The Kentucky Derby 2026 features 20 horses, with Renegade as the favorite at 4-1 odds. Silent Tactic, co-owned by Oklahoma's John C. Oxley, is a contender with 20-1 odds.
Key points
Kentucky Derby 2026 features 20 horses
Renegade is the favorite at 4-1 odds
Silent Tactic has 20-1 odds
John C. Oxley is co-owner of Silent Tactic
Oxley has a history with the Kentucky Derby
Mentioned in this story
John C. Oxley
Kentucky Derby 2026
The Kentucky Derby is officially here with 20 horses trying to win the crown, and an Oklahoman is behind one of the top horses in the race.
As of Tuesday, the top horse is Renegade, running in first position, with a 4-1 favorability, according to The Courier Journal, a member of the USA TODAY Network. But currently, running with a 20-1 favorability is Silent Tactic, co-owned by an Oklahoma Hall of Famer and Tulsa native.
John C. Oxley, 89, was born in Tulsa and is a second-generation horseman. But this isn't his first lap around Churchill Downs. Instead, this could be the second time a horse of his wins the Run for the Roses.
Here's what to know about John C. Oxley and Silent Tactic in the upcoming Kentucky Derby.
Silent Tactic to run in Kentucky Derby
Silent Tactic is a 3-year-old male horse. He is the son of Tacitus, third-place finisher in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Renowned Triple Crown winner Secretariat appears three times in Silent Tactic's pedigree.
After winning his first race in October 2025, Silent Tactic has not placed worse than second in six starts. The bay-colored horse is 2-4-0 in six starts across his racing career, earning $1,051,922 total.
He is trained by Mark Casse. This is Casse's 11th Kentucky Derby. The highest a Casse-trained horse has placed in the Kentucky Derby was fourth place in 2017 with Classic Empire.
“I’ve been fortunate to train some good horses over the years and most of them, actually, thrive with racing, and I think he (Silent Tactic) is,” Casse said. “I think that, ultimately, it’s a bonus. He’s a well-tested horse.”
Q&A
What are the current odds for Silent Tactic in the Kentucky Derby 2026?
Silent Tactic has 20-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby 2026.
Who is John C. Oxley and what is his connection to the Kentucky Derby?
John C. Oxley is an Oklahoma Hall of Famer and co-owner of Silent Tactic, and he has previously won the Kentucky Derby.
What horse is currently favored to win the Kentucky Derby 2026?
Renegade is the top horse with 4-1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby 2026.
How many horses are competing in the Kentucky Derby 2026?
There are 20 horses competing in the Kentucky Derby 2026.
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Oxley looks to take second Derby crown
John C. Oxley, also known as Jack, gets his horse passion from his father, John T. Oxley, who was an Oklahoma gas and oilman. Both have been inducted into the National Museum of Polo Hall of Fame.
Together, Jack Oxley and his wife, Debby Oxley, have trained racing horses, bringing some great victories from their thoroughbreds. Some of their earliest wins include 1995 Kentucky Oaks winner Gal In A Ruckus, Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Sky Mesa and Grade 2 Dwyer and Super Derby winner Strong Contender.
However, their biggest win comes with Monarchos winning the 2001 Kentucky Derby. Monarchos crossed the finish line at 1:59.97, making it the second horse to finish the race in less than two minutes, a club only Secretariat and Monarchos can claim.
Winning owner John C. Oxley lifts the trophy in the winners circle after his horse Monarchos won the 127th Kentucky Derby 05 May 2001, at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. AFP PHOTO/Robert SULLIVAN (Photo by ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Winning owner John C. Oxley lifts the trophy in the winners circle after his horse Monarchos won the 127th Kentucky Derby 05 May 2001, at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. AFP PHOTO/Robert SULLIVAN (Photo by ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The Oxleys were previously in the international horse racing limelight when their mare Beautiful Pleasure won the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (now called the Ladies’ Classic), en route to being voted the 1999 Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female.
Oxley was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2011.
The Oxleys currently reside in Midway, Kentucky, and keep several broodmares at their Fawn Leap Farm, according to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Monarchos (C) with jockey Jorge Chavez aboard leads the field to the finish line in the running of the 127th Kentucky Derby 05 May 2001 at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. Monarchos won the race with Invisible Ink second and Congaree third AFP PHOTO/Don EMMERT
Monarchos (C) with jockey Jorge Chavez aboard leads the field to the finish line in the running of the 127th Kentucky Derby 05 May 2001 at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. Monarchos won the race with Invisible Ink second and Congaree third AFP PHOTO/Don EMMERT
When is 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The 152nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. Fans can view the Kentucky Derby on NBC and USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock.
2026 Kentucky Derby horse Silent Tactic during a morning workout April 23, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Silent Tactic is trained by Mark Casse.
2026 Kentucky Derby horse Silent Tactic during a morning workout April 23, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Silent Tactic is trained by Mark Casse.
Price tag: $500,000 at 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Owner: John Oxley. He’s 1 for 8 in the Derby, winning with Monarchos in 2001.
Trainer: Mark Casse. He’s 0 for 11 in the Derby, best finish coming with Classic Empire (fourth) in 2017.
Jockey: Cristian Torres. First Derby.
Record: 2-4-0 in six starts.
Career earnings: $1,051,922.
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 100 (No. 7).
Last race: Second in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park, 4 lengths behind Renegade.
