Even if you don’t know much about the Kentucky Derby, rooting for horses with a connection to Florida is always fun.
The race will held Saturday evening at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.
Three out of the 20 horses have already been scratched and replaced with others from the eligible list.
Here’s the latest lineup, along with their connection to Florida, as of 10 a.m. May 1. Want to know the odds? We have that, too, as of noon May 1.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
“The Kentucky Derby is the longest continually held sporting event in America, and it is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world,” according to the Kentucky Derby’s website.
Described as “most exciting two minutes in sports,” the Kentucky Derby dates back to 1875 and is held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
When is the Kentucky Derby?
The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be held May 2.
The Kentucky Derby itself is one race, but it’s part of a full day of racing at Churchill Downs, typically featuring 14 races on Derby Day.
The official post time for the main event is 6:57 p.m. ET May 2.
The track is 1.25 miles long, and the race is held rain or shine.
Countdown clock to start of 2026 Kentucky Derby
How much do winners get for Kentucky Derby?
For the third straight year, the Kentucky Derby purse will be $5 million.
➤ What is Kentucky Derby 2026 purse?
Here’s how much the winners will get at the Kentucky Derby 2026:
Watch live stream of Kentucky Derby
Coverage on NBC and Peacock is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The race will be live streamed on Peacock and Fubo.
Be sure to tune in before the race is scheduled to start since the race will be fast!
Watch Kentucky Derby on Peacock
Kentucky Derby post positions, horses
Here are the horses listed for the 2026 Kentucky Derby as of noon May 1, ranked by post number (which starts with the inside against the rail as No. 1 and moving outward to No. 20):
What Kentucky Derby horses have connection to Florida?
None of the horses racing in the Kentucky Derby were bred in Florida.
➤ 9 horses with Ocala ties among Kentucky Derby and Oaks entries
However, nine horses are graduates of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auctions. Marion County/Ocala has been labeled the Horse Capital of the World. Four of the horses will run in the Kentucky Derby after two were scratched.
The Derby horses are:
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company has produced three Kentucky Derby winners in its history, according to the company’s website:
What are the odds for horses with Florida connection running in Kentucky Derby. See full list, odds
Here are the odds of the current list of horses running the Kentucky Derby as of noon May 1.
➤ Live updates: Get the latest odds
Horses with Florida connection
All Derby horses:
How are horses chosen for the Kentucky Derby?
Open to the top 3-year-old thoroughbreds, participants qualify through the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series.
➤ Exploring the International Road to the Kentucky Derby
To earn a spot in the starting gate, the top five winning horses earn points in a series of designated races at tracks across the country and around the world.
Points are awarded to the top five finishers in each race. The 20 horses with the most points earn a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
What is the Triple Crown?
The Kentucky Derby is the first horse race in what’s known as the Triple Crown.
The winner of the Kentucky Derby can compete in two other races over six weeks to win the Triple Crown, a feat that’s extremely difficult.
The races are:
There have been only 13 Triple Crown winners since 1875. The last winner was Justify in 2018.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://news-journalonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ready to cheer Kentucky Derby horses with tie to Florida? How to watch
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud and Jason Frakes, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
