Full Field of 20 Horses Set for 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

The 152nd Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, featuring a full field of 20 three-year-old horses competing in the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The race, known as the Run for the Roses, covers 1¼ miles and offers a purse of $5 million, with $3.1 million awarded to the winner. Post time is scheduled for approximately 6:57 p.m. ET, with live coverage beginning at noon ET on Peacock and continuing on NBC and Peacock at 2:30 p.m.

Renegade enters the Derby as the morning-line favorite with 4-1 odds. The bay colt, trained by Todd Pletcher, has won the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes this year. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Renegade in his 10th Derby appearance. Despite being the favorite, Renegade drew the No. 1 post position, which has not produced a Derby winner since 1986. Ortiz has yet to finish in the money in the Derby but has won the Belmont Stakes twice.

Two horses share 6-1 odds: Commandment and Further Ado. Commandment, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez, has won its last four races, including the Florida Derby. Further Ado, also trained by Cox and ridden by John Velazquez, won the Blue Grass Stakes and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Velazquez is pursuing his fourth Derby win.

Chief Wallabee, with 8-1 odds, is trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado. The duo previously won the 2025 Derby and Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty. The Puma, at 10-1 odds, is trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by Javier Castellano, who together won the 2023 Derby with Mage.

Mike Smith, the jockey with the most Derby mounts in history, will ride So Happy, a 15-1 contender who won the Santa Anita Derby. So Happy is trained by Mark Glatt. Emerging Market, also at 15-1 odds, is trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, who won the Derby in 2019 aboard Country House.

Trainer Bob Baffert, tied for the most Derby wins with six, has two horses in the race: Potente (20-1 odds) and Litmus Test (30-1 odds). Potente has won two of three races at Santa Anita Park, while Litmus Test won the Los Alamitos Futurity. Baffert aims to become the all-time winningest trainer in Derby history.

Other notable horses include Danon Bourbon (20-1), who has raced exclusively in Japan and is ridden by Atsuya Nishimura; Wonder Dean (30-1), the only horse born in Japan; and several long shots with 50-1 odds such as Intrepido, Six Speed, Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta. The latter three entered the field after three horses scratched: Fulleffort, Right to Party, and Silent Tactic.

The field reflects a diverse mix of experience and backgrounds, with horses having won major prep races across the country and internationally. The Derby remains a pivotal event in the quest for the Triple Crown, last won in 2018 by Justify. NBC Sports will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the day, culminating in the highly anticipated race at Churchill Downs.