Twenty horses. That’s the number. It sounds like a lot because it is. If you’ve ever stood on the rail at Churchill Downs when that gate snaps open, you know it’s not just a race; it’s a stampede. Most horse races have eight, maybe ten runners. The field in the Kentucky Derby is a completely different beast that creates a chaotic, beautiful, and often heartbreaking spectacle every first Saturday in May.
Honestly, it’s a miracle any of them get a clean trip.
Imagine trying to merge onto a highway during rush hour, but everyone is going 40 miles per hour, and you're all trying to get into the same lane at the exact same time. That’s the "run for the roses." Because the field is so large, the start is everything. A bad break doesn't just cost you a length; it can end your race before you even pass the grandstand for the first time.
The Magic Number 20: How We Got Here
It wasn't always this crowded. For decades, the size of the field fluctuated. But since 2004, the Kentucky Derby has almost always featured a full gate of 20 horses. This isn't just because everyone wants to win; it’s because the points system demands it. Churchill Downs moved away from the old "graded stakes earnings" model to a tiered points system about a decade ago. Now, you have to earn your way in through the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" prep races.
It changed the game.
Before the points system, you’d sometimes see a horse get in just because it won a big-money sprint race. Now, the field in the Kentucky Derby is almost exclusively made up of battle-tested three-year-olds who have proven they can handle distance. But here’s the kicker: even with better horses, the sheer volume of bodies on the track makes the race more of a lottery than a pure test of speed.
The "Curse" of the 1 Post and the Meaning of the AE
If you draw the number one hole, you might as well start the race in a dumpster. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but ask any jockey. Being on the rail with 19 horses screaming down toward you from the outside is terrifying. You get pinned. You get covered in dirt.
Then there are the "Also-Eligibles" (AE).
You’ll see names like Mandarin Hero or Cyclone Mischief sitting on the outside looking in. They are the backups. If a horse scratches (gets pulled) before Friday morning, the AE horse gets to run. We saw this in 2022 with Rich Strike. He wasn't even supposed to be in the field in the Kentucky Derby. He drew in at the last possible second from the also-eligible list and proceeded to pull off an 80-1 upset that ruined every bettor's ticket in America.
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That’s why the field matters. It’s not just about the favorites like Fierceness or Sierra Leone. It’s about the chaos factor.
Why Traffic is the Ultimate Equalizer
Let’s talk about "The Trip." In a small field, the best horse usually wins. In the Derby, the horse that gets the best trip wins.
A "trip" is basically the story of a horse's journey around the track. Did they get bumped at the start? Did they get forced wide on the turn? In a 20-horse field, if you go four paths wide around both turns, you’re running significantly farther than the horse on the rail.
- Ground Loss: Every "path" you are off the rail on a turn adds about a length to your race.
- Kickback: With 19 horses in front of or beside you, the amount of dirt flying into a horse’s face is immense. Some horses hate it. They’ll literally stop running.
- The Squeeze: When the field narrows down the backstretch, it's like a funnel.
Jockeys like John Velazquez or Mike Smith are masters at navigating this mess. They aren't just riding; they’re playing a high-speed game of Tetris. If a hole opens up for a split second, they have to take it. If they hesitate, the door slams shut, and their Derby dreams are over.
The Betting Nightmare (and Dream)
If you're looking at the program and feeling overwhelmed, you're doing it right. The field in the Kentucky Derby makes handicapping a nightmare.
Most people look at the "speed figures"—numbers like Beyer or Ragozin that tell you how fast a horse is. But speed figures don't account for a horse getting kicked in the ribs at the quarter pole. This is why the payouts for the Derby are often massive. When you have 20 horses, the Exotic bets (Exactas, Trifectas, Superfectas) can pay out life-changing money.
In 2005, the 50-cent Trifecta paid over $66,000.
Think about that. For the price of a candy bar, someone bought a luxury SUV. All because the "field" was so deep that the favorites crumbled under the pressure of the crowd.
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How to Actually Analyze the Field
You can't just pick the prettiest horse. Well, you can, but you'll probably lose. To understand the field in the Kentucky Derby, you have to categorize them.
First, look for the "Speed." These are the horses that want to be in front. In a massive field, being in front is a great way to stay out of trouble. But if there are five or six speed horses, they'll burn each other out in a "suicide pace."
Next, find the "Stalkers." These horses sit just behind the leaders. This is the sweet spot. They aren't eating as much dirt as the closers, but they aren't working as hard as the leaders.
Finally, you have the "Closers." These are the ones who sit at the very back and try to pass everyone at the end. It's the most exciting way to win, but it’s the most dangerous. A closer in a 20-horse field needs a miracle. They have to weave through 15 tired horses to find daylight. It’s why horses like Orb or Street Sense are so respected; their jockeys navigated a literal wall of meat to get to the wire.
The Evolution of the Starting Gate
For a long time, Churchill Downs actually used two separate starting gates. They had a main gate for 14 horses and an "auxiliary gate" for the remaining six. This sucked for the horse in post 14 and the horse in post 15. There was a weird gap between them.
In 2020, they finally got a custom-built, 65-foot-long continuous starting gate.
It changed the geometry of the start. Now, every horse is spaced evenly. It hasn't necessarily made the race "fair"—nothing about 20 horses sprinting for a mile and a quarter is fair—but it has removed one of the weirdest quirks of the field in the Kentucky Derby.
Realities of the Modern Derby
We have to talk about the physical toll. The Derby is a hard race. The 20-horse field is the reason many trainers are starting to skip the other Triple Crown races. If a horse gives 110% just to survive the traffic in the Derby, they are often "spent" for the Preakness two weeks later.
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We’re seeing a shift where the "Derby Field" is becoming the peak of the season, rather than just the beginning.
And let’s be honest: the size of the field is also about the spectacle. NBC loves it. The fans love it. The visual of 20 horses thundering into the first turn is the most iconic image in American sports. It creates a narrative that doesn't exist in the Belmont or the Breeders' Cup. It's survival of the fittest in its purest form.
Actionable Insights for Derby Saturday
If you’re planning on watching or wagering, don't get blinded by the hype of the favorite. The field in the Kentucky Derby is too volatile for "locks."
- Check the Track Surface: If it's raining (which it often does in Kentucky), the horses on the outside of the field have a massive advantage because they won't get as much "slop" kicked in their faces.
- Watch the Warm-up: In a field this big, nerves matter. If a horse is washing out (sweating profusely) or acting up behind the gate, they’ve already lost the race. They’re burning energy they’ll need for the final stretch.
- Look for "Traffic-Tested" Horses: Look at their past races. Has the horse ever been stuck between runners? Have they ever come from behind in a large field? If they’ve only ever run against five other horses in California, they are in for a rude awakening when 19 others are bumping them at Churchill.
- Focus on the Jockey: Experience is king. Jockeys like Flavien Prat or Irad Ortiz Jr. know how to find "lanes" that don't exist yet. Trust the humans as much as the horses.
The field is a puzzle that can't be solved with logic alone. It requires a bit of intuition, a lot of luck, and an appreciation for the chaos that makes the Kentucky Derby the greatest two minutes in sports.
Next Steps for Your Derby Prep
To truly master the field, start by watching "replays" of the major prep races like the Florida Derby, the Santa Anita Derby, and the Blue Grass Stakes. Don't just watch the winner. Watch the horse that finished 4th or 5th. Did they get blocked? Did they finish strong? Often, the horse that had the "troubled trip" in a prep race is the one that provides the best value when they join the massive field in the Kentucky Derby. Once you've identified those "hidden" performers, cross-reference them with the post-position draw held the Monday before the race. Avoid the extreme inside (Post 1-3) unless the horse has elite tactical speed, and look for mid-pack closers who have shown the grit to handle dirt in their face.
By the time the bugle plays "Call to the Post," you’ll have a shortlist of three or four horses that can actually handle the 20-horse stampede, rather than just guessing on the name you like best.