Kentucky Derby 2026: Odds, post positions, TV schedule, and more

Who to watch in the Kentucky Derby

As you can see in the above table, Renegade enters the 2026 Kentucky Derby as the favorite, but the Todd A. Pletcher-trained horse drew the inside #1 post, which could pose a problem on Saturday. The last horse to win from “the rail” was Ferdinand, which happened before many of you were alive back in 1986. Historically, just 8.3% of Kentucky Derby winners started in the #1 post.

Commandment enters the 2026 Kentucky Derby on an incredible winning streak, as the 3-year-old colt has won four straight races. That includes the Florida Derby, an event that has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners. In that race, Commandment “averaged a 22.92-foot stride length and ran the final furlong in just 12.32 seconds, 0.36 seconds faster than any other horse in the field.”

Further Ado is another horse to watch in this field. The horse, also trained by Brad H. Cox, Commandment’s trainer, secured a 20-length win at Keeneland last October, for its maiden victory. Add in Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, and you could have a winning recipe.

As of Friday morning three horses — Right to Party, Silent Tactic, and Fulleffort — have been scratched from the field.

Anything else I should know?

If you are hosting a Derby Party you will need a few things. First, the perfect mint julep. Assuming you can find good mint, Alton Brown’s recipe and technique is a good recipe to follow. The Kentucky Derby also has a recipe you can follow.

Second, you’ll need the right menu. The Kentucky Derby has shared the “Derby At Home” menu which includes chicken salad sandwiches, char-grilled short ribs with pomegranate and fennel, honey bourbon grilled chicken, brown sugar glazed carrots, and more.