The 152nd Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs with a post time of approximately 6:57 p.m. ET. The post position draw is complete, all 20 starters are locked in, and morning line odds are official. Whether you watch from the grandstand, your couch, or a Derby party, a printable list of every horse, trainer, jockey, and odds keeps you in the action from gate to wire.
This guide gives you the full Kentucky Derby 2026 horses list with verified data from the April 25 post position draw, plus a free printable PDF and brief notes on the favorites and longshots worth watching.
Quick Facts: Kentucky Derby 2026
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Post Time: Approximately 6:57 p.m. ET
- Venue: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Field Size: 20 horses
- Morning Line Favorite: Renegade (4-1)
- TV Broadcast: NBC, USA Network, Peacock
For full TV coverage, post time in every time zone, and live stream options, see our Kentucky Derby 2026 TV schedule and live stream guide.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses List: Full Field with Trainers, Jockeys and Odds
Below is the complete and verified field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Post positions were drawn at Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Morning line odds were set by new Churchill Downs oddsmaker Nick Tammaro, who took over in April 2026 after Mike Battaglia retired following 51 years in the role.
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Morning Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 4-1 |
| 2 | Albus | Riley Mott | Manny Franco | 30-1 |
| 3 | Intrepido | Jeff Mullins | Hector Berrios | 50-1 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 30-1 |
| 5 | Right to Party | Kenny McPeek | Chris Elliott | 30-1 |
| 6 | Commandment | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | 6-1 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | 20-1 |
| 8 | So Happy | Mark Glatt | Mike Smith | 15-1 |
| 9 | The Puma | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano | 10-1 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | Daisuke Takayanagi | Ryusei Sakai | 30-1 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | 20-1 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | 8-1 |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | Mark Casse | Cristian Torres | 20-1 |
| 14 | Potente | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | 20-1 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 15-1 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Doug O’Neill | Edwin Maldonado | 30-1 |
| 17 | Six Speed | Bhupat Seemar | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 50-1 |
| 18 | Further Ado | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | 6-1 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Cherie Devaux | Jose Ortiz | 30-1 |
| 20 | Fulleffort | Brad Cox | Tyler Gaffalione | 20-1 |
Also-eligible: Great White (#21), Ocelli (#22), Robusta (#23), Corona de Oro (#24). If a horse scratches from the main body of the field, the also-eligible list moves up one by one, with the next horse drawing into post 20.
Download the 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 name, trainer, jockey, and morning line odds on one clean A4 page. There is room for notes, picks, and final results.
Download 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 5 Contenders
The morning line tells one story, but the real action lies in why the oddsmakers favor each horse. Here are the five most likely winners.
Renegade (Post 1, 4-1)
The Todd Pletcher-trained colt enters as the morning line 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: post 1 is the toughest gate in the field. No horse has won from the rail since Ferdinand in 1986.
Commandment (Post 6, 6-1)
Brad Cox saddles the Florida Derby winner, who tops the qualifying-points leaderboard with 150 points. Commandment rallied late to catch 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.
Further Ado (Post 18, 6-1)
Cox’s second co-favorite 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 Derby winner.
Chief Wallabee (Post 12, 8-1)
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Chief Wallabee carries the same connections that won the 2025 Derby with Sovereignty. Alvarado is chasing back-to-back roses. The colt will add blinkers for the Derby, a sharp equipment change.
The Puma (Post 9, 10-1)
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 Derby with Mage.
Dark Horses Worth Watching
Three mid-priced longshots have a real case if the pace falls right. So Happy (Post 8, 15-1) won the Santa Anita Derby for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, a two-time Derby winner with Giacomo (2005) and Justify (2018). Emerging Market (Post 15, 15-1) is undefeated in two starts and reunites Chad Brown with Flavien Prat, the 2019 Derby winner. Potente (Post 14, 20-1) is a lightly raced Bob Baffert colt who finished second in the Santa Anita Derby. Baffert has won this race six times.
Post Position Notes for 2026
The post draw matters more in the 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 Derby winners ever with 10. Right to Party draws this gate.
- 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% (Big Brown 2008, Rich Strike 2022). Fulleffort gets the outside draw.
Nine of the last 15 Kentucky Derby winners (60%) started from post 13 or wider, suggesting traffic-free trips matter more than saving ground.
Also Check: Kentucky Derby 2026 Odds: Full Field, Favorites & Predictions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many horses run in the Kentucky Derby 2026?
20 horses start the Kentucky Derby 2026, the maximum field size and the largest in American Thoroughbred racing. Four also-eligible horses can draw in if a horse from the main body of the field scratches before the race.
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Renegade is the morning line favorite at 4-1 odds. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Renegade enters off a four-length win in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. Commandment and Further Ado are co-second choices at 6-1.
When is the Kentucky Derby 2026 and what time does it start?
The 152nd Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Post time is approximately 6:57 p.m. ET. For full schedule details and time zone conversions, see our Kentucky Derby 2026 schedule guide.
Can morning line odds change before the race?
Yes. Morning line odds are projections set by the track oddsmaker. Actual betting odds shift live based on wagering volume from Friday morning through post time on Saturday. Final odds at post time can differ significantly from the morning line.
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. Sovereignty went on to win the Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and Travers later that year. For the full list of past winners, see our Kentucky Derby winners archive.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is shaping up as one of the deepest fields in recent memory. Renegade carries the favorite tag despite the rail. Brad Cox brings three contenders. Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado chase back-to-back roses with Chief Wallabee. Print the horses list, pick your favorite, and enjoy the most exciting two minutes in sports. Happy Derby Day 2026.