The 153rd Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Post time is scheduled for approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern.
The Kentucky Oaks runs the day before, on Friday, April 30.
May 1 is the earliest date the Derby can ever fall.
The race is fixed to the first Saturday in May, which confines it to a seven-day window from May 1 to May 7, and 2027 lands on the opening day of that window.
Gates open at 9:00 a.m., roughly ten hours before a race that lasts about two minutes.
Table of Contents
When is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Saturday, May 1, 2027. Derby week in full:
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 30 | Friday | Kentucky Oaks, 153rd running |
| Saturday, May 1 | Saturday | Kentucky Derby, 153rd running |
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Race | 153rd Kentucky Derby |
| Date | Saturday, May 1, 2027 |
| Venue | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Gates open | 9:00 a.m. ET |
| Post time | Approximately 6:57 p.m. ET |
| Distance | 1¼ miles, 10 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Field | Maximum 20 horses |
| Eligibility | Three-year-old thoroughbreds |
Post time is approximate and subject to adjustment. Churchill Downs publishes the confirmed race-day schedule closer to the event.
The first Saturday in May
The Kentucky Derby has been fixed to the first Saturday in May since 1875, with only a handful of exceptions — most recently 2020, when it was moved to September during the pandemic.
Because the rule names a weekday within a month rather than a date, the Derby can only fall between May 1 and May 7. May 1, 2027 is the earliest possible; May 7 is the latest.
| Year | Kentucky Derby | Position in window |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 3 | Third |
| 2026 | May 2 | Second |
| 2027 | May 1 | Earliest possible |
| 2028 | May 6 | Sixth |
| 2029 | May 5 | Fifth |
| 2030 | May 4 | Fourth |
The Triple Crown calendar
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes follow at fixed intervals, though both are set by their own tracks and should be confirmed against those announcements.
| Race | Traditional timing | Track |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | First Saturday in May | Churchill Downs, Louisville |
| Preakness Stakes | Two weeks after the Derby | Pimlico, Baltimore |
| Belmont Stakes | Three weeks after the Preakness | Belmont Park, Elmont |
Because the 2027 Derby falls on the earliest possible date, the whole Triple Crown series shifts correspondingly early.
The Preakness and Belmont dates for 2027 had not been confirmed by their respective tracks as of September 8, 2026, so they are not listed here.
Key Figures and Facts
- First Saturday in May: The annual recurring date for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It serves as the opening leg of the American Triple Crown (followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes).
- 1875: The inaugural running of the Derby, making it the longest continuously held major sporting event in the United States (never canceled, even during both World Wars and the Great Depression).
- 1 1/4 Miles (10 Furlongs): The race distance since 1896 (shortened from the original 1 1/2 miles). It is strictly limited to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.
- 1:59.40: The all-time track record, set by Secretariat during his 1973 Triple Crown campaign—the only horse in Derby history to break the two-minute mark.
- 2 Minutes: Often dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Run for the Roses.”
- $5 Million Purse: The race features a multi-million-dollar purse, with over $3 million awarded to the winning owner, alongside a solid 14-karat gold trophy.
Historical Milestones
The Inaugural Run & Black Jockeys – May 17, 1875
Founded by Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. (grandson of explorer William Clark), the first race drew 10,000 spectators.
A chestnut colt named Aristides won, ridden by Oliver Lewis, one of 13 Black jockeys in the 15-horse field.
Black jockeys won 15 of the first 28 runnings of the Derby before Jim Crow laws forced them out of the sport by the early 1900s.
The Twin Spires Rise – 1895
Architect Joseph Dominic Baldez designed Churchill Downs’ iconic Victorian-style Twin Spires atop the grandstand, which became the internationally recognized symbol of the racetrack.
Isaac Murphy’s Legacy – 1896
Legendary jockey Isaac Murphy, the first jockey inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, established a record win rate (winning 3 Derbies in 1884, 1890, and 1891).
The Garland of Roses – 1932
The Kroger Company was commissioned to construct the official Garland of Roses.
The lush blanket contains over 400 red “Freedom” roses sewn onto green satin, weighing roughly 40 pounds.
First Autumn Postponement – 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Derby was postponed from May to September for only the second time in history (the 1945 race was delayed to June due to wartime restrictions).
Traditions, Food & Spectacle
| Tradition / Metric | Figure / Detail | Description |
| Live Attendance | ~150,000+ | The Derby regularly draws one of the largest live sporting crowds in North America, split between elite Millionaires Row and the rowdy, festival-style Infield. |
| Mint Juleps | ~120,000 drinks | Served over Oaks and Derby days, consuming ~10,000 pounds of fresh mint, 1,000+ pounds of shaved ice, and thousands of bottles of Old Forester Kentucky bourbon in collectible frosted glasses. |
| All-Sources Wagering | ~$200–$320 Million | Total legal betting handle generated worldwide across the full Kentucky Derby racecard. |
| Burgoo | Regional Staple | A slow-cooked, thick meat-and-vegetable stew (traditionally made with game, beef, pork, corn, and lima beans) served trackside since the 19th century. |
| Derby Hats | High Fashion | Originated by Clark to enforce an aristocratic European dress code; now famous for extravagant, sculptural millinery worn by women and men alike. |
| “My Old Kentucky Home” | Official Anthem | Stephen Foster’s 1853 ballad played by the University of Louisville Marching Band as the horses walk onto the track for the post parade. |
Record Holders
- Most Wins by a Jockey: Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack (tied with 5 wins each).
- Most Wins by a Trainer: Bob Baffert and Ben Jones (tied with 6 wins each).
- Longest Shot to Win: Donerail in 1913 at 91-1 odds (paying $184.90 on a $2 bet). In 2022, Rich Strike became the second-longest shot in history, winning at 80-1.
- Fillies to Win: Only 3 fillies (female horses) have ever won the Derby against colts: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988).
What Kentucky Derby 2027 is not
The Kentucky Derby is not a federal holiday and closes nothing outside Louisville.
Kentucky does not designate it a state holiday, though many Louisville businesses and schools close or shorten hours for Oaks Day on the Friday.
It is not a fixed date. May 1 in 2027 results from the first-Saturday rule and moves within a May 1 to May 7 window.
It is not the Kentucky Oaks. The Oaks is a separate race for three-year-old fillies, run the previous day, on Friday, April 30, 2027.
It is not open to horses of any age. The Derby is restricted to three-year-old Thoroughbreds, which is why no horse can ever run it twice.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with post time scheduled for approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern. It is the 153rd running and falls on the earliest date the race can ever occur.
What time is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern. Gates open at 9:00 a.m., and the full race card runs through the day, with the Derby itself late in the programme. The race lasts about two minutes. Churchill Downs confirms the exact post time closer to the date.
Why is the Kentucky Derby always in May?
Because it has been fixed to the first Saturday in May since 1875. The rule confines it to a May 1 to May 7 window. The only significant departure was 2020, when the race moved to September.
