Twenty horses stampeding 1 1/4 miles around Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Derby turns 150 years old this year, extending its run as America’s longest continuously held sporting event.
The 2-minute race features a dash out of the starting gate, especially for the horses breaking from posts 15-20 whose jockeys want to angle them in to save ground. There’s a scramble for positioning going into the first turn before the field stretches out on the backside. The pace picks up heading into the final turn before the thrilling run through the stretch with 150,000 fans cheering.
6:57 p.m. Eastern on Saturday.
Saturday’s forecast is for 79 degrees (26 Celsius) with a 52% chance of rain. The last sloppy track for the Derby was in 2019, when Country House was declared the winner after a 22-minute review by the stewards. Maximum Security crossed the line first, but was disqualified for interference. The Churchill dirt strip has been listed as fast for the last four Derbies.
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Ministry of Health proposes 134 job losses
The truth about trend of new mothers drinking their OWN breast milk
Father of teen stabbed to death on Apple River by knife
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Seafood shocker: Warning shrimp and lobster contain dangerous levels of cancer
Amazon ordered to pay $525million to tiny Chicago
Afghan migrant on terror watch list spent a YEAR in the U.S. after he was released by Border Patrol
Six killed in a 'foiled coup' in Congo, the army says
BORIS JOHNSON: If Ukraine falls, it'll be a catastrophic turning point in history
Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse
Shirley MacLaine, 89, lives it up sipping on a martini with her pals during Malibu lunch date