Saturday morning in Louisville hits different. You can smell the woodsmoke, the damp dirt of the track, and honestly, way too much hairspray. Everyone is looking for that one specific answer: when exactly does the Kentucky Derby 2025 starts and when do the horses actually hit the track? If you’ve ever sat through four hours of hat montages just to see a two-minute race, you know the struggle is real.
The 151st Kentucky Derby is officially set for Saturday, May 3, 2025.
But "start time" is a loaded term at Churchill Downs. If you show up at the gate at 6:00 p.m. thinking you’re early, you’ve already missed a dozen races and probably the best mint julep of your life.
The Timeline: When Kentucky Derby 2025 Starts for Real
Churchill Downs doesn't just wake up for one race. The gates swing open at 9:00 a.m. ET. That is early. Like, "coffee in a fancy cup" early. The first race of the day—the undercard—usually gets going around 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. ET.
If you are watching from your couch, the "real" TV coverage moves to NBC around 2:30 p.m. ET. But let’s be honest. You’re here for the big one.
The official post time for the Kentucky Derby (Race 12) is 6:57 p.m. ET.
Don't bet the house on that exact second, though. Between the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" and the sheer chaos of loading 20 flighty three-year-olds into a metal gate, things can slide. I’ve seen it happen. A horse gets stubborn, a rider needs a gear adjustment, and suddenly it’s 7:05 p.m. before the bell rings.
Watching from Home (Or the Office)
- NBC / Peacock: This is your main hub. They start the heavy lifting at 2:30 p.m. ET.
- USA Network: If you’re a die-hard, they usually carry the early afternoon races starting at noon.
- FanDuel TV: For the real degenerates (I say that with love), they cover the morning action starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Who is Actually Running?
Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster. We saw Sovereignty take the crown at 7-1 odds, upsetting the heavy favorite Journalism in a sloppy, mud-caked finish. It was a mess. A beautiful, high-stakes mess.
For 2025, the buzz is already building around some familiar names from the prep circuit. Bill Mott, who trained Sovereignty, is always a threat. Then you have the usual suspects like Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox, who basically live in the winner's circle.
The field is restricted to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. They earn their way in through the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points system. It’s a grueling series of races across the country—and even in Japan and Europe—where only the top 20 point-earners get a stall in the starting gate.
Why the Post Time Matters So Much
Horse racing is a game of minutes. If a horse sits in the gate too long, they get "washy" (sweaty and nervous). If they load too fast, they might act up.
When the Kentucky Derby 2025 starts, the atmosphere at the track is basically a vibrating hum. 150,000 people screaming at once. It’s loud. It’s intimidating. Expert handicappers like Mike Battaglia or the folks at Daily Racing Form often look for the horse that stays calm during that long walk from the barn to the paddock.
If you're betting, pay attention to the 20 minutes before 6:57 p.m. That's when you see which horses are handling the heat and which ones are losing their minds.
The "Other" Big Race
Don't forget the Kentucky Oaks. That’s the "fillies only" race (the girls) and it happens the day before, Friday, May 2. It has its own "start" at 5:51 p.m. ET. It’s basically the Derby’s slightly more refined, pink-tinted sibling.
Survival Tips for Derby Day
Look, I've been around these tracks enough to know that a "2-minute race" requires 12 hours of stamina. If you are going in person, the "start" is the moment you park your car at the Kentucky Exposition Center and hop on a shuttle.
- Phone Battery: Download your tickets to your Apple or Google Wallet before you get to the gate. Cell service at Churchill Downs on Derby Day is basically non-existent. It’s a black hole for data.
- The Dress Code: It's not a suggestion. If you're in a premium area, you need a jacket. If you're in the infield, well, anything goes, but you’ll probably get mud on it.
- Wagering: Don't wait until 6:50 p.m. to place your Derby bet. The lines at the windows are insane, and even the apps tend to lag when everyone hits "submit" at the same time.
How to Handle Your Betting Strategy
The most common mistake? Betting only on the favorite. In the last decade, we've seen some massive longshots—remember Rich Strike at 80-1?
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Check the track conditions. If it rained in Louisville that morning (which it often does), look for "mudders." These are horses whose pedigrees or past performances show they can handle a sloppy surface. Sovereignty proved that in 2025.
Basically, the Kentucky Derby 2025 starts long before the horses leave the barn. It starts when you do your homework on the Triple Crown contenders and figure out who has the lung capacity to handle the 1 1/4 mile "Classic" distance.
What to do next:
If you're planning to attend, book your hotel in Louisville or southern Indiana immediately. Prices triple the closer you get to May. If you're staying home, verify your Peacock subscription is active at least 48 hours before the race to avoid any login headaches during the pre-race show. Keep an eye on the "Road to the Derby" leaderboard throughout March to see which horses are actually locking in those 20 spots.