Kentucky Derby 2026: Horses and schedule

The Kentucky Derby race is on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Here’s what to know about the race this year: 

What time is the Kentucky Derby? 

Timeline:

Post time is 6:57 p.m. EDT Saturday. 

How to watch the Kentucky Derby

Big picture view:

The Kentucky Derby will be shown on NBC and Peacock. 

Live coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET on Peacock and continues on NBC and Peacock at 2:30 p.m. 

Kentucky Derby horses

Post positions:

The Kentucky Derby shared on social media the post positions for the 19 horses running: 

By the numbers:

The race will be run with 19 horses instead of the maximum 20 after a late scratch less than 12 hours before the race. 

Dig deeper:

The Puma was ruled out Saturday because of a swollen leg from a skin infection.

Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby horses

Big picture view:

Trainer Bob Baffert, 73, whose horses have won the Kentucky Derby a record-tying six times, will have two horses in the field as he tries to break the record for a seventh win. 

His horses are: 

• Litmus Test (50-1, post position 4)
• Potente (20-1, post position 14)

The backstory:

Baffert did win his seventh title back in 2021 with Medina Spirit, but it was taken away by Churchill Downs when the horse failed a drug test. He served a three-year suspension and returned last year with another two horses. 

Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, a steroid which is legal as a therapeutic in Kentucky but not allowed in a horse’s system on race day. Baffert said he and his lawyers attempted to explain that Medina Spirit had been treated with a topical ointment containing the steroid for a skin inflammation.

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