Hold your horses, and pull out your finest hats. The 150th annual Kentucky Derby is around the bend.
The “most exciting two minutes in sports” will be here before we know it. While the race is quick, the event is unlike anything else. The Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse racing event in the world, prompting big, bright and bold fashion statements. It’s week-long event at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race, which began in 1875, is full of the most unexpected results in sports.
The Kentucky Derby is arguably the most exclusive race for horses. An event for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, there is no second-chance for these horses. They have one shot and one shot only at the crown. The stakes are high in the run for the roses, which will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Not only is it a once in a lifetime race for its competitors, it’s an unforgettable experience for fans, too.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming Kentucky Derby and how to see it in person at Churchill Downs.
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Kentucky Derby tickets 2024
Fortunately, while the Kentucky Derby is often viewed as an exclusive event, the race is widely accessible for those hoping to go.
Tickets can be purchased on StubHub for a two-day pass or Saturday only.
Listings for the two-day pass, which gives access to both the Derby and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, begin at $ 194 for general admission. The second cheapest tickets available are for the infield bleachers, which are going for $ 842. Tickets can get pretty pricey, with the most expensive pass currently going for over $ 15,000.
Fans who want to go to Churchill Downs on Saturday only can find tickets for as little as $ 130 in the infield general admission. It should come as no surprise that tickets for suites and tables can get reach five-digit numbers.
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When is the Kentucky Derby 2024?
The Kentucky Derby is always held on the first Saturday of May. This year, that will be May 4. The race typically begins between 6 and 7 p.m. ET.
While the race is a one day, one-time event, the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby is known as Derby Week. There are events everyday at Churchill Downs beginning on Saturday, April 27. The Kentucky Oaks race will take place Friday, May 3, a day before the big event.
Kentucky Derby 2024 field
To clinch a spot in the Kentucky Derby, horses earn points in designated Road to the Derby races. Ahead of the May 4 event, a horse must finish in the top 20 of the standings to run in Louisville. The Europe and Japan Roads winners will take two of the spots, as well. T O Password from Japan has accepted an invitation, meaning he will be one of the 20 horses at Churchill Downs.
Some horses have clinched a spot in the Kentucky Derby while others are fighting for contention. Here is the leaderboard as of the end of March.
| Rank | Horse | Trainer | Total points |
| 1 | Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | 125 |
| 2 | Endlessly | Michael McCarthy | 100 |
| 3 | Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | 70 |
| 4 | West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | 67 |
| 5 | Timberlake | Brad Cox | 66 |
| 6 | Honor Marie | Whit Beckman | 65 |
| 7 | Dornoch | Danny Gargan | 60 |
| 8 | Domestic Product | Chad Brown | 60 |
| 9 | Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | 55 |
| 10 | Deterministic | Christophe Clement | 50 |
| 11 | No More Time | Jose D’Angelo | 45 |
| 12 | Common Defense | Kenny McPeek | 37 |
| 13 | Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | 36 |
| 14 | El Grande O | Linda Rice | 30 |
| 15 | Seize the Grey | Wayne Lukas | 27 |
| 16 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | 25 |
| 17 | Le Dom Bro | Eniel Cordero | 25 |
| 18 | Tuscan Gold | Chad Brown | 25 |
| 19 | Just a Touch | Brad Cox | 25 |
| 20 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | 21 |
| 21 | Hades | Joe Orseno | 20 |
| 22 | Uncle Heavy | “Butch” Reid Jr. | 20 |
| 23 | Encino | Brad Cox | 20 |
| 24 | Liberal Arts | Robert Medina | 19 |
| 25 | Mc Vay | John Shirreffs | 19 |
Kentucky Derby past winners
Last year, Mage, who entered as a 15-1 longshot, captured the Kentucky Derby title. In 2022, Rich Strike pulled off one of the largest upsets in the history of the race, overcoming 80-1 odds to take the crowd.
The Kentucky Derby has been racing since 1875, but here is a look at the race’s past 10 winners, two of which won the Triple Crown.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
| 2023 | Mage | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | 2:01.57 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric Reed | 2:02.61 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | 2:01.02 |
| 2020 | Authentic | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | 2:00.61 |
| 2019 | Country House | John Velazquez | William Mott | 2:03.98 |
| 2018 | Justify* | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | 2:04.20 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | 2:03.59 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O’Neill | 2:01.31 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah* | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | 2:03.02 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | 2:03.66 |
*Won the Triple Crown
