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Full Noise by SN
Live sport on SN this weekendKentucky Derby: The fastest two minutes in sport
Duncan Perkinson • May 1st, 2026 4:02 pm
The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs on Sunday May 3rd. (NZ time) Photo Credit: Thanks to Kybluegrass under the Creative Commons Agreement
It’s the fastest two minutes in sport.
With The Kentucky Derby being shown on Sunday morning on Trackside 1 and on trackside.co.nz (as part of the betcha Sunday Session) let’s take a look at a few of the leading chances.
But before we look at the leading contenders, here’s the good oil about the history of the race, it’s place in America’s sporting landscape and how “America’s race” is the first leg of the iconic Triple Crown.
It was first run in 1875 and is USA’s longest continually held sporting event.
It is always run at the same track, Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. There will be over 150,000 spectators on track to watch the 152nd running of the race.
It is known as the “The Run for the Roses.” It is named as such, because the winning horse is draped in a blanket of roses as part of the post-race celebrations.
The race was originally run over a mile and a half, but since 1896 it has been run over a mile and a quarter (approx. 2000m.) In its long history, it has twice been rescheduled (from May to later in the year) in 1945 and in 2020, during World War 2 and the COVID Pandemic respectively.
Jockeys who've previously won The Kentucky Derby
There are five jockeys with chances this year, have previously won the Kentucky Derby:
- Junior Alvarado (Won on Sovereignty in 2025) (Rides Chief Wallabee in 2026)
- Brian Hernandez Jr. (Won on Mystik Dan in 2024) (Rides Six Speed in 2026)
- Javier Castellano (Won on Mage in 2023) (Rides The Puma in 2026)
- Mike Smith (Won in 2018 aboard Justify and in 2005 aboard Giacomo) (Rides So Happy in 2026)
- John Velazquez (Won in 2011 aboard Animal Kingdom, in 2017 aboard Always Dreaming and in 2020 on Authentic) (Rides Further Ado in 2026)
Prize Money in 2026
1st Place = $3.1 million USD (NZ$5.2 million)
2nd Place = $1 million USD (NZ$1.6 million)
3rd Place = $500,000 USD (NZ$846,400)
4th Place = $250,000 USD (NZ$423,200)
5th Place = $150,000 USD (NZ$253,900)
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the illustrious Triple Crown. The second and third legs are The Preakness Stakes in a fortnight’s time (Saturday May 16th – US time) and then The Belmont Stakes is run another three weeks later on (Saturday June 6th)
This is racing, so naturally fashion and off-course frivolity is part of the fun. The hats, the fashion in the field and the drink most associated with the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep. Because the race will run at 10:57am New Zealand Time, it may be too early for one of those here!
From a betting perspective...
From a betting perspective, who are the leading contenders in this year’s race.
The early talk is that it is likely to be won by those horses coming back from the back because the speed is expected to be on from the start.
In the pre-race hype, Albus’ trainer Riley Mott “If you see a 46 (seconds) or 45 and change, that's going to set up for closers.”
Here are the four horses at single figures, that might be worth considering…
Renegade (Paying $5.00)
Won the Arkansas Derby by 4 lengths (1811 metres) Is likely to be coming from the back. Has drawn the 1, which is not considered ideal. His jockey Irad Ortiz is considered the leading jockey in North America but has never finished in the top 3 in The Kentucky Derby in 9 attempts. Could this be 10th time lucky for Ortiz?
Commandment (Paying $5.00)
Has won four races in a row, including the Gr.1 Florida Derby (1811m) in its last start. Likely to race closer to the front, so questions if the race structure sets up well for him. Has drawn 6. If Commandment can win, it will be Luis Saez’s first win in the Derby. Saez crossed the line first in 2019 aboard Maximum Security but was subsequently demoted.
Further Ado (Paying $6.00)
Won the Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths at Keeneland and won its maiden race by 20 lengths on that same track. Has also won previously on the track. Irad Ortiz has ridden Further Ado in five of its six starts but has chosen to jump off and ride Renegade instead. It will be ridden by three-time winning jockey John Velazquez. Further Ado is likely to be among the leaders.
Chief Wallabee (Paying $8.00)
Jockey Junior Alvarado won the race aboard Sovereignty last year and is aiming to become just the seventh jockey in the history of the race to win back-to-back Kentucky Derbys. Likely to be coming from off the pace.
Outside of the favoured runners, it may be worth looking at three horses who have run, and won, over the 2000 metre distance. Danon Bourbon (Paying $15.00) is a Japanese horse and is unbeaten in its three starts.
Emerging Market (Paying $17.00) is also unbeaten, but is only lightly raced with two victories from both its starts while Wonder Dean won the Gr.2 UAE Derby at Meydan in its last start (Paying $26.00)
Whatever might happen in the race, the Kentucky Derby is a special sporting moment on the global racing calendar.
R18, please gamble responsibly.
