The 149th Kentucky Derby is taking place Saturday, May 6 with 20 horses chasing victory in the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
Florida Derby winner Forte is currently the favorite to finish first in this year’s “Run for the Roses.” So far, 21 winners of the Hallandale Beach, Fla. race have gone on to win one or more Triple Crown races. Forte was also the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner in 2022 and could become just the third winner of that race to also win the Kentucky Derby.
His trainer is eight-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher, who will have a trio of starters at Churchill Downs. Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns were also trained by him, as was Major Dude who is not currently set to start. The last time a horse trained by Pletcher entered as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby was Always Dreaming in 2017. That horse won as a 4-to-1 favorite, and coincidentally he also won the Florida Derby.
Other top contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby are Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move, Arkansas Derby Winner Angel of Empire, and Blue Grass winner Tapit Trice. Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox, who has four starters in the race including Hit Show, Verifying and Jace’s Road.
Below is all the information that you need to know about the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
Date: Saturday, May 6
Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
Location: Churchill Downs
TV: NBC | Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
The Kentucky Derby is the premier horse race in the United States held on the first Saturday in May each year. It is frequently called the ‘Run for the Roses’ as a blanket of red roses is placed over the winning horse in the winner’s circle. The field is limited to 20 horses each year, and they qualify for the race through a series of point races. Only horses that are 3 years old are eligible to race in the Kentucky Derby, and it is open to both male and female horses. A filly hasn’t won the Kentucky Derby since Winning Colors won it in 1988.
The Kentucky Oaks is the premier race held Friday before the Kentucky Derby for the top three-year-old female horses (fillies). It is a $1.25 million Grade 1 stakes race. It also is one of the longest-running horse races in the world.
