The 151st Run of the Roses kicks off at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3, with 20 three-year-old horses competing. The favorite is Journalism, boasting 3-1 odds after a winning streak. Coverage airs on NBC and USA Network, with live updates available on Yahoo Sports.
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 3, with post time at approximately 6:57 p.m. ET at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Initial coverage will air on USA Network from noon to 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by NBC for the remainder. A livestream is also available via the Peacock app.
Kentucky Derby betting advice
The Derby is one of the most popular events for sports betting. NBC Sports expert Brian Hamilton provides tips emphasizing its unpredictability, noting favorites win less than 35% of the time historically and not in the last five years. There are straight bets (win, place, show) and exotic bets (Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta) involving multiple horses.
Weather forecast and conditions
Heavy rain is expected at Churchill Downs with a 98% chance of precipitation and a 39% chance of thunderstorms, possibly causing muddy track conditions. Attendees are advised to bring waterproof boots and rain gear. Despite weather concerns, the Derby has never been canceled in its history.
Kentucky Derby updates and scratches
Two horses originally scheduled for the Derby were scratched: Rodriguez, due to a bone bruise, replaced by Baeza; and Grande, withdrawn despite clean diagnostics related to a heel injury, reducing the field to 19 horses.
Notable news from the Derby
Coverage includes celebrity appearances such as Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens on the red carpet, a tribute to American Pharoah's Triple Crown win 10 years ago, as well as fashion highlights despite rainy weather. The fan-favorite mint julep cocktail remains a Derby staple, with over 125,000 served annually.
2025 Kentucky Derby horses and odds
The field includes 20 horses with their morning line odds listed. The favorite is Journalism at 3-1. Other notable entrants include Sandman (6-1), Sovereignty (5-1), and several horses with longer odds up to 30-1.
NFL and Kentucky Derby Crossover
Carolina Panthers' wide receiver Xavier Legette serves as the official correspondent for the Derby. He has a personal interest in horses, owning a quarter horse named Dolla Bill, making this correspondence a unique crossover between NFL and horse racing.
