The Kentucky Derby 2026 Post Position Draw starts at approximately 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, April 25, 2026. That is 1:15 p.m. in Kentucky, 12:15 p.m. Mountain Time and 11:15 a.m. on the West Coast.
This article breaks down the exact draw time for every US time zone so you know exactly when to tune in no matter where you are in the country.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Post Position Draw Start Time
Churchill Downs gates open at 11:30 a.m. ET with the first race at 12:45 p.m. ET. The post position draw slots in between Race 3 and Race 4 at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET.
The start time can shift a few minutes depending on race pace. Tune in by 2:00 p.m. ET to catch everything including the Kentucky Oaks draw that runs immediately before the Derby draw.
Here are the key details:
- Draw Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Start Time: Approximately 2:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Schedule Position: Between Race 3 and Race 4
- Kentucky Oaks Draw: Starts ~2:00 p.m. ET, immediately before
What Time is the Kentucky Derby 2026 Post Position Draw in Every US Time Zone?
Kentucky runs on Central Time, not Eastern. Here is the exact draw time for every time zone across all 50 states:
| Time Zone | Key States | Draw Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (ET) | New York, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana | 2:15 p.m. |
| Central Time (CT) | Kentucky, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Louisiana, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska | 1:15 p.m. |
| Mountain Time (MT) | Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada | 12:15 p.m. |
| Pacific Time (PT) | California, Washington, Oregon | 11:15 a.m. |
| Alaska Time (AKT) | Alaska | 10:15 a.m. |
| Hawaii Time (HST) | Hawaii | 8:15 a.m. |
Fans in New York and Florida watch at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Louisville locals and Texas fans watch at 1:15 p.m. Central Time, the same local time as Churchill Downs itself. California and West Coast fans tune in at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Time.
Where to Watch the Kentucky Derby 2026 Post Position Draw
You do not need a cable package to watch the draw. Three confirmed options carry it live on April 25:
WAVE-3 Local NBC affiliate in Louisville. Available in the Louisville metro area on cable, satellite and antenna.
FanDuel TV Primary national broadcast available nationwide across all 50 states. Free with a FanDuel account. No deposit required. Available on the FanDuel TV website and app on iOS and Android.
KentuckyDerby.com Official free stream confirmed for both the Derby and Oaks draws. No account required. Works on any device in any state.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Race Day Time
The draw sets the field. Here is when the 152nd Kentucky Derby runs one week later:
| Race Date | Saturday, May 2, 2026 |
| Post Time | Approximately 6:57 p.m. ET |
| TV Coverage | NBC and Peacock |
| Coverage Starts | 2:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
For the full race day time breakdown in every US time zone, see our Kentucky Derby 2026 race day time guide.
The Kentucky Derby 2026 Post Position Draw starts at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time on April 25 at Churchill Downs. Tune in on WAVE-3, FanDuel TV or stream free at KentuckyDerby.com. Check back after 2:15 p.m. ET for the full confirmed field and post position results.