Kentucky Derby 2023 Live Stream: Start time, TV Schedule, Watch free
Get ready for the 149th Kentucky Derby! Find all the details you need about the Kentucky Derby 2023 start time, end time, date, TV coverage, schedule, and how to watch the Kentucky Derby live stream free online below.

When and where is the Kentucky Derby 2023?
The 149th Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the iconic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Date: | Saturday, May 6, 2023 |
Race start time: | 6.57pm ET / 3.57pm PT / 11.57pm BST / 8.57am AEST |
Venue: | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
Race type: | Thoroughbred |
Distance: | 1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs; 2 km) |
TV Channel: | NBC (USA) | TSN (CA) | Sky Sports (UK) | Kayo Sports (AU) |
Live Stream: | Watch Here |
What time is the Kentucky Derby 2023 start and end?
The gates open at 9 am ET and the First Post is at 10:30 am ET. The Kentucky Derby race’s main event typically starts around 6:57 pm ET/3:57 pm PT (Post Time).
The televised coverage on NBC will run from 12 pm to 7:30 pm ET. Therefore, time differences may apply if you live or travel in other territories.
The Kentucky Oaks held the day before the Derby, will be on Friday, May 5th. It begins at 1 pm et and ends at 6 pm ET, and the full event air on USA Network.
2023 Kentucky Derby Start Time for Different Countries
Worldwide fans eagerly await the most exciting “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.” Here, we list the Kentucky Derby race kick-off times for major countries.
United States
Since it will happen in the US, you won’t need to worry about the starting time. There is no time difference between Eastern Time and Washington, DC. It will happen at the same time, 6:57 p.m. ET / 3:57 p.m. PT.
Here is the KY Derby start time for different time zone:
- 6:57 PM Eastern Time (ET)
- 3:57 PM Pacific Time (PT)
- 5:57 PM Central Time (CT)
- 4:57 PM Mountain Time (MT)
- 1:57 PM Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- 12:57 PM Hawaii Standard Time (HST)
Canada
Folks in Canada must rest assured that they can watch the Kentucky Derby 2023 through their favorite channel simultaneously as other US viewers. Montreal, Canada time zone is EDT (UTC -4). So, if you are in Canada, you can expect to witness the spectacle at 06:57 PM ET
United Kingdom
The UK viewers can tune in to their TV channel at 11:57 p.m. BST. It might be later for the UK viewers, but the event is still on the same day.
Australia
Because of the time difference, Australian viewers must patiently wait for the next day to watch Kentucky Derby 2023. The starting time is at 8:57 a.m. AEST on May 7.
France
For France viewers, you could tune in to the channel the next day since the starting time will be May 7, 12:57 a.m. CEST.
Germany
If you are living or traveling in Germany, be ready to tune in to your favorite channel on May 7 at 12:57 a.m. CEST.
Kentucky Derby 2023 Schedule
Those who want to enjoy the entire festivity of the event should know the Kentucky Derby 2023 schedule well. As we know, Kentucky Derby 2023 is not only about the sport’s most exciting 2 minutes moment. It is more complicated than that. Even before the core event, people will gather to sip a cold Mint Julep and enjoy the other festivities.
Indeed, as a diehard fan of the horse racing sport, you don’t want to miss all of the critical moments and traditions of the Kentucky Derby 2023. Knowing the Kentucky Derby 2023 schedule will help you to keep on track. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. local time, when people can place a bet wagering.
Make sure to see the complete TV schedule here:
Date | TIME | EVENT | TV Coverage |
---|---|---|---|
Friday, May 5th, 2023 | 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET | Kentucky Oaks 149 | USA Network and Peacock |
Saturday, May 6, 2023 | 12 p.m.-7:30 p.m. ET | 149th Kentucky Derby (Post Time: 6:57 pm ET) | NBC, Peacock |
2023 Kentucky Derby Day Start Time & Schedule:
ACTIVITY | APPROXIMATE TIME (ET) |
---|---|
Gates Open | 9:00AM |
Race 1 | 10:30am |
Race 2 | 11:01am |
Race 3 | 11:31am |
Race 4 | 12:04pm |
Race 5 | 12:36pm |
Race 6 | 1:14pm |
Race 7 | 1:56pm |
Race 8 | 2:46pm |
Race 9 | 3:40pm |
Race 10 | 4:31pm |
Race 11 | 5:27pm |
Race 12 -The Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve | 6:57pm |
Race 13 | 7:55pm |
Race 14 | 8:30pm |
Kentucky Derby 2023 TV coverage
Based on the expert’s opinions, there will be around 20 million viewers around the world who will catch up with the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. So, the viewers will stop their activity on Saturday, May 6, 2023. The official broadcaster of the show is the NBC Sports channel.
NBC Network’s Peacock, USA Network and NBC will cover the event Live broadcasting from Fri, May 05 to Sat, May 06. Check the Kentucky Derby TV Coverage from different countries.
How to Watch Kentucky Derby 2023 Live Stream Online in the US?
The 2023 Kentucky Derby is set to be an exciting event, and you won’t want to miss it! In the US, you can catch all the action on Peacock TV and NBC, with coverage starting at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT on Saturday. The post time is scheduled for 6:57 pm ET / 3:57 pm PT.

Watch the Kentucky Derby via Cable
If you have a cable TV subscription that includes NBC, you can watch the entire race day live online using your TV provider login details.
First, go to NBC Live, choose your channel/brand, then select your TV provider. Sign in with your TV provider credentials, and start watching the race.
Watch the Kentucky Derby without Cable
You can watch the NBC Kentucky Derby race live online without cable using a live TV streaming service. If you are a cord-cutter, no problem – subscribe to a media streaming service that includes NBC.
Here, we list out popular streaming services with comparisons that show the race:
Features | FuboTV | YouTube TV | DirecTV Stream | Hulu+ Live TV | Sling TV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost (Basic Plan) | $74.99/mo | $72.99/mo | $64.99/mo | $69.99/mo | $40/mo (Orange), $40/mo (Blue), $55/mo (combined) |
TV Channels | 145+ | 100+ | 75+ | 85+ | 32 (Orange) 43 (Bule) 51 (combined) |
Free Trial | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Stream KY Derby Race | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Blue) |
Simultaneous Streams | 3 | 3 | 20 | 2 | 1 (Orange), 3 (Blue) |
Family Share | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Live Delay | 15 sec | 25 sec | 20 sec | 30 sec | 55 sec |
Cloud DVR Capacity | 1000 hours | Unlimited (9 months) | Unlimited (9 months) | Unlimited (9 months) | 50 hours (200 hours for $5/mo) |
Peacock TV
You can live stream the Kentucky Derby on Peacock TV. It’s NBC’s own OTT platform. Peacock costs just $4.99 monthly for an ad-supported version that also offers live coverage of EPL soccer, every big WWE event, NFL, Premiership Rugby, and plenty more live sports. You can also pay $10 a month for commercial-free coverage.
If you subscribe to Peacock, FuboTV, or any other US streaming service and cannot access coverage because you’re out of the country, consider using a VPN as outlined below. Of the many options available, we rate ExpressVPN as the best.
How to live stream Kentucky Derby from outside your country?
If you are out of the country or Coverage area, you will experience a blackout. To overcome this matter, use the top-rated VPN service to connect to the US server, and then you can unlock the service.
If you want to watch Kentucky Derby live from any place, the most sensible approach you can use is the combination of ExpressVPN + fuboTV subscription.
As mentioned, NBC is the official channel that broadcast the event. For the cord-cutters who want to live stream the event, you can grab access through fuboTV.
The only problem here is that the service is only available within the US territory.
Where to Watch Kentucky Derby live online outside of the USA?
If you happen to be outside the US when the 149th Kentucky Derby takes place, it does not mean that you cannot view the spectacle anywhere you want.
There’s always a great way to live stream the Kentucky Derby Race outside the USA. Here is how you can do it.
Also Check:
How to live stream Kentucky Derby Race in the UK
The Kentucky Derby is exclusively available on Sky Sports in the UK through their Racing channel. Tune in from 6:45 pm BST for coverage, with the race starting at 11:57 pm.
For those with a Sky Sports subscription, you can catch the Kentucky Oaks on the move using the Sky Go streaming service. This service offers dedicated apps for iOS, iPadOS, Android devices, and Xbox and PlayStation consoles. If you want to sign up, explore our detailed Sky TV deals and packages guide to find today’s best prices.
If you prefer a more flexible and budget-friendly option, consider Now (previously known as Now TV). This streaming service allows you to enjoy the excitement of the Kentucky Derby without committing to a lengthy and expensive contract.
How to watch Kentucky Derby 2023 in Canada
TSN is the official broadcaster of the Kentucky Derby 2023. You can turn your TV on and tune into the TSN channel to watch KY Derby 2023.
For the TV user who has TSN in the TV package, you need to tune in to the particular channel to view the full moments of Derby 2023.
TSN Direct is also applicable if you have cut your cord. It is a direct-to-video service for users who want to watch their favorite show without cable.
How to watch the Kentucky Derby: live stream in France
NBC is the right holder of the 2023 Kentucky Derby Coverage. If you cannot access NBC Sports in France, you must use the VPN service to unblock the restriction.
You can use ExpressVPN and connect to the US server to enjoy the NBC live streaming service. You can watch it through its official site on NBCSports.com or use the app on your smartphone or tablet with the NBC Sports app.
How to Watch Kentucky Derby live stream in Spain
There is no confirmation if Spain has an official TV channel to watch Kentucky Derby.
In this case, NBC Sports is the broadcaster of the upcoming 149th Kentucky Derby.
It provides race coverage and analysis live on NBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. You could choose either and use the VPN service to unlock the service in Spain.
Kentucky Derby live streaming in the Netherlands
Folk would normally tune in to Eurosport to watch their favorite sports show. But in this case, the 2023 Kentucky Derby does not get the spot on the official sports channel in the Netherlands.
Instead, you could focus on NBC Sports. Use the VPN to unblock the service in the Netherlands. Or you could pick TVG for live streaming the Kentucky Derby race in the Netherlands.
TVG service might block some countries’ IPs for any reason. You could use the VPN to unblock the service too.
Kentucky Derby Race online streaming Option in Japan
Use the TVG to watch the Kentucky Derby Online Live stream. Or, you could use the VPN service to unlock NBC Sports if you can access the account.
Can I watch Kentucky Derby live stream for free?
Yes! You can also watch Kentucky Derby live streaming for free without paying a single dime. Here is how you’ll do it.
As the official broadcaster of the 2023 KY Derby, NBC is available in the FuboTV package. Therefore, you can watch NBC with the help of fuboTV.
FuboTV is a paid live TV streaming service with a 7-day free trial for new users. You can use this opportunity to enjoy the FuboTV live-streaming service for free.
But outside of the USA, you need to Subscribe VPN Package to access the free trial offer.
Here is a quick guide to Kentucky Derby live streaming free from anywhere without live TV streaming cost
- Get ExpressVPN (30 Day risk-free)
- Connect to a server located in the U.S.
- Sign up at FuboTV (Free trial)
- Start watching for free!
Note: You may need to enter a valid U.S. postal code (e.g., 10001, 48104).
So, reserve your choice as quickly as possible since the date is approaching.