The 152nd Kentucky Derby runs today, Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs with a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET. The field is set, three horses have scratched since the post position draw, and three also-eligibles have drawn in to fill the 20-horse gate. Whether you watch from the grandstand, your living room, or a Derby party, a printable horses list with post positions, trainers, jockeys, and live odds keeps you in the action from gate to wire.
This guide gives you the complete, race-day verified Kentucky Derby 2026 horses list, plus a free printable PDF, current betting favorites, and post position notes worth knowing before the gates open.
Quick Facts: 2026 Kentucky Derby
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Post Time: 6:57 p.m. ET
- Venue: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Field Size: 20 horses
- Purse: $5 million (winner’s share: $3.1 million)
- TV: NBC and Peacock (coverage from 2:30 p.m. ET)
- Current Favorite: Renegade (5-1)
Scratches and Field Updates Before the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Three horses have been scratched since the April 25 post position draw, and three also-eligibles have drawn into the field. Program numbers stay tied to the original post draw, so the gates the horses break from have shifted slightly toward the rail.
- Silent Tactic (#13) scratched first with a foot injury. Great White (#21) drew in.
- Fulleffort (#20) scratched with an ankle injury. Ocelli (#22) drew in.
- Right to Party (#5) was the third scratch. Robusta (#23) drew in.
The field remains at 20 horses, the maximum for any American Thoroughbred race.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses List: Full Field with Trainers, Jockeys and Live Odds
Below is the verified field for the 152nd Kentucky Derby with live odds reflecting Friday evening, May 1, 2026. Program numbers reflect the original April 25 post draw.
| # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Live Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 5-1 |
| 2 | Albus | Riley Mott | Manny Franco | 50-1 |
| 3 | Intrepido | Jeff Mullins | Hector Berrios | 55-1 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 34-1 |
| 6 | Commandment | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | 7-1 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon (JPN) | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | 14-1 |
| 8 | So Happy | Mark Glatt | Mike Smith | 6-1 |
| 9 | The Puma | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano | 8-1 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean (UAE) | Daisuke Takayanagi | Ryusei Sakai | 20-1 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | 27-1 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | 9-1 |
| 14 | Potente | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | 23-1 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 11-1 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Doug O’Neill | Edwin Maldonado | 52-1 |
| 17 | Six Speed (UAE) | Bhupat Seemar | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 40-1 |
| 18 | Further Ado | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | 7-1 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Cherie Devaux | Jose Ortiz | 36-1 |
| 21 | Great White | John Ennis | Alex Achard | 29-1 |
| 22 | Ocelli | D. Whitworth Beckman | Joseph Ramos | 50-1 |
| 23 | Robusta | Doug O’Neill | Emisael Jaramillo | 50-1 |
Scratched: Right to Party (#5), Silent Tactic (#13), Fulleffort (#20) International Tags: (JPN) qualified via the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, (UAE) qualified via the UAE Derby
Free Printable Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses List PDF
Take the full field with you on race day. The free printable PDF includes every post position, horse, trainer, jockey, and live odds on one clean A4 page, plus a Derby Day schedule with US time zones, ruled space for race-day notes, and “MY PICK” and “FINISH” columns to track your picks.
Download the printable Kentucky Derby 2026 horses list PDF
The sheet works for home parties, group viewing pools, and trackside use at Churchill Downs. Print a few copies if you share the Derby fun with friends.
2026 Kentucky Derby Favorites: Top Contenders
The live odds tell one story, but the real action lies in why bettors back each horse. Here are the most likely winners as the gate approaches.
Renegade (Post 1, 5-1)
The Todd Pletcher-trained colt remains the betting favorite after a four-length win in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28. Irad Ortiz Jr. has ridden Renegade in both 2026 prep wins. The downside is post 1, the toughest gate in the field. No horse has won the Kentucky Derby from the rail since Ferdinand in 1986.
So Happy (Post 8, 6-1)
So Happy surged into co-favorite position after winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith is a two-time Derby winner with Giacomo (2005) and Justify (2018). The veteran rider and a clean stalker style make So Happy a serious threat from a favorable inside post.
Commandment (Post 6, 7-1)
Brad Cox saddles the Florida Derby winner. Commandment caught The Puma by a nose at Gulfstream Park on March 28, the latest of four straight wins that also include the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes in February. Luis Saez is 0 for 12 in the Kentucky Derby and looking for his breakthrough.
Further Ado (Post 18, 7-1)
Cox’s second contender delivered the most dominant prep performance of the cycle, an 11-length runaway in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 4. Hall of Famer John Velazquez picks up the Derby mount because Ortiz stays loyal to Renegade. Velazquez is a three-time Kentucky Derby winner.
The Puma (Post 9, 8-1)
The Puma finished a close second to Commandment in the Florida Derby and gets a re-match here. Trainer Gustavo Delgado works with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who won the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage.
Chief Wallabee (Post 12, 9-1)
Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado return with the same connections that won the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty. Alvarado is chasing back-to-back roses and the colt adds blinkers for the Derby, a sharp equipment change.
Dark Horses Worth Watching
Three mid-priced runners have a real case if the pace falls right.
- Emerging Market (Post 15, 11-1): Undefeated in two starts and reunites Chad Brown with Flavien Prat, the 2019 Derby winner.
- Danon Bourbon (Post 7, 14-1): The Japanese-trained front-runner has won all three career starts by a combined 18 lengths. The Kentucky Derby is his first United States race.
- Wonder Dean (Post 10, 20-1): The UAE Derby winner arrived from Dubai on April 1 and is one of the most lightly tested horses in the field.
Post Position Notes for the 2026 Kentucky Derby
The post draw matters more in the Kentucky Derby than in any other American race. With 20 horses fighting for position into the first turn, the gate you start in shapes your trip.
- Post 5 has produced the most Kentucky Derby winners ever with 10. That gate is vacant after Right to Party scratched.
- Post 17 has never produced a winner since the starting gate was introduced in 1930. Six Speed draws it.
- Post 20 has the highest win percentage at 10.5 percent (Big Brown 2008, Rich Strike 2022). With Fulleffort out, Robusta drew in to fill the field.
- Nine of the past 15 Kentucky Derby winners (60 percent) started from posts 13 or wider, suggesting traffic-free trips matter more than saving ground.
How to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby
NBC and Peacock carry the Kentucky Derby telecast. For full TV channels, live stream options, and post time in every US time zone, see our Kentucky Derby 2026 TV schedule and live stream hub. NBC coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET, with extended undercard coverage on Peacock and NBCSN starting at 12 p.m. ET. The race itself is scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET. Post time can vary slightly based on how quickly the horses load.
Post time in US time zones:
- Eastern: 6:57 p.m.
- Central: 5:57 p.m.
- Mountain: 4:57 p.m.
- Pacific: 3:57 p.m.
2026 Kentucky Derby Purse Breakdown
The 2026 Kentucky Derby carries a $5 million purse, paid to the top five finishers.
- 1st place: $3.1 million
- 2nd place: $1 million
- 3rd place: $500,000
- 4th place: $250,000
- 5th place: $150,000
The purse increased to $5 million in 2024 ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby and has remained at that level since.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many horses run in the Kentucky Derby 2026?
20 horses start the 2026 Kentucky Derby, the maximum field size in American Thoroughbred racing. Three horses scratched after the post position draw (Silent Tactic, Fulleffort, and Right to Party), and three also-eligibles drew in (Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta) to keep the full 20-horse field.
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Renegade is the betting favorite at 5-1 odds, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. So Happy is the second choice at 6-1, with Commandment, Further Ado, and The Puma all in the 7-1 to 8-1 range. Live odds will continue to shift through post time.
Which horses scratched from the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Three horses scratched after the post position draw: Silent Tactic (#13, foot injury), Fulleffort (#20, ankle injury), and Right to Party (#5). All three were replaced by also-eligibles Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta to maintain the 20-horse field.
How much does the 2026 Kentucky Derby winner get?
The winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby earns $3.1 million from the $5 million total purse. Second place earns $1 million, third $500,000, fourth $250,000, and fifth $150,000.
Can morning line odds change before the race?
Yes. Morning line odds are set by the track oddsmaker after the post draw. Actual betting odds shift live based on wagering volume from Friday morning through post time on Saturday. The odds in this guide reflect the live market as of Friday evening, May 1, 2026.
Who won the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The colt was trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the same connections that bring Chief Wallabee to the 2026 starting gate.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby has reshaped itself in the final 48 hours. Renegade and So Happy lead a tight betting market, three Brad Cox horses press the favorites, and Bill Mott chases a second straight Run for the Roses with Chief Wallabee. Print the updated horses list, pick your favorite, and enjoy the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Happy Derby Day 2026.