The Kentucky Derby is the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports for a reason. There isn’t anything else that combines the pageantry of attending with the thrill of one of the most unpredictable sporting events.
Last year highlighted just how unpredictable the derby can be. Rich Strike wasn’t among the first 20 horses named at the original post, only to be added as a late fill-in for Ethereal Road in the No. 20 gate. All Rich Strike did was defy 80-1 closing odds to become one of the biggest underdogs to ever win.
Part of the reason it was such a stunning victory is because of the gate from which he left. The Kentucky Derby has run 148 races, and only twice has the winner come from that gate. Only five times has the winner come even from the No. 17-20 gates.
MORE: Full results, highlights from 2022 Kentucky Derby
The gate draw is scheduled for Monday, and the results will have a drastic impact on the outcome of the race. The Sporting News has the full list of starting positions for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and breaks down the winners from each gate since it was implemented in 1930.
Kentucky Derby post positions 2023
The draw for the Kentucky Derby was held on Monday, May 1, five days before the race. Hit Show (30-1) was announced as having the pole-sitter at No. 1. Race favorite Forte (3-1) will be in the 15th spot. Tapit Trice (5-1) and Angel of Empire (8-1) are the only other horses to open with better than 10-1 odds.
Here is where each horse will be starting, including odds for each horse to win the race.
| Post position | Horse | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hit Show | 30-1 |
| 2 | Verifying | 15-1 |
| 3 | Two Phil’s | 12-1 |
| 4 | Confidence Game | 20-1 |
| 5 | Tapit Trice | 5-1 |
| 6 | Kingsbarns | 12-1 |
| 7 | Reincarnate | 50-1 |
| 8 | Mage | 15-1 |
| 9 | Skinner | 20-1 |
| 10 | Practical Move | 10-1 |
| 11 | Disarm | 30-1 |
| 12 | Jace’s Road | 15-1 |
| 13 | Sun Thunder | 50-1 |
| 14 | Angel of Empire | 8-1 |
| 15 | Forte | 3-1 |
| 16 | Raise Cain | 50-1 |
| 17 | Derma Sotogake | 10-1 |
| 18 | Rocket Can | 30-1 |
| 19 | Lord Miles | 30-1 |
| 20 | Continuar | 50-1 |
MORE: Betting guide, expert picks for the 2023 Kentucky Derby
What is the best pole position in horse racing?
There is no right answer for the best pole position. The locations have different advantages and disadvantages based on the horses and the races.
Horses have a shorter path to the finish with the lower post numbers, but the fence and all other horses give less room to maneuver on the inside. Higher numbers get out of the gate faster and have more space on the outside, but have longer races to run.
For the most part, the lower numbers have been the best. The most winners have come from the No. 5 gate, nine have come from No. 10 and eight have come each from No. 1, No. 7 and No. 8. After the 10th gate, the only double digit with more than five wins is No. 15 at six.
Here is the history of how many winners came from at each post position since the starting game was opened in 1930:
| Post position | Kentucky Derby winners |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 8 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 9 |
| 11 | 2 |
| 12 | 3 |
| 13 | 5 |
| 14 | 2 |
| 15 | 6 |
| 16 | 4 |
| 17 | 0 |
| 18 | 2 |
| 19 | 1 |
| 20 | 2 |
Kentucky Derby winners by post position
In 2022, Rich Strike made history as the second horse to win coming out of the No. 20 gate. Big Brown, back in 2008, was the first to accomplish the feat.
The only gate to have never produced a winner is No. 17. The No. 19 gate is the only one with just a single winner, which happened back in 2012 with I’ll Have Another taking the derby.
Below is a list of all of the winners at each gate since 1930.
- 1 — (8) Ferdinand (1986); Chateaugay (1963); Needles (1956); Hill Gail (1952); Citation (1948); Gallahadion (1940); Lawrin (1938); War Admiral (1937)
- 2 — (7) Affirmed (1978); Bold Forbes (1976); Cannonade (1974); Dust Commander (1970); Tim Tam (1958); Ponder (1949) Assault (1946)
- 3 — (5) Real Quiet (1998); Alysheba (1987); Spectacular Bid (1979); Foolish Pleasure (1975); Shut Out (1942)
- 4 — (5) Super Saver (2010); Seattle Slew (1977); Decidedly (1962); Pensive (1944); Whirlaway (1941)
- 5 — (10) Always Dreaming (2017); California Chrome (2014); Funny Cide (2003); War Emblem (2002); Silver Charm (1997); Strike the Gold (1991); Count Fleet (1943); Johnstown (1939); Bold Venture (1936); Twenty Grand (1931)
- 6 — (2) Sea Hero (1993); Iron Liege (1957)
- 7 — (8) Mandaloun (2021); Justify (2018); Street Sense (2007); Pleasant Colony (1981); Proud Clarion (1967); Northern Dancer (1964); Determine (1954); Gallant Fox (1930)
- 8 — (8) Mine That Bird (2009); Barbaro (2006); Go for Gin (1994); Unbridled (1990); Majestic Prince (1969); Lucky Debonair (1965); Swaps (1955); Cavalcade (1934)
- 9 — (4) Riva Ridge (1972); Venetian Way (1960); Tomy Lee (1959); Count Turf (1951)
- 10 — (9) Giacomo (2005); Lil E. Tee (1992); Sunday Silence (1989); Spend a Buck (1985); Sunny’s Halo (1983); Genuine Risk (1980); Secretariat (1973); Dark Star (1953); Omaha (1935)
- 11 — (2) Winning Colors (1988); Brokers Tip (1933)
- 12 — (3) Canonero II (1971); Kauai King (1966); Hoop Jr. (1945)
- 13 — (4) Nyquist (2016) Smarty Jones (2004); Forward Pass (1968); Jet Pilot (1947); Burgoo King (1932)
- 14 — (2) Carry Back (1961); Middleground (1950)
- 15 — (6) Authentic (2020); American Pharoah (2015); Orb (2013); Fusaichi Pegasus (2000); Grindstone (1996); Swale (1984)
- 16 — (4) Animal Kingdom (2011); Monarchos (2001); Charismatic (1999); Thunder Gulch (1995)
- 17 — (0)
- 18 — (2) Country House (2019); Gato Del Sol (1982)
- 19 — (1) I’ll Have Another (2012)
- 20 — (2) Rich Strike (2022); Big Brown (2008)