Saturday marks the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, one of the most anticipated events in sports.
The famous horse race has become an iconic event, drawing attention from millions — including those not usually predisposed to watching horse races.
Here is everything you need to know about the 150th Kentucky Derby.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously held American sporting event, in which 20 of the greatest racing horses on Earth begin the quest for the Triple Crown. Over 150,000 fans attend, most in eccentric outfits calling back to the race’s origins in the 19th century. The horses sprint across a distance of 1 1/4 miles.
The Kentucky Derby was where the racehorse Secretariat won his fame in 1973, setting the speed record of 1:59.4.
When will the Kentucky Derby be held?
The post time for the race is 6:57 p.m. EDT.
The race is nearly always held on the first Saturday of May, with only two historic events changing the date — World War II in 1945 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Where can I watch it?
The Kentucky Derby will air on NBC and can be streamed on DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu Plus Live TV, and Sling.
Who is expected to win?
Fittingly, two horses born in Kentucky are favored to win — the bay colt Fierceness and the dark bay/brown colt Sierre Leone. Unfortunately for the superstitious, Fierceness will be breaking from the 17th post, which has never produced a winner. The bay colt Catching Freedom is the third-highest favored.
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What are the stakes?
The total purse for the race is $5 million, with the winner receiving $1.3 million and a gold trophy. The second-place finisher receives $1 million, with the rest going to the next three places.
More famously, the winning horse will be draped in a hand-sewn blanket of red roses.
