The 151st Kentucky Derby teared down the track on Saturday, May 3, 2025 featuring the largest purse of any thoroughbred race at $5,000,000.
All the action took place
at Churchill Downs on
Saturday May 3, 2025..
2025 Kentucky Derby TV coverage & post time
Horse racing fans viewed the Kentucky Derby broadcast live nationwide on NBC on Saturday, May 3rd beginning at 5PM ET with post time set at 6:57pm ET (5:57PM CT, 4:57PM MT, and 3:57PM PT).
2025 Kentucky Derby winner
It was a rainy day and a muddy track at Churchill Downs that ended in a two-horse thriller between top favorites Sovereignty and Journalism as Sovereignty came in first with of time of 2:02.31 after closing at 7-1 odds.
2025 Kentucky Derby payouts
Sovereignty
(Based on a $2 bet)
Win: $17.96 Place: $7.50 Show: $5.58
Journalism (Based on a $2 bet) Place: $4.94 Show: $3.70
This year's top contenders included No. 1 favorite Journalism (with 3-1 odds).Florida Derby s econd place finisher Sovereignty (at 5-1) Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (6-1) and Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez (12-1) were also in the running to win it all at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
All about the Kentucky Derby "the greatest two minutes in sports"
Traditionally the first jewel in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby offers the largest purse of all three races - $2,000,000 - luring the year's best 3 year-olds to the starting gate.
Days before the race, horse racing fans check out the lineup to find out how they've run in the Stakes races of the season, along with graded earnings, and how the handicappers put it all together to come up with the odds on the leading contenders.
Heart-pounding anticipation follows. Who will scratch at the last minute? Who will have the heart to lead the field at the finish?
The field is usually set by April. That's when winning horses (and well-placed finishers) have already proven themselves in the lead up to Kentucky.
Qualifying races include the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, UAE Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass, and Arkansas Derby. Each of these amass points that earns a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.
Elsewhere
around the Web, enjoy the stories of past winners, history and
trivia that make the Kentucky Derby much more than just another
horse race.
Mint
Juleps and the Hat Parade are just some of the fun surrounding
this race at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Also
discover complete Kentucky Derby party
ideas, as well as tips on traveling
to Kentucky for this year's derby plus everything else
you ever wanted to know about the Run for the Roses and the Triple
Crown ....
More about the Kentucky Derby around the Web:
2025 Kentucky Derby - As race draws near there's all the news
that's fit to sprint - with feature articles, daily blog, pictures
and video clips, odds and latest lineup, breaking announcements.
Churchill
Downs - The official site of the traditional Derby track featuring news,
story articles, betting info, event calendar, visitor information, track history.
NBC
Sports - Horse Racing - The official U.S. television station
with plenty of coverage in feature stories, analysis, predictions,
interviews, photo slide shows & video. Kentucky
Derby Museum - Your old Kentucky home meets hi-tech with multimedia presentations
on current exhibits. With schedules, hours, contact information, visitor guide,
membership info and more.
Kentucky Derby Festival Official
Site - A comprehensive schedule of events searchable by name, date or
location, here at the official online fest celebrating Louisville's excuse for
doing nothing but just horsing around all week.
Kentucky
Derby Day Party Ideas & Recipes
Kentucky
Derby Day Recipes - If you can't make it to the race, sit back and party
with do-it-yourself mint juleps, bourbon balls, Kentucky hot browns and a chocolately
horse race pie with some fresh whipped cream. Tool around the rest of this Derby
fan site for more history and color commentary on the big day.
Derby
Party Ideas - Recipes for Kentucky burgoo, derby pie, cucumber sandwiches,
mint juleps, bourbon slush plus lots of creative ideas for party themes, decorations
and setting up your own betting parlor.