The Kentucky Derby 2026 horses are set and the post positions are officially drawn. The 152nd Run for the Roses goes on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. All 20 horses have their starting gates and morning line odds locked in.
Print this page or download the PDF below and take it with you on race day. You will have every horse, trainer, jockey and odds right in front of you.
Full List of Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses
The starting gate you draw in the Kentucky Derby matters. Horses in the middle posts tend to get a cleaner run. The inside rail is tough. The far outside means extra ground around the turns.
The post position draw took place Saturday, April 25 at Churchill Downs. Here is the complete and verified field for the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Morning Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renegade | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 4-1 |
| 2 | Albus | Riley Mott | Manny Franco | 30-1 |
| 3 | Intrepido | Jeff Mullins | Hector Berrios | 50-1 |
| 4 | Litmus Test | Bob Baffert | TBD | 30-1 |
| 5 | Right to Party | Kenny McPeek | Chris Elliott | 30-1 |
| 6 | Commandment | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | 6-1 |
| 7 | Danon Bourbon | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | 20-1 |
| 8 | So Happy | Mark Glatt | Mike Smith | 15-1 |
| 9 | The Puma | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano | 10-1 |
| 10 | Wonder Dean | Daisuke Takayanagi | Ryusei Sakai | 30-1 |
| 11 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | 20-1 |
| 12 | Chief Wallabee | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | 8-1 |
| 13 | Silent Tactic | Mark Casse | Cristian Torres | 20-1 |
| 14 | Potente | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | 20-1 |
| 15 | Emerging Market | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 15-1 |
| 16 | Pavlovian | Doug O’Neill | Edwin Maldonado | 30-1 |
| 17 | Six Speed | Bhupat Seemar | TBD | 50-1 |
| 18 | Further Ado | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | 6-1 |
| 19 | Golden Tempo | Cherie Devaux | Jose Ortiz | 30-1 |
| 20 | Fulleffort | Brad Cox | Tyler Gaffalione | 20-1 |
Download Your Printable KY Derby 2026 Horses List
We built a clean one-page PDF so you can print and follow the full field on race day. It has every horse, post position, trainer, jockey and morning line odds on one sheet. Print it on regular A4 or letter-sized paper and keep it handy.
Download the Printable List Here (PDF)
We also made a printable Kentucky Derby 2026 TV schedule so you do not miss a single race or ceremony.
Also Check: What time does the Kentucky Derby 2026 start?
Top Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses to Watch
Not every horse in this field has the same shot. A few names stand out based on prep race form, trainer record and post position.
Renegade (Post 1, 4-1) Renegade is the morning line favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Todd Pletcher trains him and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides. He won the Arkansas Derby in dominant fashion, going past the field on the far turn and winning by four lengths. The bad news is he drew Post 1. The rail has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986. With his come-from-behind style, Ortiz will likely send him to the back early and hope the pace sets up.
Commandment (Post 6, 6-1) Commandment is Renegade’s half-brother. Both are sons of Into Mischief. He drew Post 6 and enters the Derby on a four-race winning streak that includes the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth in February and the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March. Brad Cox trains him. Cox also has Further Ado and Fulleffort in this race, giving him three shots at the trophy.
Further Ado (Post 18, 6-1) Further Ado won the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland by eleven and a half lengths. That was one of the most eye-catching prep performances of the entire cycle. He draws Post 18 and goes under three-time Derby winner John Velazquez. Spendthrift Farm owns him.
Chief Wallabee (Post 12, 8-1) Chief Wallabee has a storyline worth following. Bill Mott trains him and Junior Alvarado rides. That is the same trainer-jockey combination that won the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty. Alvarado is trying to win back-to-back Derbies. He draws Post 12, which sits right in the productive middle of the gate.
A Few Dark Horses to Keep an Eye On
Every Kentucky Derby produces at least one surprise. These horses are not at the top of the odds board but they have a real case.
The Puma (Post 9, 10-1) The Puma finished second in the Florida Derby behind Commandment. He draws Post 9, one of the historically strong starting gates. Gustavo Delgado trains him and Javier Castellano rides. He figures to be near the pace early, which could put him in a good spot in the stretch.
So Happy (Post 8, 15-1) So Happy won the Santa Anita Derby and has been training well at Churchill Downs in the days leading up to the race. Hall of Famer Mike Smith rides at 59 years old, and he is trying to make history as the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Mark Glatt trains him. Post 8 is a clean draw with no traffic concerns.
Potente (Post 14, 20-1) Bob Baffert trains Potente and he is trying to add to his six official Kentucky Derby wins. Potente is also a half-brother to Renegade and Commandment. All three are sons of Into Mischief, which makes this a rare Derby with the same sire having three genuine contenders. Juan Hernandez rides. Potente finished second in the Santa Anita Derby in his final prep.
Emerging Market (Post 15, 15-1) Chad Brown trains this Louisiana Derby winner. He is a true closer and needs a fast early pace to get into the race. Post 15 gives him a wide enough draw to settle in without early trouble. Flavien Prat rides.
Why Post Positions Matter More Than You Think
Post 5 has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other gate, with ten total. Post 10 follows with nine winners. The middle of the gate, roughly Posts 5 through 12, gives horses the best chance to find clean running early.
Post 1 is historically difficult. The last horse to win from the rail was Ferdinand in 1986. Post 17 has never produced a single Kentucky Derby winner in the history of the starting gate. Six Speed draws that spot this year.
A great horse can win from almost anywhere. But post position shapes how the race unfolds from the first jump, and knowing the history helps you understand what to watch for.
How to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby
The 152nd Kentucky Derby runs Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs. Post time is 6:57 p.m. ET.
Undercard coverage runs from noon to 2:30 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN. Main race-day coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and runs through post time.
You can also stream the full day live on Peacock. A VPN lets you access the Peacock stream from outside the United States.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses FAQs: All You Want to Know
How many horses will run in the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Twenty horses are in the starting gate for the 152nd Run for the Roses. Up to 24 horses can enter as the full field, but only 20 run. Horses numbered 21 through 24 are also-eligibles and can draw in only if a horse from the main field scratches before 9:00 a.m. on race day.
When did the post positions come out?
The post position draw took place Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Who is the favorite for the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Renegade is the 4-1 morning line favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. He is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. He drew the rail at Post 1, which has not produced a winner since Ferdinand in 1986.
Does post position really matter in the Derby?
Yes. Post 5 has produced ten Kentucky Derby winners, more than any other gate. Post 10 has nine. No horse from Post 17 has ever won. Middle posts give a horse the best shot at a clean run early.
Where can I get a printable list of horses and odds?
Download the free printable Kentucky Derby 2026 horses list right here on this page. It has post positions, horse names, trainers, jockeys and morning line odds on one clean sheet. Print it and use it on race day.
How do horses qualify for the Kentucky Derby?
Horses earn points through a series of designated prep races called the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The horses with the most points at the end of the qualifying season earn a spot in the field. The maximum field size is 20 runners.
What are morning line odds?
Morning line odds are set by the official Churchill Downs oddsmaker right after the post position draw. They reflect what the oddsmaker thinks the public betting will look like. The actual odds shift once real wagering opens on race day.
Can a horse win the Derby from a bad post position?
Yes, it has happened. Great horses with sharp jockeys have won from tough spots. The only post that has never produced a Derby winner is Post 17. Every other gate has a winner in the history books.
Do the favorites win most of the time?
Not always. The betting favorite has not won the Kentucky Derby since Justify in 2018. That is eight straight years. Five of those six favorites finished in the money, but someone else won the race each time.
How can I watch the Derby if I live outside the U.S.?
You can stream the race on Peacock using a VPN from anywhere in the world. International sports channels that carry NBC also broadcast the race live in many countries.
What’s the best way to pick a Derby winner?
Focus on horses that won their final prep race and had plenty of rest coming in. A middle post helps. Check how each horse has handled dirt tracks and longer distances. Horses training well at Churchill Downs in the week before the race tend to run their best on Derby day.
The Kentucky Derby 2026 horses are set and race day is one week away. Download your printable list of Kentucky Derby 2026 horses, pick your favorites from the full field and get ready for the most exciting two minutes in sports on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Good luck and enjoy Derby Day.