After plenty of field changes, what are the new Kentucky Derby post positions?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The starting gate assignments have changed for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
- Only post positions 1 through 19 will be used in this year’s race.
- Morning-line favorite Renegade will still begin the Derby from post No. 1.
The starting gate for the 2026 running of the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville has undergone several changes this week.
Three also-eligible horses drew into the race field during Derby week after expected runners scratched out of the race.
On Saturday morning, one of the trendiest pre-Derby picks, The Puma, was also scratched from the event.
This means only 19 horses will run in Saturday night’s Derby, which has a post time of 6:57 p.m at Churchill Downs.
What starting gate will each horse exit from?
Here’s a rundown of where each horse in the field will begin their 2026 Derby journey.
Updated starting gates for horses in the 2026 Kentucky Derby
- Post position No. 1: Renegade.
- Post position No. 2: Albus.
- Post position No. 3: Intrepido.
- Post position No. 4: Litmus Test.
- Post position No. 5: Commandment.
- Post position No. 6: Danon Bourbon.
- Post position No. 7: So Happy.
- Post position No. 8: Wonder Dean (JPN).
- Post position No. 9: Incredibolt.
- Post position No. 10: Chief Wallabee.
- Post position No. 11: Potente.
- Post position No. 12: Emerging Market.
- Post position No. 13: Pavlovian.
- Post position No. 14: Six Speed.
- Post position No. 15: Further Ado.
- Post position No. 16: Golden Tempo.
- Post position No. 17: Great White.
- Post position No. 18: Ocelli.
- Post position No. 19: Robusta.
- Post position No. 20: N/A.
For the second straight year, post No. 20 is not being used in the Derby because there aren’t enough runners in the race.
Post No. 17, which is occupied by Great White, is the only post that’s failed to produce a Derby winner. A complete history of post position results in the Kentucky Derby can be found here.
Great White, Ocelli and Robusta all drew into the race as also-eligible horses.
