Kentucky Derby 2025: Horses, Leaderboard List, Betting Odds

With the 151st Kentucky Derby set for tomorrow, the field is officially set, and anticipation is building for what is often dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”

The race, held annually at Churchill Downs racetrack, features the three-year-old top thoroughbreds from around the country vying for a place in racing history. Below is the complete list of horses competing in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, along with current odds, betting insights, and historical context for the storied event.

Kentucky Derby Horses List

Here are the 20 horses scheduled to compete in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, according to the official Kentucky Derby website:

• 1. Citizen Bull (20-1)
• 2. Neoequos (30-1)
• 3. Final Gambit (30-1)
• 5. American Promise (30-1)
• 6. Admire Daytona (30-1)
• 7. Luxor Cafe (15-1)
• 8. ism (3-1) – Favorite
• 9. Burnham Square (12-1)
• 10. Grande (20-1)
• 11. Flying Mohawk (30-1)
• 12. East Avenue (20-1)
• 13. Publisher (20-1)
• 14. Tiztastic (20-1)
• 15. Render Judgment (30-1)
• 16. Coal Battle (30-1)
• 17. Sandman (6-1)
• 18. Sovereignty (5-1)
• 19. Chunk of Gold (30-1)
• 20. Owen Almighty (30-1)
• 21. Baeza (12-1)

When Is the Kentucky Derby?

The 2025 Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The post time for the race is typically around 6:57 p.m. ET. The event remains one of the most attended sporting traditions in America and marks the opening jewel in the Triple Crown series.

There will be television coverage airing on NBC and streaming options available through Peacock and other services.

How to bet on the Kentucky Derby

Betting on the Derby can be done in-person at Churchill Downs or online through official partner sites and apps. According to the Kentucky Derby website, common wager types include:

• Win: Your horse must finish first.
• Place: Your horse must finish first or second.
• Show: Your horse must finish first, second, or third.
• Exacta: Pick the first and second finishers in exact order.
• Trifecta: Pick the first three finishers in exact order.
• Superfecta: Pick the first four finishers in exact order.

Bettors may consider factors like speed, past performances, and how each horse has run at distances similar to the Derby’s distance.

Who Is This Year’s Favorite Horse?

The early favorite is ism, trained by Michael McCarthy, opening with 3-1 odds. The colt enters the Derby following a victory in the Santa Anita Derby and is viewed as a strong contender with solid track performance after a four-race win streak.

Kevin Kilroy, racing and handicapping analyst, put horses Burnham Square and Luxor Cafe on his list of top contenders, per KentuckyDerby.com.

Joe Kristufek, senior producer and racing analyst for Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Ellis Park, put Burnham Square first and ism second.

Viewers are also keeping an eye on Sandman, a 6-1 pick who captured the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 29.

Kentucky Derby: Current Betting Odds

As of midday May 2, the latest odds from CBS Sports via Michelle Yu, and CBS Sports via Jody Demling are:

• ism: 3-1
• Sovereignty: 5-1
• Sandman: 6-1
• Burnham Square: 12-1
• Baeza: 12-1
• Luxor Cafe: 15-1
• Citizen Bull: 20-1
• East Avenue: 20-1
• Publisher: 20-1
• Tiztastic: 20-1
• Chunk of Gold: 30-1
• Owen Almighty: 30-1
• Flying Mohawk: 30-1
• Admire Daytona: 30-1
• Coal Battle: 30-1
• Render Judgment: 30-1
• Neoequos: 30-1
• Final Gambit: 30-1
• American Promise: 30-1

These odds will continue to shift leading up to the race.

Kentucky Derby: History and Origins

The first run at the Kentucky Derby was May 17, 1875. The inaugural winner was a horse named Aristides. Each year, the winning horse is draped with a blanket of over 400 red roses—the inspiration for the phrase “Run for the Roses.”

The first televised Derby was in 1949, broadcast only in Louisville. The first national telecast would follow in 1952.

Held annually on the first Saturday in May, the Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

Beyond the racing itself, the event is steeped in tradition. Elaborate hats and outfits, mint juleps, and the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” as the horses get onto the track remain essential parts of the Derby experience.