The Kentucky Derby occurs each year on the first Saturday of May, and it is the most prestigious of the Triple Crown races. But many horse bettors want to get their bets in early, which is why the BetUS Racebook already has Kentucky Derby odds available to all of our customers.
Kentucky Derby 2026 is upon us, and we can’t wait for the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” to unfold before our very eyes. BetUS understands that on the first Saturday in May, everyone is a horse racing fan because that’s when the greatest three-year-old Thoroughbreds in the world descend on the venerated Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The online racebook at BetUS has live Kentucky Derby odds on all 20 entries, comprised of the most elite horses from all over the world that will battle for 1¼ miles on Churchill Downs' historic dirt oval track. Saturday, May 2, 2026, is the day, and the main event isn’t expected to run until 6:57 PM ET, but many horse racing fans are plugged in and want to get their bets down early so they can relax on the day of the race.
This year’s Kentucky Derby winner will receive $3.1 million of a $5 million purse and an opportunity to join only 13 other horses in the race’s 151-year history as Triple Crown winners. Those who may not be familiar should know that the Kentucky Derby, although the most illustrious, is just the first of horse racing’s three crown jewels.
Two Saturdays after the Derby comes the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, followed by the Belmont Stakes in early June. The BetUS Racebook will have odds and live betting on all these major events, as well as a full complement of horse racing throughout the year.
Justify was the last horse to win all three of the most important Grade 1 Stakes races in 2018. The chestnut-colored stallion was the post-time favorite, running the Derby in a time of 2:04.20 over a sloppy track. It was his first of three consecutive victories against the best three-year-olds on the planet.
The talented steed would go on to cover the 1 3/16ths of a mile Preakness distance in 1:55.93, besting all the rest. In his final race, Justify would solidify his legacy as one of the most gifted racehorses in history by showing true grit and stamina over 1 ½ miles when he crossed the finish line first at the Belmont Stakes in a time of 2:28.18.
Last year’s Kentucky Derby results showed the second favorite, Sovereignty, outdueling the favorite, Journalism, down the stretch over a sloppy track. However, the race was so grueling that trainer Bill Mott decided to let his mount rest for the Preakness and train for the Belmont several weeks later, which proved to be a prescient decision as Sovereignty would go on to win that race as well.
But could we have another Triple Crown winner in the making this year? According to the Kentucky Derby odds at BetUS, the top five choices are Renegade (+325), Further Ado (+450), Commandment (+575), Chief Wallabee (+625), and The Puma (+950).
BetUS has live horse race betting on the entire Kentucky Derby race card and an extensive offering of horse racing odds at tracks all around the world. Win, place, and show betting, along with several exotic wagers such as exactas, quinellas, trifectas, superfectas, Pick Fours, and daily doubles, are all available.
BetUS has been a trusted, reliable one-stop shop for gaming of all kinds for over 30 years. Whether it is sports betting, online casino table games, virtual slots, or horse racing, we do it all and better than anyone else in the industry. We invite everyone to experience the BetUS difference and see for themselves.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to begin at 6:57 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NBS and streaming on Peacock.
The official post positions will be drawn on April 25, 2026, and the expected entries are as follows in alphabetical order. Kentucky Derby odds can be found at BetUS.