Race Day: Schedule, Viewing Options, and Top Picks for Betting

The excitement is building at Churchill Downs as the 150th Kentucky Derby is just moments away. With the latest odds showing Fierceness, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young as the top favorites, the anticipation is palpable among fans and bettors alike.

Former MLB outfielder Jayson Werth, a 10% owner of No. 1 Dornoch, expressed his awe at the magnitude of the event, calling it the biggest in all of sports. Despite the nerves and chaos surrounding the Derby, Werth emphasized that they are living the dream and savoring every moment.

In a field as large as the Derby, chaos and upsets are expected, but favorites still win around 35% of all races in a given year. The long odds and high costs associated with running a horse in the Derby were also highlighted, with the average cost from the 2023 field being approximately $446,000.

As the sun shines over Churchill Downs, celebrities like Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, and Andy Cohen have shared their picks for the race. Meanwhile, Program Trading emerged victorious in the Turf Classic Stakes, setting the stage for the highly anticipated 12th race of the day.

With a new $200 million paddock debuting at Churchill Downs and the winner set to take home a whopping $3.1 million, the stage is set for an unforgettable Kentucky Derby. Stay tuned as the horses line up for the historic race that will crown the next champion of the sport.