Kentucky Derby post positions: Full draw and odds for the 2025 Triple Crown race

In just one week, the most iconic horse race in the world will be underway.

As the weather changes, it means the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, as 20 horses compete to win the first leg of the Triple Crown. This year's race will be the 151st edition of the derby, and soon we will find out who succeeds Mystik Dan as the Kentucky Derby champion.

This year, a new crop of horses will vie for horse racing's most famous race, with one horse in particular entering the race as the favorite. That would be Journalism, whose odds at 3-1 are better than the other 19 participants.

Here's a breakdown of this year's pole positions at Churchill Downs.

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Kentucky Derby post positions 2025

The Kentucky Derby draw was held on Saturday, April 26. Here's a look at how the horses will line up and who has the best odds to win the Derby.

What is the best pole position in horse racing?

There isn't one specific pole position that has been proven to be better than the others, even though there are a bunch of gates that were home to more winners.

Sometimes, the pole position decides how a horse and jockey will run the race. Horses in the lower numbers have a shorter path but less room to typically run, while horses in the higher gates have longer to go but typically more space to get out to faster starts.

Additionally, each horse has a different racing style, so not every gate works for every horse. Nonetheless, the lower numbers have all seen more success in the Kentucky Derby's history than the higher pole positions have.

Kentucky Derby winners by post position

Of the 20 post positions in the Kentucky Derby, only one has never produced a winner: Gate No. 17. Besides that, the other 19 gates have all produced at least one winner, with the lower numbers seeing more success than the higher poles.

Here's a breakdown of all Kentucky Derby winners by gate position:

• 1 — (8) Ferdinand (1986); Chateaugay (1963); Needles (1956); Hill Gail (1952); Citation (1948); Gallahadion (1940); Lawrin (1938); War Admiral (1937)
• 2 — (7) Affirmed (1978); Bold Forbes (1976); Cannonade (1974); Dust Commander (1970); Tim Tam (1958); Ponder (1949) Assault (1946)
• 3 — (6) Mystik Dan (2024); Real Quiet (1998); Alysheba (1987); Spectacular Bid (1979); Foolish Pleasure (1975); Shut Out (1942)
• 4 — (5) Super Saver (2010); Seattle Slew (1977); Decidedly (1962); Pensive (1944); Whirlaway (1941)
• 5 — (10) Always Dreaming (2017); California Chrome (2014); Funny Cide (2003); War Emblem (2002); Silver Charm (1997); Strike the Gold (1991); Count Fleet (1943); Johnstown (1939); Bold Venture (1936); Twenty Grand (1931)
• 6 — (2) Sea Hero (1993); Iron Liege (1957)
• 7 — (8) Mandaloun (2021); Justify (2018); Street Sense (2007); Pleasant Colony (1981); Proud Clarion (1967); Northern Dancer (1964); Determine (1954); Gallant Fox (1930)
• 8 — (9) Mage (2023); Mine That Bird (2009); Barbaro (2006); Go for Gin (1994); Unbridled (1990); Majestic Prince (1969); Lucky Debonair (1965); Swaps (1955); Cavalcade (1934)
• 9 — (4) Riva Ridge (1972); Venetian Way (1960); Tomy Lee (1959); Count Turf (1951)
• 10 — (9) Giacomo (2005); Lil E. Tee (1992); Sunday Silence (1989); Spend a Buck (1985); Sunny’s Halo (1983); Genuine Risk (1980); Secretariat (1973); Dark Star (1953); Omaha (1935)
• 11 — (2) Winning Colors (1988); Brokers Tip (1933)
• 12 — (3) Canonero II (1971); Kauai King (1966); Hoop Jr. (1945)
• 13 — (4) Nyquist (2016) Smarty Jones (2004); Forward Pass (1968); Jet Pilot (1947); Burgoo King (1932)
• 14 — (2) Carry Back (1961); Middleground (1950)
• 15 — (6) Authentic (2020); American Pharoah (2015); Orb (2013); Fusaichi Pegasus (2000); Grindstone (1996); Swale (1984)
• 16 — (4) Animal Kingdom (2011); Monarchos (2001); Charismatic (1999); Thunder Gulch (1995)
• 17 — (0)
• 18 — (2) Country House (2019); Gato Del Sol (1982)
• 19 — (1) I’ll Have Another (2012)
• 20 — (2) Rich Strike (2022); Big Brown (2008)