Kentucky Derby 2025: Odds, Horses, And How To Watch

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, 20 elite three-year-old thoroughbreds will take to the iconic Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Kentucky, for the 151st Kentucky Derby, and yes, it's still the most exciting two minutes in sports.

This year’s frontrunner? A sleek bay colt named Journalism, who’s already creating buzz with 3-1 odds after racking up a three-race win streak, including a huge victory at the 2025 San Felipe Stakes. Fans and bettors alike have dubbed him the “Derby darling,” and all eyes will be on him as the horses charge toward that coveted garland of roses.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 151st Kentucky Derby.

Date: Saturday, May 3

Post Time: 6:57 p.m. ET

Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY

Watch: Coverage starts on USA Network (12–2:30 p.m. ET) before switching to NBC and Peacock for the main event.

Whether you're tuning in for the high-stakes competition or the outrageous Derby fashion (hello, oversized hats!), this year’s event is shaping up to be one for the books.

Here’s the full field, in pole position order, with their current odds (as of 10:30 am EST) to win:

• Citizen Bull (20-1)
• Neoequos (30-1)
• Final Gambit (30-1)
• American Promise (30-1)
• Admire Daytona (30-1)
• Luxor Cafe (15-1)
• Journalism (3-1) Favorite
• Burnham Square (12-1)
• Flying Mohawk (30-1)
• East Avenue (20-1)
• Publisher (20-1)
• Tiztastic (20-1)
• Render Judgment (30-1)
• Coal Battle (30-1)
• Sandman (6-1)
• Sovereignty (5-1)
• Chunk of Gold (30-1)
• Owen Almighty (30-1)
• Baeza (12-1) — replacement entrant

“Nothing compares to the Kentucky Derby,” Aron Wellman, co-owner of the favorite, Journalism, told The Press-Enterprise in April 2025. "To have a high-profile horse like Journalism, you try to find a balance between enjoying this very unique position that we’re in and having fun with it because we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world."

It wouldn’t be the Derby without a little drama. Earlier this week, two horses were scratched from the original lineup.

Rodriguez, trained by Bob Baffert, was pulled due to a bone bruise. He’s been replaced by Baeza, trained by John A. Shirreffs.

Grande, originally set to start from post No. 10, also withdrew for undisclosed reasons.

It’s not just about roses and bragging rights because winning the Kentucky Derby also comes with a massive payday.

The 151st Kentucky Derby purse is worth a whopping $5 million, and according to race officials, the winner will walk away with $3.1 million of that pot. But it’s not just first place that cashes in as second through fifth-place finishers will also take home sizable checks of $1 million for second, $500,000 for third, $250,000 for fourth, and $150,000 for fifth.

And the jockeys? They don’t ride for free.

Jockeys are usually paid a flat fee to race, but when it comes to big wins, they earn 5–10% of the prize money. In 2024, winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. earned 10% of the top prize, netting $310,000. The year before, Javier Castellano took home $186,000 after riding Mage to victory in a smaller $3 million purse.

Trainers get their cut, too. Like the jockeys, they typically receive 10% of the winner’s share. That means in 2024, Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenny McPeek also banked $310,000.

So when those 20 horses hit the track on Saturday, they're not just running for glory, they’re racing for millions.

Fashion isn’t the only thing making headlines at Churchill Downs this weekend because the weather is threatening to steal the spotlight.

If you're heading to the 2025 Kentucky Derby or planning to tune in from home, don’t expect perfect racing conditions because Louisville is in for a rainy Saturday, and with 99% cloud coverage on the radar, it's safe to say the sun won’t be making an appearance.

WeatherNation TV is already warning fans to brace for an "extremely soggy" track, which could heavily impact the performance of several favorites, including frontrunner Journalism. The wet weather follows days of storms across the Midwest, leaving Churchill Downs soaked in the lead-up to Derby Day.

To make matters even trickier, wind gusts of up to 15 mph are expected around race time, potentially slowing the pace even further. However, there’s a slim chance the skies could clear just in time for the main event.

As the clock ticks down to post time, expect major buzz, bold bets, and at least a few outrageous fashion statements. Will Journalism live up to the hype? Will an underdog steal the spotlight? Saddle up because the 2025 Kentucky Derby is about to take off.