Get the latest on the 2025 Kentucky Derby: race time, top horses, betting odds, and how to watch the event live from Churchill Downs.


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The 151st Kentucky Derby gallops into Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. This iconic event, known as "The Run for the Roses," showcases the finest three-year-old Thoroughbreds competing over 1¼ miles of dirt track. With a purse of $5 million, the stakes are as high as ever.

🗓️ Event Details

  • Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025

  • Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Post Time: 6:57 PM ET (4:27 AM IST on May 4)

  • Broadcast: NBC, Peacock, and USA Network

  • Race Distance: 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)

  • Surface: Dirt

🐎 Top Contenders for 2025

  • Journalism (3-1): The morning-line favorite, entering with a four-race winning streak, including the Santa Anita Derby.

  • Sandman (6-1): Known for a powerful late-closing style; winner of the Arkansas Derby.

  • Sovereignty (5-1): Consistent performer with solid past races.

  • Baeza (12-1): Recently added to the field after Rodriguez's scratch; runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby.

  • Burnham Square (12-1): Impressed in the Blue Grass Stakes; considered a valuable bet.

  • Citizen Bull: Boasts victories in the G1 American Pharoah and G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

  • Coal Battle: Emerging contender with wins in the Smarty Jones and Rebel Stakes.

⚠️ Notable Scratches

  • Rodriguez: Withdrawn due to a foot bruise.

  • Grande: Scratched following a veterinary decision regarding a cracked heel.

💰 Betting Odds Snapshot

  • Journalism: 3-1

  • Sovereignty: 5-1

  • Sandman: 6-1

  • Baeza: 12-1

  • Burnham Square: 12-1

  • Tiztastic: 20-1

  • Publisher: 20-1

Note: Odds are subject to change as race day approaches.

📺 Viewing Information

  • TV Coverage: NBC and USA Network

  • Streaming: Peacock

  • Start Time: Live coverage begins at 12 PM ET (9:30 PM IST)

🎉 Derby Day Festivities

Beyond the racetrack, Derby Day is celebrated with grandeur:

  • Fashion: Attendees don elaborate hats and stylish attire.

  • Cuisine: Traditional Southern dishes and mint juleps are staples.

  • Music & Entertainment: Live performances and parties abound.

  • Betting: Fans engage in wagering, adding excitement to the races.

FAQ

The race is scheduled to begin at 6:57 PM ET on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Coverage starts at 2:30 PM ET on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock and USA Network from 12:00 PM ET.

Journalism is the morning-line favorite with 3-1 odds.

After two scratches, 19 horses are set to compete in the race.

The total purse is $3 million, with the winner receiving approximately $1.86 million.

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