You’ve probably heard it called "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports." It’s a spectacle of big hats, cold bourbon, and horses that cost more than a small island. But if you’re trying to plan a trip to Louisville or just want to make sure you don't miss the race on TV, the timing can feel a bit elusive.
How often is the Kentucky Derby? Basically, it happens once a year. It's a rite of spring. Every single year, without fail (well, almost), the gates fly open at Churchill Downs. If you want the short answer: it’s an annual event held on the first Saturday in May.
But honestly, there is a lot more to the schedule than just a single date on a calendar. Between the qualifying "Road to the Derby," the specific post times, and the rare occasions when history actually forced the race to move, the timing of this race is a fine-tuned machine.
The "First Saturday in May" Rule (And Its Rare Exceptions)
Since 1931, the Kentucky Derby has followed a strict tradition. It’s always the first Saturday in May. Simple, right?
Not always.
If you look back at the history books, the race didn't always have this "Saturday" obsession. When the very first Derby ran on May 17, 1875, it was actually a Monday. In the early days, it hopped around the week like a loose horse in the paddock. It wasn't until the 1930s that the organizers realized that sticking to a specific Saturday made it a lot easier for the rest of the country to tune in and turn it into a national holiday of sorts.
There have only been two times in the last century where the "once a year in May" rhythm was broken:
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- 1945 (World War II): The government had a ban on horse racing to save resources for the war. Once the ban was lifted in May, they scrambled to run the race on June 9.
- 2020 (The COVID-19 Pandemic): This was the big one. For the first time in ages, the Twin Spires stood over an empty track in May. The race was pushed all the way back to September 5. It felt weird, it looked weird with no fans, but the streak of "once a year" stayed alive.
The Derby is the longest continuously run sporting event in America. It hasn't missed a year since 1875. Not for world wars, not for the Great Depression, and not for a global pandemic.
When Is The Next Kentucky Derby?
If you’re marking your calendar for the next few years, here is how the "first Saturday" math shakes out:
- 2026: Saturday, May 2
- 2027: Saturday, May 1
- 2028: Saturday, May 6
The race itself—the one they actually show on the news—is incredibly short. It’s roughly 1.25 miles. For a horse like the legendary Secretariat, who still holds the record, that distance took only 1:59.40.
Most people don't realize that while the race is once a year, the event is a massive two-week festival. In Louisville, the "Derby Festival" starts weeks earlier with Thunder Over Louisville (one of the largest fireworks shows in North America). If you show up just for the two minutes of racing, you’re missing about 90% of the party.
The Road to the Derby: It’s Not Just One Race
You can't just pay an entry fee and show up at the starting gate. That’s not how this works.
To answer "how often is the Kentucky Derby" in a way that matters for the horses, you have to look at the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This is a series of 36 specific races held across the world. Horses compete in these races to earn points.
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Think of it like the regular season in the NFL. These prep races happen throughout the winter and spring at tracks like Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, and even spots in Europe and Japan. The 20 horses with the most points get to enter the gate on that first Saturday in May.
So, for the trainers and owners, the "Derby" is actually a grueling year-long pursuit that only culminates once a year.
Why only 20 horses?
Churchill Downs capped the field at 20 back in 1975. Before that, it was a bit of a free-for-all. Having 20 massive Thoroughbreds charging toward the first turn at 40 miles per hour is already chaotic enough. Any more would basically be a high-speed traffic jam.
What Time Does the Race Actually Start?
This is where people usually get tripped up. They turn on the TV at noon, see people talking about hats for four hours, and assume they missed the race.
The Kentucky Derby is usually the 12th or 13th race of the day at Churchill Downs. While the gates at the track open at 9:00 AM, the "main event" doesn't usually happen until the early evening.
Standard Post Time: Usually around 6:57 PM ET.
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If you’re hosting a party, don't tell everyone to arrive at 6:30. They’ll miss the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home," which is arguably the best part. That happens about 10-15 minutes before the horses actually run. It’s the moment when 150,000 people go silent, then start crying and singing together. It's intense.
Common Misconceptions About the Schedule
I've heard people ask if there's a "Fall Derby" or if the race happens twice a year.
Nope.
The confusion usually comes from the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg. Two weeks later, you have the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. Three weeks after that, the Belmont Stakes in New York.
Because people see horse racing on TV for three weeks straight, they sometimes think it's the same event moving from city to city. It’s not. Each race is its own beast, but the Derby is the only one that happens at Churchill Downs on that specific first Saturday.
Also, the Derby is strictly for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. This is a huge detail. A horse only gets one shot in its entire life to run the Derby. They can't come back next year to try again. If they're injured or not fast enough when they're three, that’s it. The window is closed forever. This "once in a lifetime" aspect is why the race carries so much weight in the sporting world.
Planning Your Trip: Actionable Steps
If you’re serious about going, you can't just "wing it" in April. Louisville becomes the center of the universe for a week, and the logistics are a nightmare if you aren't prepared.
- Book Lodging Early: People book hotels a year in advance. If you're looking in March for a May race, be prepared to stay an hour away in a different city or pay $1,000 a night for a Motel 6.
- The "Oaks" Alternative: If the Derby is too crowded or expensive, go to the Kentucky Oaks on Friday (the day before). It’s the race for the fillies (female horses). It’s just as historic, slightly less crowded, and everyone wears pink.
- Tickets: You can get "Infield" tickets fairly easily. But be warned: the Infield is a mud-covered mosh pit. You won't actually see a horse. If you want to see the race, you need a seat in the grandstand, which requires buying through the official Churchill Downs lottery or secondary markets early in the year.
- Fashion: Don't wait until the week before to find a hat or a suit. The good ones sell out, and you’ll end up looking like you bought your outfit at a gas station.
The Kentucky Derby is a singular moment in time. It's a 150-year-old tradition that lasts less than two minutes, but the preparation—for the horses, the city, and the fans—is a year-round obsession. Just remember: first Saturday in May. Write it down.