Renegade trains on the track during morning workouts ahead of the running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 26, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby serves as the crown jewel of an entire week of racing at Louisville’s Churchill Downs. The global event happens at 6:57 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, May 2, giving the 3-year-old horses the spotlight for 1-1/4 miles in the Run for the Roses as the first leg of horse racing’s triple crown.
While all eyes focus on the Kentucky Derby and leading horses Renegade, Further Ado and Commandment, the legendary race is just one of dozens of events throughout the week, starting on Sunday and continuing daily right up to Kentucky Oaks day on Friday and the Derby day on Saturday.
Saturday, April 25, marked opening day and kicked off the week of racing. The Sunday Funday racing returned to Churchill Downs for the first time since 2010 before the traditional Dawn at the Downs on Monday, which opened the track to morning training sessions. On Tuesday, 502’s Day put a focus on local events while “Winsday” continued the focus on local organizations and nonprofits. “Thurby” was all about celebrating the state’s racing heritage.
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The Kentucky Oaks, also in its 152nd running, is America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies. Held annually the day before the Kentucky Derby, the Oaks features a $1.5 million purse and is one of the longest-running sporting events in the country. Oaks Day has its own traditions, including a celebration of breast cancer awareness, with fans embracing the “pink out” tradition to honor the cause.
Then comes Kentucky Derby day on Saturday, beginning with the gates opening at 9 a.m. local time and the first race at 11 a.m. This year, Tedeschi Trucks Band will perform the national anthem ahead of the walkover, which begins at 6:15 p.m. A celebrity will step up to offer the “riders up” call, followed by a call to post and the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home.” The Post parade precedes arguably the most famous two minutes in sports.
Friday’s Kentucky Oaks kicks off NBC’s coverage at Churchill Downs. Peacock and NBCSN will broadcast Kentucky Oaks undercards from 4 to 8 p.m. Eastern, while NBC and Peacock take over Kentucky Oaks primetime race coverage for one hour at 8 p.m. Eastern.
On Saturday, Peacock and NBCSN offer Kentucky Derby undercard race coverage from noon to 2:30 p.m. EST. Kentucky Derby coverage then switches to NBC, Peacock, Universal and the Telemundo app from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. FanDuel TV will air the entire day’s coverage on delay, starting at 7:30 p.m.
MORE: Churchill Downs Readies Official 152nd Kentucky Derby Menu
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