You've probably been there. You're scrolling through your phone, looking for the Kentucky Derby start time, and you see a dozen different "schedule" windows. Some say noon. Others say 2:30. Most of them are just talking about when the TV cameras start rolling and the mint julep recipes begin.
Honestly? If you just want to see the actual horses run, you’re looking for the post time.
For the 151st Run for the Roses, which happened on Saturday, May 3, 2025, that magic moment was 6:57 p.m. ET. If you tuned in at 7:00, you likely caught the tail end of the dirt flying and a whole lot of screaming. That’s the thing about the Derby—it really is the fastest two minutes in sports. You blink, and you’re looking at a $3 million winner while your betting slip becomes a very expensive coaster.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby Start Time and Why it Matters
The Derby is a marathon of a day. It isn't just one race; it’s a massive card of undercard events that start as early as 10:30 a.m. ET. People often get confused because NBC usually starts their "official" coverage in the mid-afternoon, around 2:30 p.m. ET.
But the actual Kentucky Derby start time—the one where the gates crash open—is almost always set for just before 7:00 p.m. in the Eastern time zone.
Why the weird timing? Television.
Network executives love that prime-time-adjacent slot. It allows for hours of fashion segments, celebrity interviews, and "human interest" stories about grooms and trainers before the main event. In 2025, Sovereignty took home the crown in a sloppy, muddy mess of a race that proved exactly why you can't trust the morning line odds too much.
A Breakdown of the Race Day Timeline
If you were trying to catch the action "today" (or looking back at how the day unfolded), here is how that clock actually ticked down at Churchill Downs:
- 11:00 a.m. — The first race of the day begins. Mostly for the die-hards and the people already three drinks deep in the infield.
- 12:00 p.m. — Early TV coverage starts on USA Network and Peacock. This is where you see the "other" stakes races.
- 2:30 p.m. — The big show moves to NBC. This is the official start of the Derby broadcast.
- 6:30 p.m. — The "walkover" begins. Horses leave the barn and head to the track. The energy gets weirdly quiet and then incredibly loud.
- 6:57 p.m. — The Gates Open. This is the Kentucky Derby start time.
- 7:00 p.m. — It's over. Sovereignty is the winner. Everyone starts looking for the exit or another drink.
Sovereignty’s Win in the Slop
Let's talk about what actually happened when the clock hit 6:57. The track was "sloppy." That’s horse racing speak for "a giant mud puddle."
Junior Alvarado, the jockey on Sovereignty, rode a masterful race. He basically parked the horse on the rail, saved as much ground as humanly possible, and waited for the favorites to tire themselves out in the muck. Journalism, the 7-2 favorite, looked like he had it in the bag until the final stretch. Then, Sovereignty just found another gear.
It was a 7-1 shot winning it all. If you had a $20 win bet on Sovereignty, you walked away with about $179. Not bad for two minutes of work.
The final time was 2:02.31. It wasn't Secretariat-fast, but on a sealed, muddy track, it was a gritty performance. Bill Mott, the trainer, finally got his second Derby trophy, and the Godolphin stable—one of the biggest names in the sport—finally broke their long-standing Derby curse.
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Who Actually Finished Where?
If you're settling a bet or just curious about who trailed behind, the top of the leaderboard looked like this:
- Sovereignty (The Winner)
- Journalism (The "almost" winner)
- Baeza (The longshot who snuck into the money)
- Final Gambit (A solid fourth)
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Kentucky Derby Start Time
If you missed the boat this time around, don't sweat it. The Derby is a machine that never stops. The 152nd running is already etched into the calendar.
Mark your calendar: Saturday, May 2, 2026.
While the official post time won't be "officially" official until we get closer, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be right around that 6:50 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET window. It’s a tradition. It works for the fans, it works for the bettors, and it definitely works for the TV sponsors.
If you’re planning to head to Louisville next year, or even just hosting a party, remember that "Derby Day" is a misnomer. It’s actually Derby Week. You’ve got Thurby on Thursday, the Kentucky Oaks (the fillies' race) on Friday, and then the big dance on Saturday.
Practical Steps for Next Year
- Check the Weather Early: As we saw in 2025, a "sloppy" track changes everything. Fast horses become slow horses very quickly when they’re getting mud kicked in their faces.
- Post Time vs. Coverage Time: Always aim to be in front of the TV 30 minutes before the scheduled Kentucky Derby start time. Technical delays happen, but they usually move the race later, never earlier.
- The "Also-Eligibles": In 2025, Baeza only got into the race because of a scratch. He ended up finishing third. Always keep an eye on the horses that sneak in at the last minute.
The Kentucky Derby remains the one day a year where people who don't know a furlong from a foal suddenly care about horse racing. It’s about the hats, the history, and that specific 6:57 p.m. moment when the world stops for two minutes.
To stay ahead of the game for 2026, keep an eye on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard starting in late 2025. That’s where the real contenders start earning the points they need to actually make it into the gate. If you start tracking them in the winter, you’ll be the smartest person at your Derby party come May.
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Next Steps:
- Monitor the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings starting in September 2025 to identify early favorites.
- Book Louisville accommodations at least 10 months in advance if you plan to attend the 152nd running on May 2, 2026.
- Review the 2025 replay to see how Sovereignty’s rail-skimming trip overcame Journalism's late-stage fatigue in the mud.