You've got your mint julep in hand. Your hat is slightly lopsided, and you're staring at a racing program that looks like it was written in a foreign language. You’re there for the big one—the "Run for the Roses." But as you scan the list of races, you realize something confusing: the Kentucky Derby isn't the first race of the day. It’s not even the middle one.
Honestly, if you show up at Churchill Downs thinking the main event starts at noon, you’re going to be waiting a long time.
So, what race number is Kentucky Derby? For the 151st running in 2025, the Kentucky Derby was officially Race 12 on the Churchill Downs card. This has become the standard for the modern era of the sport. While the gates at the track open as early as 9:00 a.m. ET, and the first horses start thundering down the stretch at 10:30 or 11:00 a.m., the main event doesn't actually kick off until nearly 7:00 p.m. ET.
It’s a long day. A glorious, exhausting, dirt-covered day.
Why Race 12 is the Magic Number
The decision to put the Derby at Race 12 isn't just some random choice by a guy in a suit. It’s about building a crescendo. Churchill Downs typically runs 14 races on Derby Day. By making the Derby Race 12, the track ensures that the energy peaks at just the right moment for television audiences and bettors alike.
Think about it. If you put the biggest race first, everyone would go home by lunch. Instead, you get a "undercard" filled with Grade 1 stakes races like the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic or the Churchill Downs Stakes. These are world-class races in their own right, featuring million-dollar purses and some of the fastest horses on the planet.
- Total races on the card: Usually 14.
- The Derby slot: Race 12.
- Post-Derby races: Races 13 and 14 (often used to let the crowd thin out).
In 2025, the "post time"—that’s horse speak for when the race actually starts—was 6:57 p.m. ET. If you were watching on NBC, you probably noticed the coverage started hours earlier. That's because the build-up is half the fun. You've got celebrities on the red carpet, a seemingly endless parade of fashion, and the emotional "My Old Kentucky Home" sing-along that happens right before the horses load into the gate.
Breaking Down the 2025 Race Card
To give you an idea of how the day flows, let's look at the actual 2025 schedule. The first post was at 10:30 a.m. ET. For those sitting in the grandstands, that’s a lot of hours to manage your "liquid courage."
The 151st Derby featured a field of 20 horses. Sovereignty, trained by the legendary Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, ended up taking the win with a time of 2:02.31. But before Sovereignty ever touched the track, eleven other races had to finish.
Wait. Why do they keep racing after the Derby?
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It’s basically crowd control. When 150,000 people try to leave a historic stadium at the exact same time, it’s a nightmare. By having Race 13 and Race 14 after the main event, the track gives people a reason to stick around for another hour, which helps bleed the traffic out slowly. Plus, for the die-hard bettors, the day isn't over until the last horse crosses the finish line.
Common Misconceptions About the Program
Most folks get "race number" confused with "program number." This is a rookie mistake that can cost you money if you're at the betting window.
The race number is where the race sits in the schedule (e.g., Race 12).
The program number (or saddle cloth number) is the number the horse actually wears.
For example, in the 2025 Derby, Sovereignty wore number 18. If you went to the window and said, "Give me $20 on number 12," you would have been betting on a horse named Tiztastic (who wore 14 but was in a different slot) or whatever horse was actually assigned the #12 cloth. You have to be specific: "Race 12, Horse 18."
Expert Tip: Always check the "scratches." In 2025, horses like Rodriguez (#4) were scratched. This doesn't change the race number—it stays Race 12—but it shifts which horses are actually in the starting gate.
How the Race Number Impacts Betting
Betting on the Kentucky Derby isn't just about picking one horse. Because it's Race 12, it's often the "anchor" for major multi-race bets.
Experienced handicappers look at things like the Pick 4, Pick 5, and the Derby City 6. These are bets where you have to pick the winner of consecutive races. Since the Derby is Race 12, it is almost always the final leg of the Late Pick 4 or the Late Pick 5. This means by the time the Derby starts, some bettors are sitting on tickets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, just waiting for that one final result.
The pressure is real.
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The Evolution of the Derby Schedule
It hasn't always been Race 12. If you go back decades, the card was much shorter. In the early 20th century, you might only have six or seven races in an afternoon. But as the Derby grew into a global media phenomenon, the "Day at the Downs" expanded.
Churchill Downs has mastered the art of the "Event." By surrounding the main 1-1/4 mile dirt race with turf sprints and filly-and-mare stakes, they’ve created a buffet for gamblers.
One thing that hasn't changed? The distance. Since 1896, the race has been 1-1/4 miles. Before that, it was actually 1-1/2 miles, but officials realized that was a bit too grueling for three-year-olds so early in the spring.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Derby Day
If you're planning to watch or attend the next Derby, here is how you should handle the Race 12 timing:
- Sync Your Clock: Set an alarm for 6:30 p.m. ET. This gives you 20 minutes to get your bets in and find a TV before the "Call to the Post."
- Study the Undercard: Don't just look at Race 12. The races leading up to it (Races 8 through 11) usually feature the best horses in the country. There's often more "value" in betting these races because the public isn't over-betting them like they do the Derby.
- Watch the Weather: Since Race 12 is so late in the day, the track condition can change. If it rains at 2:00 p.m., the track might be "sloppy" for Race 5 but "fast" or "good" by Race 12.
- Know Your Horse: If you're betting, remember the horse's name and program number, but verify you are betting on Race 12.
The Kentucky Derby is more than just two minutes of heart-pounding action. It’s the culmination of an entire day’s worth of storytelling. Knowing that it’s Race 12 helps you pace yourself—whether you're at the track or watching from your couch.
Keep your program handy, watch the odds shift as the day goes on, and remember that in the Derby, anything can happen. Just ask the people who bet on Rich Strike at 80-1 in 2022. They weren't just watching a race; they were watching history in the 12th slot of the day.