Kentucky Derby race schedule 2026: Post times, TV channels, live streams for Churchill Downs horse racing

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The biggest race weekend of the year at Churchill Downs has arrived. 

Friday and Saturday will see nearly 30 races contested at the iconic Louisville track, highlighted by the Kentucky Oaks in a new time slot Friday and the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday evening. 

While those two races command most of the attention, each day has a full program of racing beginning hours before the respective main events. Fans looking to max out on this weekend's races are in luck but they may need a roadmap, as coverage is spread across multiple platforms. 

The Sporting News has the rundown on the broadcast and streaming schedule for this weekend's action at Churchill Downs: 

Where to watch Kentucky Derby races 2026

Friday and Saturday races at Churchill Downs, culminating in the 152nd Kentucky Derby, will air across multiple platforms. NBC will carry several races leading up to each day's main event, the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday, with FanDuel TV providing additional coverage of early and late races. 

Fans can stream all of those broadcasts via DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users. Additional races and all of the NBC coverage will also be available on Peacock. See the full broadcast and streaming schedule below. 

DateTime (ET)EventsWatch
Fri., May 14 p.m.Races 8 through 12Peacock
 8:40 p.m.Kentucky OaksNBC, DIRECTV, Peacock
Sat., May 210:30 a.m.Races 1 and 2FanDuel TV, DIRECTV
 12 p.m.Races 3 through 6Peacock
 2:30 p.m.Races 7 through 11NBC, DIRECTV, Peacock
 6:57 p.m.Kentucky DerbyNBC, DIRECTV, Peacock
 7:30 p.m.Races 13 and 14FanDuel TV, DIRECTV

Kentucky Derby race schedule 2026

Twenty-seven races are on tap at Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday as part of the Derby weekend festivities. The Kentucky Oaks is expected to start around 8 p.m. ET on Friday, and the Kentucky Derby should begin at approximately 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Friday, May 1

RacePost Time (ET)
112:30 p.m.
21 p.m.
31:30 p.m.
42 p.m.
52:35 p.m.
63:12 p.m.
73:48 p.m.
84:30 p.m.
95:12 p.m.
106:01 p.m.
116:56 p.m.
127:40 p.m.
138:40 p.m. (Kentucky Oaks)

Saturday, May 2

RacePost Time (ET)
111 a.m.
211:32 a.m.
312:05 p.m.
412:38 p.m.
51:12 p.m.
61:53 p.m.
72:38 p.m.
83:23 p.m.
94:06 p.m.
104:50 p.m.
115:39 p.m. (Old Forester Turf Classic)
126:57 p.m. (Kentucky Derby)
138 p.m.
148:33 p.m.

Kentucky Derby horses, odds 2026

Here's a look at the post positions for the 2026 Kentucky Derby as well as the morning-line odds for the race.

Post PositionHorseOdds
1.Renegade4-1
2.Albus30-1
3.Intrepido50-1
4.Litmus Test30-1
5.Right to Party30-1
6.Commandment6-1
7.Danon Bourbon20-1
8.So Happy15-1
9.The Puma10-1
10.Wonder Dean30-1
11.Incredibolt20-1
12.Chief Wallabee8-1
13.Silent TacticSCR
14.Potente20-1
15.Emerging Market15-1
16.Pavlovian30-1
17.Six Speed50-1
18.Further Ado6-1
19.Golden Tempo30-1
20.Fulleffort20-1
21.Great White50-1

Kentucky Derby winners by post position

History shows horses on the inside, starting from positions one to 10, are much more likely to win the Kentucky Derby than those starting on the outside.

Here are the all-time Derby winners by post position:

Post positionDerby winners
18
27
36
45
510
62
78
89
94
109
112
123
135
142
156
165
170
182
191
202
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