Who Won the 2026 Kentucky Derby? Full Results and Race Highlights

Kentucky Derby 2026: A Historic Victory for Golden Tempo

The “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” returned for the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Derby, and it did not disappoint. The race was won by a large underdog, Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, who made history as the first female trainer to win the prestigious event. Golden Tempo, starting at 36-1 odds, came from behind to claim victory, with the final stretch being a thrilling showdown between the underdog and the favorites.

Race Highlights and Results

Golden Tempo was trailing for much of the race but managed to surge ahead in the final moments. At one point, the horse was in last place, but it showed incredible determination to overtake the competition. The second-place finisher was Renegade, the 5-1 favorite owned by Mike Repole, a St. John’s basketball benefactor and New York business entrepreneur. The third-place finisher was Ocelli, an impressive 50-1 longshot.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode Golden Tempo to victory, secured his first Kentucky Derby win after finishing second in 2018 with Good Magic. His older brother, Irad, was the jockey for Renegade. Irad had previously achieved a fourth-place finish in 2019 on Improbable.

The Triple Crown and Future Prospects

With this win, the question of whether Golden Tempo will compete in the Preakness Stakes looms large. Owner Daisy Phipps Pulito has yet to announce her decision, but if the horse does compete, it is likely to be among the favorites at Laurel Park.

Live Updates and Key Moments

The race was closely followed by fans and media alike, with The Sporting News tracking all live updates, highlights, and results from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Here are some key moments from the event:

7:10 p.m.: GOLDEN TEMPO WINS THE KENTUCKY DERBY! Favorite Renegade and 50-1 Ocelli round out the top three.
7:09 p.m.: Danon Bourbon leads heading around to the final turn.
7:09 p.m.: Six Speed leads onto the backstretch of the track.
7:08 p.m.: The last of the horses are off! Wonder Dean goes into the early lead.
7:07 p.m.: The horses have restarted the process of loading into the gates due to Great White’s scratch.
7:04 p.m.: Great White has been scratched heading into the gates. The race will now have 18 horses competing.
6:58 p.m.: Attendance at Churchill Downs is 150,415, close to the record of 170,513 set in 2015.
6:47 p.m.: The University of Louisville Choir and Band perform “My Old Kentucky Home” as the horses walk out to the gates.
6:37 p.m.: Top-five favorites according to the Kentucky Derby website:
Renegade: 5-1
So Happy: 6-1
Commandment: 7-1
Further Ado: 7-1
Chief Wallabee: 9-1

Pre-Race Events and Trends

Several notable events took place before the main race:

5:44 p.m.: Rhetorical wins wire-to-wire in the final pre-race before the Kentucky Derby.
5:12 p.m.: The Tedeschi Trucks Band sings the National Anthem ahead of the final pre-race, Old Forester Turf Classic.
4:42 p.m.: After Justify’s 2018 win, a betting favorite has not won the Kentucky Derby.
4:09 p.m.: Stark Contrast (6-5) wins The American Turf race.
3:38 p.m.: Some of the most eye-catching outfits are seen at the track.
3:34 p.m.: Crude Velocity (5-2) wins the Grade II Pat Mile pre-race.

Kentucky Derby Pre-Race Results

Here are the winners of the pre-races:

Race 1: Powershift (3-1)
Race 2: Out of the Woods (14-1)
Race 3: Vibe (15-2)
Race 4: R Disaster (7-1)
Race 5: Yellow Card (9-2)
Race 6: Tour Player (4-1)
Race 7: Classic Q (6-1)
Race 8: Crude Velocity (5-2)
Race 9: Stark Contrast (6-5)
Race 10: T O Elvis (5-1)
Race 11 (Old Forester Turf Classic): Rhetorical (9-5)

Post Time and Viewing Options

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 2. Eleven other races lead into the Run for the Roses, starting at 11 a.m. ET.

For those interested in watching, the race will be broadcast on NBC, with live streaming available through DIRECTV, Peacock, or the NBC Sports app. Coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN, shifting to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET.