What time is the 2026 Kentucky Derby? A list of post times
TL;DR
The 2026 Kentucky Derby will take place on May 2 in Louisville, Kentucky, with events starting on April 25. The race is known as the fastest two minutes in sports.
Key points
- The 2026 Kentucky Derby is on May 2.
- It takes place in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Events start on April 25.
- The race is known as the fastest two minutes in sports.
Mentioned in this story
The 152nd Kentucky Derby is this weekend!
The 2026 Run for the Roses is in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 2. A whole week of events, which kicked off April 25, ends with the annual race at Churchill Downs.
But what time does the race start? Here's what you should know about the fastest two minutes in sports.
Jockey Junior Alvarado and Sovereignty were bathed in the finish line light as they won the 2025 Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
When is the Kentucky Derby 2026?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is May 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.
What time does the Kentucky Derby start?
Gates open at 9 a.m., and the first post is scheduled for 11 a.m. There are 14 races in total, but the official Kentucky Derby post time is 6:57 p.m. ET. The 150th Run for the Roses will be race No. 12 of the day.
2026 Kentucky Derby post times
- Race 1: 11 a.m.
- Race 2: 11:32 a.m.
- Race 3: 12:05 p.m.
- Race 4: 12:38 p.m.
- Race 5: 1:12 p.m.
- Race 6: 1:53 p.m.
- Race 7: 2:38 p.m.
- Race 8: 3:23 p.m.
- Race 9: 4:06 p.m.
- Race 10: 4:50 p.m.
- Race 11: 5:39 p.m.
- Race 12: 6:57 p.m.
- Race 13: 8:00 p.m.
- Race 14: 8:33 p.m.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is a top-rank, Grade l stakes race for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses and the first leg of the Triple Crown races. A total of 20 horses compete.
The 1 ¼-mile race is run on the dirt race track in Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, where it has been held every year since its start in 1875. According to the Kentucky Derby website, more than 150,000 people attend the event yearly. The 2026 Kentucky Derby will feature a purse of $5 million.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What time does the Kentucky Derby start? A list of post times
Q&A
What is the date and location of the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for May 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.
When do the events leading up to the Kentucky Derby start?
The events leading up to the Kentucky Derby begin on April 25, 2026.
What is the significance of the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is known as the fastest two minutes in sports and is a prestigious horse racing event.