Kentucky Derby 2025
Saturday, May 3, 2025 − Churchill Downs
Top Kentucky Derby News
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Strategy pays off as Built triumphs in Gun Runner Stakes
Marcus Hersh Dec 21,2024
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Coal Battle grabs Derby points with Springboard Mile upset
Mary Rampellini Dec 14,2024
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Journalism writes his way into divisional picture with Los Alamitos Futurity win
Steve Andersen Dec 14,2024
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Poster noses Aviator Gui in Remsen, capping big week for trainer Harty
David Grening Dec 07,2024
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First Resort continues progress, takes Kentucky Jockey Club
Marcus Hersh Nov 30,2024
Road to the Derby
| Date | Race / Track / Distance | Winner / Beyer | |||||
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| Saturday, Sep 14, 2024 |
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Jonathan’s Way 90 | Race Recap View Chart |
Jonathan’s Way
90
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| Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 |
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East Avenue 95 | Race Recap View Chart |
East Avenue
95
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| Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 |
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Citizen Bull 88 | Race Recap View Chart |
Citizen Bull
88
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| Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 |
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Chancer McPatrick 92 | Race Recap View Chart |
Chancer McPatrick
92
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| Sunday, Oct 27, 2024 |
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Sovereignty 87 | Race Recap View Chart |
Sovereignty
87
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| Friday, Nov 1, 2024 |
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Citizen Bull 96 | Race Recap View Chart |
Citizen Bull
96
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| Saturday, Nov 30, 2024 |
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First Resort 88 | Race Recap View Chart |
First Resort
88
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| Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 |
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Poster 84 | Race Recap View Chart |
Poster
84
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| Friday, Dec 13, 2024 |
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Coal Battle 84 | Race Recap View Chart |
Coal Battle
84
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| Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 |
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Journalism 87 | Race Recap View Chart |
Journalism
87
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| Saturday, Dec 21, 2024 |
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Built | Race Recap View Chart |
Built
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| Saturday, Jan 4, 2025 |
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| Saturday, Jan 4, 2025 |
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| Saturday, Apr 12, 2025 |
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European Road to the Derby
| Date | Race / Track / Distance | Winner | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sep 28, 2024 |
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Hotazhell |
Hotazhell
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| Saturday, Sep 28, 2024 |
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Wimbledon Hawkeye |
Wimbledon Hawkeye
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| Sunday, Oct 6, 2024 |
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Camille Pissarro |
Camille Pissarro
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| Saturday, Oct 26, 2024 |
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Hotazhell |
Hotazhell
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| Friday, Feb 28, 2025 |
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| Saturday, Apr 5, 2025 |
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Japan Road to the Derby
| Date | Race / Track / Distance | Winner | |||||||
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| Saturday, Nov 23, 2024 |
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| Wednesday, Dec 11, 2024 |
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| Sunday, Feb 16, 2025 |
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All Top Kentucky Derby News
Strategy pays off as Built triumphs in Gun Runner Stakes
Marcus Hersh
Dec 21,2024
After the 2-year-old Hard Spun colt Built won a seven-furlong maiden race, his second start, in October at Keeneland, trainer Wayne Catalano and owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners decided to skip the
Coal Battle grabs Derby points with Springboard Mile upset
Mary Rampellini
Dec 14,2024
Coal Battle picked up 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby on Friday night when he closed for a half-length win over Speed King in the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Pa
Journalism writes his way into divisional picture with Los Alamitos Futurity win
Steve Andersen
Dec 14,2024
CYPRESS, Calif. – Seven weeks after his first start, Journalism won his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity to gain a place among the leading 3-year-old prospects of 2025.
Poster noses Aviator Gui in Remsen, capping big week for trainer Harty
David Grening
Dec 07,2024
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As he watched the stretch run of Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes on a television set in the Aqueduct paddock, Eoin Harty, the trainer of Poster, did the lean done by ma
First Resort continues progress, takes Kentucky Jockey Club
Marcus Hersh
Nov 30,2024
The trainer Eoin Harty’s first 2-year-old start of 2024 came on July 5 at Ellis Park, when the Godolphin homebred First Resort scored a snappy maiden sprint win. On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Firs
Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Baffert not setting plans for Citizen Bull, Gaming just yet
David Grening
Nov 02,2024
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert may be able to dream about the Kentucky Derby again but as of Saturday morning, he had no set plans as it pertained to Citizen Bull and Gaming, the one-two
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Baffert lands record victory with gate-to-wire score by Citizen Bull
David Grening
Nov 01,2024
DEL MAR, Calif. – After a three-year banishment from the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert will be permitted to run horses in the world’s most famous horse race in 2025.
It’s six month
First Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool opens Wednesday
Matt Hegarty
Oct 28,2024
Churchill Downs will open its first 2025 Kentucky Derby future wager pool this Wednesday with 38 individual 2-year-olds on offer as well as two field bets.
This is the third year that Churchill has
Sovereignty goes last to first in Street Sense
Nicole Russo
Oct 27,2024
It was a coming-out party for some of the powerful Godolphin stable’s young stars on Sunday, as homebreds carrying the outfit’s blue swept the stakes that were co-features on the “Stars of Tomor
Chancer McPatrick goes from last to first to stay unbeaten in Champagne Stakes
David Grening
Oct 05,2024
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Chancer McPatrick delivered an eye-catching last-to-first victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct that could very well send him to Del Mar as the fa
Citizen Bull punches ticket to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in American Pharoah Stakes
Steve Andersen
Oct 05,2024
ARCADIA, Calif. – A random phone call from jockey Martin Garcia to trainer Bob Baffert in the middle of the week led to Garcia riding the outstanding 2-year-old Citizen Bull to a win in the Grade 1
Jonathan’s Way picks up first Derby points in Iroquois
Nicole Russo
Sep 14,2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After Jonathan's Way overcame trouble for a dominant maiden victory last month at Saratoga, circling the field after being pinched back at the break, trainer Phil Bauer liked
Road to the Derby Series tweaked for 2025
Matt Hegarty
Sep 06,2024
The Road to the Kentucky Derby Series that determines preferences for horses getting into the Derby starting gate has been tweaked this year to award a lower total number of points in races that do no
2025 Virginia Derby moved to dirt, added to Kentucky Derby trail
Marcus Hersh
Aug 12,2024
Colonial Downs, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., on Sunday announced it would host a four-day race meeting next March in addition to its regular summer season running from late July through ear
Kentucky Derby Point Standings
Rank
Horse/Trainer
Horse/
Trainer
Horse
Trainer
Points
Non-Restricted Stakes
Earnings
1
Citizen Bull
Bob Baffert
Citizen Bull
Bob Baffert
40
1,256,000
2
Gaming
Bob Baffert
Gaming
Bob Baffert
15
520,000
3
Jonathan’s Way
Philip Bauer
Jonathan’s Way
Philip Bauer
15
213,350
4
Getaway Car
Bob Baffert
Getaway Car
Bob Baffert
11
268,000
5
Chancer McPatrick
Chad Brown
Chancer McPatrick
Chad Brown
10
480,000
6
East Avenue
Brendan Walsh
East Avenue
Brendan Walsh
10
368,750
7
First Resort
Eoin Harty
First Resort
Eoin Harty
10
296,776
8
Poster
Eoin Harty
Poster
Eoin Harty
10
137,500
9
Sovereignty
Bill Mott
Sovereignty
Bill Mott
10
119,820
10
Hill Road
Adrian Murray
Hill Road
Adrian Murray
9
180,000
11
Tiztastic
Steve Asmussen
Tiztastic
Steve Asmussen
8
665,800
12
Ferocious
Gustavo Delgado
Ferocious
Gustavo Delgado
8
232,500
13
Dapper Moon
Dallas Stewart
Dapper Moon
Dallas Stewart
6
46,328
14
Owen Almighty
Brian Lynch
Owen Almighty
Brian Lynch
5
163,060
15
Tip Top Thomas
Todd Pletcher
Tip Top Thomas
Todd Pletcher
5
100,000
16
Aviator Gui
Chad Brown
Aviator Gui
Chad Brown
5
59,000
17
Sandman
Mark E. Casse
Sandman
Mark E. Casse
4
27,995
18
Mo Plex
Jeremiah Englehart
Mo Plex
Jeremiah Englehart
3
156,250
19
McKinzie Street
Tim Yakteen
McKinzie Street
Tim Yakteen
3
96,000
20
Filoso
Chad Summers
Filoso
Chad Summers
3
59,875
21
Giocoso
Keith Desormeaux
Giocoso
Keith Desormeaux
3
33,025
22
Mesero
Dale Romans
Mesero
Dale Romans
3
31,200
23
Tux
Bill Mott
Tux
Bill Mott
3
30,000
24
Studlydowright
John Robb
Studlydowright
John Robb
2
247,250
25
Smokem Wicked
Dallas Stewart
Smokem Wicked
Dallas Stewart
2
109,200
26
Emerald Bay
Bob Baffert
Emerald Bay
Bob Baffert
2
18,000
27
Vekoma Rides
John Kimmel
Vekoma Rides
John Kimmel
1
20,000
28
Render Judgement
Kenny McPeek
Render Judgement
Kenny McPeek
1
11,610
29
Keewaydin
Chad Brown
Keewaydin
Chad Brown
1
10,000
30
Show of Force
Todd Fincher
Show of Force
Todd Fincher
1
8,000
31
Bracket Buster
Victoria Oliver
Bracket Buster
Victoria Oliver
1
5,820
About the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown series for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Held each year at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on the first Saturday in May, the track has presented the race continuously since 1875. The Derby is run at the distance of 1 1/4 miles and is arguably the most famous horse race in the world.
Horses compete in the Kentucky Derby after qualifying through a series of preparatory races known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby. These stakes races are held at racetracks across the country and award Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers. The Derby starters are comprised of the horses with the most qualifying points, with two of the 20 spots reserved for the top qualifiers from the European and Japanese Road to the Derby qualifying events.
The Kentucky Derby has many traditions, including drinking mint juleps, wearing festive hats, and singing "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses enter the track. Its sister race, the Kentucky Oaks, exclusively for 3-year-old fillies, takes place the day before the Kentucky Derby, on the first Friday in May. Both Oaks Day and Derby Day are treated as local holidays in Louisville.
The horse who wins the Kentucky Derby receives a blanket of red roses, the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. The race is commonly referred to as the “Run for the Roses.”
The winning horse becomes the only horse eligible to complete that year's Triple Crown, by running in and winning the two other legs of the series. The middle "jewel" is the Preakness Stakes two weeks later at Pimilco Race Course in Baltimore, and the final leg is the Belmont Stakes three weeks after the Preakness at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. In 2024 and 2025, the Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park.
Kentucky Derby Point Standings
Rank
Horse/Trainer
Horse
Trainer
Points
1
Citizen Bull
Bob Baffert
Citizen Bull
Bob Baffert
40
2
Gaming
Bob Baffert
Gaming
Bob Baffert
15
3
Jonathan’s Way
Philip Bauer
Jonathan’s Way
Philip Bauer
15
4
Getaway Car
Bob Baffert
Getaway Car
Bob Baffert
11
5
Chancer McPatrick
Chad Brown
Chancer McPatrick
Chad Brown
10
6
East Avenue
Brendan Walsh
East Avenue
Brendan Walsh
10
7
First Resort
Eoin Harty
First Resort
Eoin Harty
10
8
Poster
Eoin Harty
Poster
Eoin Harty
10
9
Sovereignty
Bill Mott
Sovereignty
Bill Mott
10
10
Hill Road
Adrian Murray
Hill Road
Adrian Murray
9
11
Tiztastic
Steve Asmussen
Tiztastic
Steve Asmussen
8
12
Ferocious
Gustavo Delgado
Ferocious
Gustavo Delgado
8
13
Dapper Moon
Dallas Stewart
Dapper Moon
Dallas Stewart
6
14
Owen Almighty
Brian Lynch
Owen Almighty
Brian Lynch
5
15
Tip Top Thomas
Todd Pletcher
Tip Top Thomas
Todd Pletcher
5
16
Aviator Gui
Chad Brown
Aviator Gui
Chad Brown
5
17
Sandman
Mark E. Casse
Sandman
Mark E. Casse
4
18
Mo Plex
Jeremiah Englehart
Mo Plex
Jeremiah Englehart
3
19
McKinzie Street
Tim Yakteen
McKinzie Street
Tim Yakteen
3
20
Filoso
Chad Summers
Filoso
Chad Summers
3
21
Giocoso
Keith Desormeaux
Giocoso
Keith Desormeaux
3
22
Mesero
Dale Romans
Mesero
Dale Romans
3
23
Tux
Bill Mott
Tux
Bill Mott
3
24
Studlydowright
John Robb
Studlydowright
John Robb
2
25
Smokem Wicked
Dallas Stewart
Smokem Wicked
Dallas Stewart
2
26
Emerald Bay
Bob Baffert
Emerald Bay
Bob Baffert
2
27
Vekoma Rides
John Kimmel
Vekoma Rides
John Kimmel
1
28
Render Judgement
Kenny McPeek
Render Judgement
Kenny McPeek
1
29
Keewaydin
Chad Brown
Keewaydin
Chad Brown
1
30
Show of Force
Todd Fincher
Show of Force
Todd Fincher
1
31
Bracket Buster
Victoria Oliver
Bracket Buster
Victoria Oliver
1
Recent Kentucky Derby Winners
| Year | Horse/Trainer | Horse | Trainer | Beyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Kenny McPeek
|
Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | 100 |
| 2023 |
Gustavo Delgado
|
Mage | Gustavo Delgado | 105 |
| 2022 |
Eric Reed
|
Rich Strike | Eric Reed | 101 |
| 2021 |
Brad Cox
|
Mandaloun | Brad Cox | 101 |
| 2020 |
Bob Baffert
|
Authentic | Bob Baffert | 105 |
| 2019 |
Bill Mott
|
Country House | Bill Mott | 99 |
| 2018 |
Bob Baffert
|
Justify | Bob Baffert | 103 |
| 2017 |
Todd Pletcher
|
Always Dreaming | Todd Pletcher | 102 |
| 2016 |
Doug O'Neill
|
Nyquist | Doug O'Neill | 103 |
| 2015 |
Bob Baffert
|
American Pharoah | Bob Baffert | 105 |
| 2014 |
Art Sherman
|
California Chrome | Art Sherman | 97 |
| 2013 |
Shug McGaughey
|
Orb | Shug McGaughey | 104 |
Q: Who is eligible to run?
The Kentucky Derby is open only to 3-year-olds that are nominated to the Triple Crown series, and have earned enough qualifying points.
Q: How do horses earn qualifying points?
Horses earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby through a series of prep races run September – April at multiple tracks across the country. Points available for the races range from 1-100, depending on the quality of the race and where the horse finishes. View the full list of “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying races at left.
Q: How many horses can start in the race?
Currently a maximum of 20 horses can run in the Kentucky Derby. The largest field was 23 horses (1974) for the 100th running of the Kentucky Derby. The smallest field was just 3 horses (1892 and 1905).