Kentucky Derby

Get ready to Run for the Roses with these 9 reports on the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

Get ready for the 2025 Kentucky Derby with this look at contenders, post positions, speed records and long-standing traditions.

The field has shifted after several qualified horses, like Flood Zone and Heart of Honor, withdrew, allowing names such as Flying Mohawk and Render Judgment to enter the mix.

The post position draw saw Journalism take the No. 8 gate as the morning-line favorite, while Sandman drew the tricky No. 17 spot, and American Promise drew the historically lucky No. 5. Speed stats highlight Rodriguez and Journalism as some of the fastest entrants, but nobody has come close to Secretariat’s legendary time from 1973.

Fans can also join in Derby traditions through livestream previews and see the debut of Churchill Downs’ grandstand renovation during the celebration.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Burnham Square, with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up, far right, won the 101st Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 1: WHAT DOES THE KENTUCKY DERBY FIELD LOOK LIKE AFTER SOME CONTENDERS WITHDRAW?

Several horses who qualified to run in next month’s Kentucky Derby have opted out of the Run for the Roses. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Mystik Dan with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up (3), right, wins the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Alex Slitz

NO. 2: JOIN THE HERALD-LEADER FOR A LIVESTREAM EVENT PREVIEWING THE 151ST KENTUCKY DERBY

Get ready for the 151st Kentucky Derby as Herald-Leader journalists run down the field, discuss the odds and more. | Published April 16, 2025 | Read Full Story

Kentucky Derby hopeful Coal Battle works out at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

NO. 3: AS THE POST-POSITION DRAW NEARS, WHAT DOES THE KENTUCKY DERBY FIELD LOOK LIKE?

The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday night at Churchill Downs in Louisville. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

Jockey Ron Turcotte guides Secretariat toward the finish line to win the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Secretariat By Rich Nugent

NO. 4: WHY HAVE SECRETARIAT’S RECORDS NEVER BEEN BROKEN? IT’S SIMPLE AND COMPLICATED.

Records are routinely broken in other sports, but Secretariat’s record-breaking times in the 1973 Triple Crown have never been matched. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

Rodriguez, trained by Bob Baffert, posted the fastest Equibase speed figure of any contender in this year’s Kentucky Derby field when he scored a 111 for his victory in the Wood Memorial on April 5 in New York.

NO. 5: WHO ARE THE FASTEST HORSES FOR THE 151ST RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY?

The top speed figures for horses expected to run in the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

FILe--Monarchos, with Jorge Chavez up, drives to the finish to win the 127th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in this May 5, 2001 photo, in Louisville, Ky. The gray colt who rallied from 13th place to win last year’s Kentucky Derby has been retired to stud because of an ankle injury, trainer John Ward said Monday, Jan. 28, 2002. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) By AL BEHRMAN

NO. 6: THESE HORSES CAME CLOSEST TO BREAKING SECRETARIAT’S KENTUCKY DERBY TIME RECORD

There have not even been many close calls to Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby time record. | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Hale

Kentucky Derby hopeful Journalism works out at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., ahead of this year’s Run for the Roses.

NO. 7: WHAT ARE THE POST POSITIONS FOR 2025 KENTUCKY DERBY AND KENTUCKY OAKS?

See the post positions for the 151st editions of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, which will be run next week at Churchill Downs in Louisville. | Published April 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Drummond

New seating was added to the Churchill Downs Grandstand Club area overlooking the starting gate area, but lower-tier tickets are selling as well this year due to consumer uncertainty, according to the company.

NO. 8: CHURCHILL CEO SAYS DEMAND FOR SOME KENTUCKY DERBY TICKETS IS DOWN, BLAMES ECONOMY

Bill Carstanjen: ‘We didn’t have the endless pool of demand that we’ve seen in prior years.’ | Published April 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Trainer Kenneth McPeek celebrates winning the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan and Brian Hernandez, Jr. at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky, Saturday, May 4, 2024. By Silas Walker

NO. 9: WITH A LAST-MINUTE ENTRY, KENNY MCPEEK IS BACK IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY

After winning the Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby double last year, trainer Kenny McPeek is back in the Derby, this time with a long shot. | Published April 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Clay

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.