2026 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds at Churchill Downs racecourse

Saturday, 02 May 2026

The 2025 Kentucky Derby always takes some winning at Churchill Downs, with this big money race always capturing the imagination of horse racing fans everywhere. It’s Journalism who is likely to go off as favourite, with the horse having landed successive wins this season. However, this is far from a one-horse encounter and there are other viable winners.

Sovereignty has landed a first place and a second place this season. William Matt saddles a runner who was second out of ten runners at Gulfstream Park in his last showing, while Luxor Café has been able to secure a number of notable wins this term. Sandman has also been steadily improving and could enter the picture.

Ted Noffey
Ted Noffey
8.00
Ted Noffey
Ted Noffey
Best Odds8.00
All Odds7/16/1
It's Our Time
It's Our Time
13.00
It's Our Time
It's Our Time
Best Odds13.00
All OddsSP12/1
Boyd
Boyd
17.00
Boyd
Boyd
Best Odds17.00
All Odds12/116/1
Mr. A. P.
Mr. A. P.
21.00
Mr. A. P.
Mr. A. P.
Best Odds21.00
All Odds20/1SP
Brant
Brant
21.00
Brant
Brant
Best Odds21.00
All Odds20/120/1
Incredibolt
Incredibolt
21.00
Incredibolt
Incredibolt
Best Odds21.00
All OddsSP20/1
Napoleon Solo
Napoleon Solo
26.00
Napoleon Solo
Napoleon Solo
Best Odds26.00
All Odds25/120/1
Englishman
Englishman
26.00
Englishman
Englishman
Best Odds26.00
All OddsSP25/1
Ewing
Ewing
26.00
Ewing
Ewing
Best Odds26.00
All Odds25/125/1
Further Ado
Further Ado
26.00
Further Ado
Further Ado
Best Odds26.00
All OddsSP25/1
Universe
Universe
34.00
Universe
Universe
Best Odds34.00
All Odds25/133/1
Mr. A.P
Mr. A.P
34.00
Mr. A.P
Mr. A.P
Best Odds34.00
All OddsSP33/1
Street Beast
Street Beast
34.00
Street Beast
Street Beast
Best Odds34.00
All OddsSP33/1
Final Score
Final Score
34.00
Final Score
Final Score
Best Odds34.00
All OddsSP33/1
Two Out Hero
Two Out Hero
34.00
Two Out Hero
Two Out Hero
Best Odds34.00
All OddsSP33/1
Hey Nay Nay
Hey Nay Nay
34.00
Hey Nay Nay
Hey Nay Nay
Best Odds34.00
All OddsSP33/1
Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky
34.00
Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky
Best Odds34.00
All OddsSP33/1
Romeo
Romeo
41.00
Romeo
Romeo
Best Odds41.00
All OddsSP40/1
Obliteration
Obliteration
41.00
Obliteration
Obliteration
Best Odds41.00
All OddsSP40/1
Soldier N Diplomat
Soldier N Diplomat
41.00
Soldier N Diplomat
Soldier N Diplomat
Best Odds41.00
All OddsSP40/1
Buetane
Buetane
41.00
Buetane
Buetane
Best Odds41.00
All OddsSP40/1
Litmus Test
Litmus Test
41.00
Litmus Test
Litmus Test
Best Odds41.00
All OddsSP40/1
Talkin
Talkin
51.00
Talkin
Talkin
Best Odds51.00
All Odds33/150/1
Desert Gate
Desert Gate
51.00
Desert Gate
Desert Gate
Best Odds51.00
All Odds33/150/1
Blackout Time
Blackout Time
51.00
Blackout Time
Blackout Time
Best Odds51.00
All Odds33/150/1
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
51.00
Curtain Call
Curtain Call
Best Odds51.00
All OddsSP50/1
Balboa
Balboa
51.00
Balboa
Balboa
Best Odds51.00
All OddsSP50/1
Comport
Comport
51.00
Comport
Comport
Best Odds51.00
All OddsSP50/1
Spice Runner
Spice Runner
51.00
Spice Runner
Spice Runner
Best Odds51.00
All OddsSP50/1
Smarty Hardy
Smarty Hardy
67.00
Smarty Hardy
Smarty Hardy
Best Odds67.00
All OddsSP66/1
Crown The Buckeye
Crown The Buckeye
67.00
Crown The Buckeye
Crown The Buckeye
Best Odds67.00
All OddsSP66/1
Plutarch
Plutarch
101.00
Plutarch
Plutarch
Best Odds101.00
All OddsSP100/1

2025 Kentucky Derby Betting Tips

Journalism has looked the part in his previous two races and the three-year-old could be the one to beat in the Kentucky Derby. Michael McCarthy saddles a horse that has collected successive wins at Santa Anita this year. The first of these came in the San Felipe Stakes where the horse was able to triumph by nearly two lengths.

Following on from this, there was a win in the Santa Anita Derby which was a Grade One success. The horse was sent off as the even money favourite. That was over one mile and one furlong, although the runner was only able to edge a victory on that occasion. Pushed close by Baeza, the winning distance was less than a length.

Sovereignty is another talented three-year-old who has produced bright performances this term. William Mott trains a horse that last finished second out of nine runners at Gulfstream Park. The 17/10 favourite fell just short in the Florida Derby, with that coming after a success at the same course when winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes.

There’s then a big jump in price to the other runners, with Luxor Café having landed three successive wins this season. There have been some notable wins in Japan this season, most recently at Nakayama where the odds-on favourite landed a triumph. This came after a win in Tokyo in February and there could be more to come.


2025 Kentucky Derby

Journalism is the market leader when it comes to the 2025 Kentucky Derby, with the three-year-old boasting an unblemished record coming into this classic race. The horse was last seen landing a victory at Santa Anita in early April when triumphing in the Santa Anita Derby. The even money favourite was a narrow victory over one mile and one furlong.

Previously to this, the Michael McCarthy-trained charge was able to score at the same track in early March. This will now be his sternest test and it will be interesting to see how he performs compared to Sovereignty. William Mott’s horse was last seen putting on a good show at Gulfstream Park when finishing runner-up.

That came in the Florida Derby when the horse was beaten by Tappan Street. This came after a March success in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. We’ve previously seen the horse perform well at Churchill Downs. In the Street Sense Stakes, the favourite obliged by five lengths and this could be a decent each-way contender.

Luxor Café has been able to score in four successive races. The latest success came at Nakayama when the Japanese raider was a comfortable winner at short odds. This came after a victory in the Hyacinth Stakes over a mile, with Tappan Street having won at Gulfstream Park at the end of March.


2024 Kentucky Derby Tips

Chad C Brown has seen Sierra Leone land a victory in each of his previous two races and there could be more to come in the Kentucky Derby. The three-year-old was able to claim a victory at Keeneland in early April when fending off the challenge of nine other runners in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, with the 5/3 favourite obliging on this occasion.

Previously to this April success came a February triumph in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds where the 27/10 favourite was able to claim a narrow success over Track Phantom, with the bookies certainly wary of taking on a horse with solid credentials. However, Fierceness is also a fantastic talent that boasts solid form.

Todd Pletcher trains a runner who was eye-catching at Gulfstream Park last time out, with the three-year-old sent off as the 11/10 favourite in the Florida Derby before claiming a massive thirteen length success. This delighted his backers and came after disappointing as the 1/5 favourite in the Holy Bull Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby isn’t quite a two-horse race and Forever Young arrives at Churchill Downs boasting a 100% record, with the Japanese raider having been solid in his career so far. The latest success came at the end of March when the horse was able to secure a two-length triumph at Meydan after previously winning a big money encounter at Riyadh.

Kentucky Derby FAQ

The Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday 3 May, with this being a hugely famous US horse race. Churchill Downs hosts an encounter which forms one leg of the Triple Crown. It’s always held annually on the first Saturday in May, with The Run for the Roses always exciting.
The Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start between 6 and 7pm EST. You should expect the big race to take place at around 6.45pm, with this being one of several notable races on the Kentucky Derby race card. You will be able to place bets on every encounter.
It always takes a big effort to win the Kentucky Derby and the 2024 winner was Mystik Dan. Twelve months before this, Mage was able to land a victory, while Rich Strike, Mandaloun, Authentic and Country House have also been able to score in recent renewals.
We recommend comparing the latest prices at Racing-Odds.com when it comes to wagering on the Kentucky Derby. It’s also good to study the form to see which runners come into this race with the strongest track record. There are lots of potential victors in this encounter.
There are many of the horse racing betting sites who will provide a live stream of the Kentucky Derby. You generally need to have an account and you can then place a bet and access the live streaming of American racing.
If you sign up with any of the horse racing sites showcased at Racing-Odds.com, you can generally land a welcome bonus. Make a deposit, place a first bet and you will then be credited with free bets. They can be enjoyed on the Kentucky Derby amongst other races.
Each-way betting on the Kentucky Derby involves splitting your stake equally between a horse to win and a horse to place. Many of the betting sites will be providing this option and it’s great to back an outsider and land a return if your horse finishes second or third.