The Athletic covers the match live 2024 Kentucky Derbythe 150th anniversary.
The 2024 Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 4 on NBC/Peacock) will be the 150th edition of the annual horse race in Louisville, Kentucky. Celebrities, famous athletes and horse racing enthusiasts (plus three of the AthleticismStaff from ) will descend on Churchill Downs for the annual Race for the Roses.
Who will wear the most ridiculous hats? What should I know about Mystik Dan? Why is Tom Brady on my screen? All your answers are below, and be ready to participate in Derby Day and get plenty of ice cream for your mint juleps – there will be more than six hours of television coverage on NBC.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is the premier horse race in the United States, held annually on the first Saturday in May. It is frequently called the Race for the Roses because a blanket of red roses is placed on the winning horse in the winner’s circle. The field is limited to 20 horses each year and they qualify for the race through a series of points races. Only horses three years old are eligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and it is open to both male and female horses. A filly (a horse) has not won the Kentucky Derby since Winning Colors’ triumph in 1988.
GO FURTHER
What makes Churchill Downs so special? The Quirks and Traditions of the Home of the Kentucky Derby
When is the 2024 Kentucky Derby?
The 2024 Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
How long is the Kentucky Derby?
The race is 1 1/4 miles long. Secretariat set the Kentucky Derby record in 1973 with a running time of 1:59 2/5. This record was set 50 years ago and still stands today. The race is commonly referred to as “the fastest two minutes in sport” (with variations also crowning it “the most beautiful two minutes” and “the most exciting two minutes”).
Where can I read all of your excellent and insightful Kentucky Derby coverage?
Thanks for asking! There’s a section at the bottom here that has links to all the stories we’ve done. We’ll update this as we release more, leading up to Saturday’s race.
Who won the 2023 Kentucky Derby?
In 2023, Mage won the Kentucky Derby by a length at odds of 15-1. Two Phil’s finished second and Angel of Empire third. Mage finished third in the Preakness to end his Triple Crown bid.
What is the weather forecast for the 2024 Kentucky Derby?
The forecast for Saturday calls for a high of 80 degrees and a low of 62 degrees. There is a 25 percent chance of rain showers on Saturday.
When will the drawing for 2024 Kentucky Derby positions take place?
The drawing for the 2024 Kentucky Derby positions took place last Saturday. Each of the 20 Kentucky Derby horses was assigned a starting spot in the starting gate. This can greatly affect which horse wins the Derby, as certain starting positions have a better chance of winning than others.
What time does the 2024 Kentucky Derby start?
The end time for the 150th Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. ET. The Kentucky Derby isn’t the only Derby Day race at Churchill Downs: More than 10 races will take place starting at 10 a.m.
How can I watch and stream the 2024 Kentucky Derby?
Television coverage of the 2024 Kentucky Derby begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. All coverage can also be streamed on Peacock.
GO FURTHER
Five long-standing Kentucky Derby traditions
Who is the favorite for the 2024 Kentucky Derby?
Fierceness is the 5-2 “morning line” favorite after the draw. Ferocity is assigned to starting gate #17. No horse from the No. 17 starting gate has ever won the Kentucky Derby.
What does the morning line mean?
This is the first set of odds, published after the position announcement. Horse racing is parimutuel betting, meaning you can buy a ticket on the horse you want to win (or venue or show, etc.), but the odds will fluctuate until the race starts and eventually land on the final odds as the horses go, depending on what everyone else is betting. In classic sports betting, you can buy a ticket with odds of 5 to 1 and even if it drops to 2 to 1 at the start of the game, your bet will pay out at 5 to 1. In horse racing, these odds from 5 to 1 going to 2 to 1 means you get stuck with those 2 to 1 odds like everyone else, no matter when you bought the ticket (but, on the bright side, the odds can still go in the other direction as well).
What is the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks is the first race on the Friday horse racing calendar. It pits the best 3-year-old fillies against each other. It is scheduled for 5:51 p.m. ET and will air in the United States and stream on Peacock. Television coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET Friday.
The entire Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs is also full of great undercard racing and promising horses.
The Oaks has also been held for 150 years.
What is a mint julep?
A mint julep is a bourbon cocktail that is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. The ingredients for a mint julep include bourbon, sugar, water, crushed ice, and fresh mint (which Eddie Hansel, director of the American Campari Academy, says you should slap before you add it to the cup to release its flavor). Some Mint Juleps replace the sugar with simple syrup. Hansel uses cubes in some of his variations. You can see (and make) his creations here.
How does Kentucky Derby betting work?
There are many different ways to bet on the Kentucky Derby, and it can be confusing to understand what an exacta, a trifecta, and a superfecta are. It is also confusing how to bet on them.
The easiest way is to bet on the winner of the race. Here we have explained all the different types of horse racing betting.
A guide to our 2024 Kentucky Derby coverage: hats, glasses, long bets and more
We have a lot of coverage on the 150th Kentucky Derby. A lot. Everything from expert picks to our experience in securing an official hat made by Derby’s most famous milliner. In an effort to keep things organized, we created this “menu” to put everything in one place. Below, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy your 2024 Kentucky Derby experience — even recipes for mint juleps and a deeper look at the drink’s history and meaning.
Appreciate! Have fun! And good luck!
Odds, Expert Picks and Long Shots
| JOB | HORSE | JOCKEY | ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Dornoch |
Luis Saez |
20-1 |
|
2 |
Sierra Leone |
Tyler Gaffalione |
3-1 |
|
3 |
Mystic Dan |
Brian Hernandez Jr. |
20-1 |
|
4 |
Catch freedom |
Flavien Prat |
8-1 |
|
5 |
Catalytic |
Jose Ortiz |
30-1 |
|
6 |
Just steel |
Keith Asmussen |
20-1 |
|
7 |
Honor Marie |
Ben Curtis |
20-1 |
|
8 |
Just a touch |
Florent Géroux |
10-1 |
|
9 |
Encino |
STRIPED |
|
|
ten |
To Password |
Kazushi Kimura |
30-1 |
|
11 |
Forever Young |
Ryusei Sakai |
10-1 |
|
12 |
Follow the ghost |
Joel Rosario |
20-1 |
|
13 |
West Saratoga |
Jesus Castanón |
50-1 |
|
14 |
Non-stop |
Umberto Rispoli |
30-1 |
|
15 |
National product |
Irad Ortiz Jr. |
30-1 |
|
16 |
Big Mo the first |
Emisael Jaramillo |
50-1 |
|
17 |
Ferocity |
John Velázquez |
5-2 |
|
18 |
Bastion |
Antonio Fresu |
20-1 |
|
19 |
Resilience |
Junior Alvarado |
20-1 |
|
20 |
Society man |
Frankie Dettori |
50-1 |
|
21 |
Epic ride |
Adam Beschizza |
50-1 |
|
ALTERNATE |
Mugatu |
Joe Talamo |
50-1 |
Kentucky Derby Explained
The people, stories and culture that make up the Kentucky Derby
The mint julep
Kentucky Derby Party Props Sheet (downloadable!)
News
(Top photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)
