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The 151st race by the Kentucky Derby will take place later today.
But there will be plenty of activity on Chruchill Downs all Saturday before the famous horse race makes its last trip under “The most exciting two minutes in sports.”
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Churchhill Downs Racetrack Spiers. (Salgu Wissmath / Courier Journal / USA Today Network via Imag images)
Just 20 horses come in the starter gate on Saturday night, moments before driving in the Kentucky Derby. It is not easy to earn a place on the big Churchill Downs track. The horses go over the US and the world and compete in a number of selected races. If they earn enough points, they get one of the 20 spots in the Kentucky Derby.
2025 Kentucky Derby Odds, Predictions: Favorites, Picks
As far as favorites are concerned, journalism is the odds-on election. Justify’s Victory 2018 marks the last time a morning line favorite has won at Churchill Downs. Justify continued to win the coveted Triple Crown that year.
At last year’s “Run for the Roses”, mysticism Dan narrowly beat Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a historic photo -in -chief.
Here is a list of Kentucky Derby winners from the last quarter century:
- 2024: Mysticism dan
- 2023: Seagull
- 2022: Rich strike
- 2021: Mandaloun
- 2020: Authentic
- 2019: Landsted
- 2018: Justifies
- 2017: Nyquist
- 2016: Nyquist
- 2015: American Pharoah
- 2014: California Chrome
- 2013: Orb
- 2012: I have another
- 2011: Animal Kingdom
- 2010: Super Saver
- 2009: My that bird
- 2008: Big Brown
- 2007: Street Sense
- 2006: Barbaro
- 2005: Giacomo
- 2004: Smarty Jones
- 2003: Fun Cide
- 2002: War emblem
- 2001: Monarchos
- 2000: Fusaichi Pegasus
The complete list of winners is available on the Kentucky Derby site.
The weather is expected to affect Saturday’s event. While there were some concerns that rain would fall during the Kentucky Derby 2024, it eventually loved. Churchill Down Trackgoers dealt with rain on Friday. If rain returns on Saturday, it could create some muddy conditions.
Trackgoers deal with rain at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day, one day before the 151st ran by Kentucky Derby. Friday 2. May 2025. (Frankie Steele / Special for Courier Journal / USA Today Network via Imag images)
The races in 2018 and 2019 marked the latest cases where horses and jockeys have contested with any significant weather.
Fox weather forecasts a 94% chance of rain in Louisville on a mainly cloudy day. Height is expected to be in the low 60s. Kentucky Derby has never been canceled solely because of the weather.
How much will this year’s Kentucky Derby Champion win?
Kentucky Derby boasts the most lucrative purse of the Triple Crown events. This year’s Derby winner earns a $ 3.1 million of a purse of $ 5 million. The figure represents an increase of $ 2 million from the sum in 2023. Runner-Up will receive a price of $ 1 million, while third place will secure $ 500,000.
Finally, the fourth place finisher will take $ 250,000 home and fifth place gets $ 150,000.
Post time is set to 18:57 one from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
