We will have expert tips for the Kentucky Derby available when the final-field markets are released by bookmakers.
2023 Kentucky Derby Draw
Stall
Name
1
Hot Show
2
Verifying
3
Two Phil's
4
Confidence Game
5
Tapit Trice
6
Kingsbarns
7
Reincarnate
8
Mage
9
Skinner
10
Practical Move
11
Disarm
12
Jace's Road
13
Sun Thunder
14
Angel Of Empire
15
Forte
16
Raise Cain
17
Derma Sotogake
18
Rocket Can
19
Lord Miles
20
Continuar
Res.
21
Cyclone Mischief
22
Mandarin Hero
23
King Russell
2023 Kentucky Derby Card
Kentucky Derby Day features 14 races which go from 10:30am local time till 8:10pm local time.
Race
Humana Distaff
Churchill Distaff
American Turf
Pat Day Mile
Churchill Downs Stakes
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby history
The Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875 after Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark visited England and watched the Epsom Derby, which sparked the idea of running a Derby in America.
It was first run over 2400m, the same as the Epsom Derby but the Kentucky Derby was changed to 2012m in 1896 to better suit the conditions of the race.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which also features the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
There have been numerous champion thoroughbreds win the Kentucky Derby, including Secretariat and American Pharoah. Both horses captured the imagination of the betting public with their classy displays of running.
Secretariat banded the nation during some tough times and his record time still stand above the rest.
American Pharoah was the most popular recent winner of the Kentucky Derby and it would later win the Triple Crown at Belmont Park.
He was the first horse to do win all three races since Affirmed in 1978.
The Bob Baffert-trained colt captured the imagination of race goers and although its career was cut short by stud duties.
Baffert scored his fourth Kentucky Derby win with American Pharoah but he trails Ben A Jones, who won six times as a trainer.
Names such as California Chrome, Animal Kingdom, Big Brown and Smarty Jones have all won the Kentucky Derby, which kick-started their great careers.
War Admiral won the Triple Crown in 1937 and would later contest the Match Race of the Century against Seabiscuit in 1938.
That race would later be the focal point of the movie "Seabiscuit" and it popularised horse racing in the movie industry.
Betting is big business on the Derby with $187 million being wagered in 2012.
Only the first five runners home receive a share of the purse, which differs from most of the biggest races around the world.
Its popularity is only growing with 158,070 people turning up to watch Always Dreaming win in 2017, despite less than ideal weather conditions.
Kentucky Derby betting guide
The Kentucky Derby is a good race for favourites' punters.
2017 winner Always Dreaming paid $6 and 2016 winner Nyquist returned $4 after an unbeaten run leading up to the race.
American Pharoah was well-supported at 5/2 and would later run at much shorter odds in the following two legs of the Triple Crown.
Punters have had a great time betting the Kentucky Derby in the last 10 years, which included a big plunge of California Chrome in 2014.
The last double-figure winner was I'll Have Another in 2012, which upset fan-favourite Bodemeister in a close finish.
Animal Kingdom scored at $30 in 2011 to cause an upset but the favoured runners are dominated in recent history.
Two-year-old form lines up well for the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby betting trends
Four winners from the past 15 years have come through the Florida Derby to win the Kentucky Derby.
The Arkansas Derby and Santa Anita Derby also have a good record for producing Kentucky Derby winners, so look for the form out of those two races.
Seven of the last eight winners had at least three starts as a two-year-old. Animal Kingdom was the only exception, which had only two starts as a juvenile.
Four undefeated horses have won the Derby since Seattle Slew in 1997. Big Brown, Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Nyquist were all unbeaten going into the Derby.
Expensive horses don’t always win the Kentucky Derby. The cheap buys include I'll Have Another ($11,000), Mine The Bird ($9,500) and Real Quiet ($17,000), which added big value following their wins.
Four active jockeys have won the race three times – Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Calvin Borel and Victor Espinoza.
Kentucky Derby lead-up races
There are many lead-up races for the Kentucky Derby but the main races take place in the months leading up to the Derby.
Tampa Bay Derby, Louisana Derby, Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby and the Arkansas Derby are all good form guides.
The Lexington at Keeneland is another good guide and is the final lead-up race for the Kentucky Derby.
International races include the Juddmonte Royal Lodge at Newmarket and the Burradon at Newcastle.
