KENTUCKY DERBY CONTENDERS

You can bet on the Kentucky Derby directly through the Sportsbook app in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY.

You can also bet on the Kentucky Derby directly through our FanDuel Racing app in the following states: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NM, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VA, WA, WV, WY

You can bet on the Kentucky Derby directly through the Sportsbook app in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY

Horse racing is not currently available via the Sportsbook app in D.C., KS, NC, NJ, TN, VT.

Yes! You can use all of your sportsbook deposits and winnings to place bets on the Kentucky Derby! We make it easy for you to enjoy play with our integrated wallet.

Post time for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 6:57pm p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 2, 2026

Up to 20 horses can run in the Kentucky Derby. In addition to the main field, up to four horses can be placed on the also-eligible (AE) list and may enter if a runner is scratched before the final field is confirmed.

Horse racing is one of the most exciting and unique sports in betting, from the Kentucky Derby, to the Belmont Stakes, and beyond.

But it can also be a bit complicated sometimes.

FanDuel and all other sports betting providers rely on official statistics and results from the leagues like the NFL or NBA. Horse racing is a little different depending on race course tracks and governing bodies, and it can include post-race inspection, video replay, and much more.

Because of this, it can take a little longer for any winnings to end up in your account following a race compared to other sports. This is called "bet settlement."

We must wait on any official results in case there are no disqualifications or issues with the confirmed outcome of the race.

You can make the same kinds of bets on the Kentucky Derby that you can on any horse race: straight bets (win, place, show), exotic bets (exacta, trifecta, superfecta, Super High Five), and pick wagers (Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6). In addition, Churchill Downs often offers special wagers that cover the Kentucky Derby, such as a Daily Double between the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.

Betting on the Kentucky Derby

is pari-mutuel: this means the odds are based on how people are betting. If more money is bet on a horse, the price will be shorter; if little money is bet on a horse, then the odds will be higher. Note also that odds on the Kentucky Derby

are phrased in terms of the multiple of profit you will get over the money you originally bet. For example, if a horse wins the Kentucky Derby at 5-1 odds, that means the horse will pay $12 to win: $10 worth of winnings, plus your original $2 stake.

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby contenders include Commandment, Renegade, Fulleffort, and The Puma, based on current qualifying points standings. Other notable horses such as Nearly and Paladin are also strong contenders as the prep season continues.

The official lineup for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is announced shortly before the race, once the final field draw takes place in late April. The race features up to 20 horses, selected based on points earned in qualifying prep races. Leading contenders currently include horses such as Paladin, The Puma, and Commandment, although the final lineup can change as the prep season concludes.

The powerhouse Sovereignty picked the perfect moment to shine, surging past the favorites in the final stretch to capture the 2025 Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Journalism and Baeza. The victory gave trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado a career-defining win, while securing a historic weekend double for owner Godolphin, who had won the Kentucky Oaks the previous day with Good Cheer—marking the first time a sole owner swept both races since 1952.