What channel is Kentucky Derby 2021 on? Here's when it starts and how to live stream it
Lucas Aulbach
It just doesn't feel like the first Saturday in May without the Kentucky Derby. And that's exactly what we're getting in 2021.
After last year's delayed Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby 147 is set to take place May 1 at Louisville's iconic Churchill Downs.
Is this your first time? Here's a quick look at some key questions and answers about this year's race, and how you can keep up with the action.
What day is the Kentucky Derby?
The 2021 Kentucky Derby will take place on the first Saturday in May, as has been the case for 89 of the past 90 years (last year's Kentucky Derby, delayed until September due to COVID-19, is still too triggering to write about). This year, that date falls on May 1, 2021.
What's your horse name? Try our Kentucky Derby horse name generator!
What time is the Kentucky Derby?
Post time for the 2021 Kentucky Derby is estimated to take place at 6:57 p.m.
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What channel is the Kentucky Derby on?
The Kentucky Derby will air on NBC, with a full day of coverage set to begin at 12:30 p.m. NBC will also air the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, and the Belmont Stakes three weeks after the Preakness.
How to live stream the Kentucky Derby online
Cable-cutters can watch the Kentucky Derby online through a live stream on NBCSports.com and on the NBC Sports app.
When is the Kentucky Derby post position draw?
The 2021 Kentucky Derby post position draw, which determines where each horse in the race will break from the starting gate, will take place at 11 a.m. on April 27, the Tuesday of race week.
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When are the other Triple Crown races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes?
The Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, will take place on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, is set to be run on June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
Who is the favorite in the 2021 Kentucky Derby?
The full field has not yet been set, but you can pencil in Essential Quality from trainer Brad Cox, a Louisville native, as the morning-line favorite. The colt is unbeaten in five races, including an impressive win in April in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Other names to know include Hot Rod Charlie from trainer Doug O'Neill and Steve Asmussen's Super Stock.
How long is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is 1¼ miles or 10 furlongs. The race was first 1½ miles on its first running in 1875 but was shortened by a quarter of a mile in 1896.
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby
Betting stations will be set up around Churchill Downs on the day of the race, and trust us, they would be more than happy to take your money.
If you're not able to attend the race in person, Churchill Downs' betting website (twinspires.com) and app (TwinSpires) are available outside of the racetrack for those looking to place a bet.
First time? Here's a video to show how to bet on the race.
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Who won past Kentucky Derbys?
We don't have time to run down the list of the 146 past winners, but recent winners include 2015's American Pharoah (a Triple Crown winner), 2016's Nyquist, 2017's Always Dreaming, 2018's Justify (another Triple Crown winner), 2019's Country House (who won via disqualification of first-place finisher Maximum Security) and 2020's Authentic.
Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach.