City Distaff!
Kopion is all class in the Derby City Distaff!⭐️
A star on the rise, she quickens up impressively to claim Grade One honours at @ChurchillDowns!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/boZ9PtOc4b
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
4:30 p.m. — An NBA crossover: Carmelo Anthony announced on the Kentucky Derby broadcast that he is joining NBC’s new coverage team for the NBA next season.
4:10 p.m. — Favorite Zulu Kingdom pulls ahead late to win the American Turf Classic!
Zulu Kingdom is an impressive winner of the Grade One American Turf Stakes!🇺🇸
Test Score and New Century fly home late but they can’t catch the runaway winner at @ChurchillDowns! pic.twitter.com/KPLDYjTuKq
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
4:03 p.m. — The last of the rain, at least for a couple hours, is passing through Louisville right now. The forecast for the next few hours is much clearer.
3:30 p.m. — Mindframe wins the Churchill Downs! That’s a victory for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Only three more undercard races remain before the derby.
Mindframe gets up in time to take the G1 Churchill Downs! 🌟@iradortiz on board for trainer Todd Pletcher! 🏇
🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ufWk4OsR25
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
3:20 p.m. — Mike Tirico has stepped away from NBC’s coverage due to feeling “under the weather.” He was replaced by Ahmed Fareed. It’s unclear whether Tirico is planning to return before the race.
2:42 p.m. — Think Big takes the Twin Spires Turf Sprint!
High profile winner for @_benacurtis at @ChurchillDowns!🇺🇸
Think Big comes home powerfully to strike in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes! pic.twitter.com/GJKfnD0mav
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
2:30 p.m. — Another batch of rain is about to roll through Louisville, but there should be some brief clearing in the evening.
2:15 p.m. — Among the early sports figures spotted at Churchill Downs: Titans QB Will Levis, Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson, former NBA coach Avery Johnson and NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
2:00 p.m. — Macho Music wins the Pat Day Mile!
Macho Music takes them all the way in the Grade Two Pat Day Mile Stakes!🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/apOYczAjO2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2025
1:40 p.m. — Jockey Luis Saez wins again as the appropriately named Simply in Front wins the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.
Simply in Front was in front in the G2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes at 15/1! 💣
Another win under the TwinSpires for jockey @luissaezpty. She is trained by Eddie Kenneally! 🌟
🎥TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Ew9py1w3mt
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2025
1:22 p.m. — Liberal Arts, jockeyed by Luis Saez and trained by Brad Cox, won the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes in a glimpse of what the track conditions are looking like this afternoon.
Liberal Arts gets up just in time to win the 4th running of the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes presented by L&N Federal Credit Union! Luis Saez and Brad Cox teamed up for the victory. pic.twitter.com/WreI2RRLAE
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025
1:15 p.m. — Light rain is currently falling in Louisville, but there is hope for a break in the rain between 5-8 p.m. Follow along with all of the latest weather updates here.
Kentucky Derby pre-race results
| Race No. | Post time (ET) | Winner |
| 1 (Maiden Special Weight) | 11 a.m. | Fountain Lake |
| 2 (Allowance Optional Claimer) | 11:32 a.m. | Lemon Muffin |
| 3 (Allowance Race) | 12:05 p.m. | Goal Oriented |
| 4 (Knicks Go Stakes) | 12:38 p.m. | Liberal Arts |
| 5 (Churchill Distaff Turf Mile) | 1:12 p.m. | Simply in Front |
| 6 (Pat Day Mile) | 1:53 p.m. | Macho Music |
| 7 (Turf Sprint) | 2:38 p.m. | Think Big |
| 8 (Churchill Downs) | 3:23 p.m. | Mindframe |
| 9 (American Turf) | 4:06 p.m. | Zulu Kingdom |
| 10 (Derby City Distaff) | 4:50 p.m. | Kopion |
| 11 (Old Forester Turf Classic) | 5:39 p.m. | Spirit of St. Louis |
2025 Kentucky Derby post time
- Date: Saturday, May 3
- Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 3. Eleven other races lead into the Run for the Roses (including the Old Forester Turf Classic), starting at 11 a.m. ET.
STREAM: Watch the Kentucky Derby live with Fubo (free trial)
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock | NBC Sports app | Fubo
NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Peacock and USA Network, 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 Fubo, which offers a free trial.
MORE KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS:
Kentucky Derby post positions 2025
The Kentucky Derby draw was held on Saturday, April 26. Here’s a look at how the horses will line up and who has the best odds to win the Derby.
| Post Position | Horse | Odds |
| 1. | Citizen Bull | 14-1 |
| 2. | Neoequos | 50-1 |
| 3. | Final Gambit | 16-1 |
| 5. | American Promise | 13-1 |
| 6. | Admire Daytona | 41-1 |
| 7. | Luxor Cafe | 11-1 |
| 8. | Journalism | 7-2 |
| 9. | Burnham Square | 16-1 |
| 11. | Flying Mohawk | 33-1 |
| 12. | East Avenue | 36-1 |
| 13. | Publisher | 27-1 |
| 14. | Tiztastic | 18-1 |
| 15. | Render Judgment | 14-1 |
| 16. | Coal Battle | 27-1 |
| 17. | Sandman | 9-2 |
| 18. | Sovereignty | 9-1 |
| 19. | Chunk of Gold | 29-1 |
| 20. | Owen Almighty | 40-1 |
| 21. | Baeza | 19-1 |