Kentucky Derby 2026: Golden Tempo Wins at 23-1
In one of the wildest finishes in Kentucky Derby history, Golden Tempo closed from near the back to win the 152nd Run for the Roses at 23-1 odds in 2:02.27. Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman ever to train a Kentucky Derby winner. Jockey José Ortiz beat his own brother Irad (aboard runner-up Renegade) by a neck in a brother-vs-brother photo finish.
2026 Kentucky Derby Top Finishers
A historic result. The morning-line favorite Renegade led most of the way, but Golden Tempo unleashed a closing rush nobody saw coming. The chalk-busting top four produced massive payouts across every exotic pool.
Golden Tempo
23-1Came from near the back of the pack at the top of the stretch. José Ortiz drove him past Renegade in the final yards to win by a neck. First Kentucky Derby win of Ortiz's career.
Renegade
5-1Led much of the race and looked home free in the stretch. Beaten by his own brother. Irad Ortiz rode Renegade as José Ortiz rode the winner: a brother-vs-brother photo finish.
Ocelli
70-1A massive longshot in third completes a chalk-busting trifecta and powers a superfecta payout for the ages.
Chief Wallabee
7-1Rounded out the superfecta in fourth, capping a wide-open Derby that paid out across every exotic pool.
🏆 Historic Moment
Cherie DeVaux, 44, is the first woman in 152 runnings of the Kentucky Derby to train a winner, and only the second woman to train a winner of any American Triple Crown race. Her victory bettered Shelley Riley\'s runner-up finish with Casual Lies in 1992 and marks a breakthrough moment for women in thoroughbred racing.
Every Derby Bet Explained
Derby pools offer eight common wager types. Win/Place/Show are the easiest entry point. Exotics (Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta) deliver the lottery-style payouts the Derby is famous for, exactly the kind of result the 23-1 / 5-1 / 70-1 / 7-1 finish produced in 2026.
Win
Min $2Pick the horse you think will finish first. Simplest bet, smallest payouts unless you back a longshot like Golden Tempo.
Place
Min $2Your horse must finish 1st or 2nd. Lower payout than Win but higher hit rate.
Show
Min $2Your horse must finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Lowest payout, highest hit rate.
Exacta
Min $1Pick the top two finishers in exact order. Box it to cover both orders.
Trifecta
Min $0.50Top three finishers in exact order. Big payouts, hard to hit. The 2026 Golden Tempo / Renegade / Ocelli trifecta paid huge.
Superfecta
Min $0.10Top four finishers in exact order. Lottery-style payouts. The 2026 superfecta with 70-1 Ocelli underneath produced massive returns.
Daily Double
Min $1Pick winners of two consecutive races (typically Race 1 + Race 2).
Pick 6
Min $0.20Pick winners of six consecutive races. Carryover jackpots possible.
Best Apps for Kentucky Derby Betting
Horse racing in Kentucky runs on pari-mutuel pools, separate from traditional sportsbooks. These five apps handle Derby wagering with full pool access.
TwinSpires
Best OverallOfficial ADW partner of Churchill Downs. Best Derby coverage with same-day live racing.
FanDuel Racing
Best RebatesPari-mutuel wagering integrated with the FanDuel sports app. Daily rebates on horse racing.
TVG / FanDuel TV
Best StreamingLive streaming of every race plus expert handicapping. Owned by FanDuel.
DraftKings Horse Racing
Best PromosStandalone DK horse racing app. Promo boosts on Derby Day.
BetAmerica
Best for ExoticsLong-running ADW with Derby exotics and stable alerts.
Derby Handicapping Basics
The 2026 result is a textbook reminder of why the Derby rewards exotics and longshot tickets. Here is how serious handicappers approach the Run for the Roses.
🏇 Post Position
The Derby field is up to 20 horses, the largest in US racing. Posts 1-4 face traffic on the rail. Posts 17-20 lose ground to the first turn. Posts 5-15 historically produce the most winners.
📊 Speed Figures
Beyer Speed Figures and TimeformUS ratings quantify a horse\'s recent performances. Look for horses earning 100+ Beyers in their final preps. The Derby runs at 1¼ miles, longer than any prep race.
🎯 Pace Scenario
Identify the early speed horses. A fast pace favors closers (Mine That Bird 2009, Country House 2019, Golden Tempo 2026). A slow pace favors front-runners. Check pace projections from racing publications.
🏆 Trainer & Jockey
Bob Baffert, Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen lead Derby training stats, with Cherie DeVaux now joining the winners list. Top jockeys: John Velazquez, Mike Smith, Florent Geroux, and the Ortiz brothers (José won 2026 with Golden Tempo).
💰 Bankroll Strategy
Set your Derby budget before the day starts. Spread across multiple wager types: Win bet on your top pick, exotics with 2-3 horses on top, longshots underneath in trifectas/superfectas for value, exactly the structure that paid off the 2026 Golden Tempo result.
📅 Prep Race Trail
Track the Road to the Kentucky Derby points series. Key preps: Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass Stakes (run at Keeneland), Arkansas Derby.
Kentucky Derby Betting FAQ
Who won the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 23-1 odds. Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, and only the second woman to train a winner of any American Triple Crown race. Jockey José Ortiz was aboard for his first Derby win.
How much did the 2026 Derby winner pay?
Based on the 23-1 final odds, a $2 Win bet on Golden Tempo paid roughly $48. Place and Show prices were strong given the longshot result. Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta payouts were enormous because of 70-1 Ocelli finishing third and 7-1 Chief Wallabee rounding out the top four.
What was the winning time?
Golden Tempo won in 2:02.27 over the 1¼-mile Churchill Downs main track. The margin of victory was a neck over second-place Renegade, with the rest of the field strung out behind them.
Who is Cherie DeVaux?
Cherie DeVaux is a 44-year-old American thoroughbred trainer who saddled Golden Tempo to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby. With the win she became the first female trainer in the 152-year history of the Kentucky Derby to win the race, bettering Shelley Riley's runner-up finish with Casual Lies in 1992.
Can I bet on the Kentucky Derby online from Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky residents and visitors can bet on the Derby through licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) apps such as TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, TVG, and DraftKings Horse Racing. You can also bet on-track at Churchill Downs.
Are sportsbook apps used for Derby betting?
No. Traditional sportsbooks (FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, etc.) handle most sports but horse racing runs separately through pari-mutuel pools. You will need a dedicated horse racing app or visit the track. Some sportsbooks offer Derby futures odds (fixed-odds) but the main Derby Day pools are pari-mutuel.
What is the difference between fixed odds and pari-mutuel?
Pari-mutuel pools all wagers together and pays out based on the final pool minus the takeout. Final odds shift up to post time. Fixed odds (offered by some sportsbooks) lock in your price when you bet. The Derby is primarily pari-mutuel.
What is the takeout on Derby pools?
Churchill Downs takeout is approximately 17.5% on Win, Place, Show wagers and 22% on exotics like Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta. Higher takeout means a larger house edge than typical sportsbook markets.
What time does the Kentucky Derby start?
The Kentucky Derby post time is approximately 6:57 PM ET on the first Saturday in May. NBC coverage typically begins at 12:00 PM ET and runs all day, with the Derby itself running around 6:50-7:00 PM. The race lasts roughly two minutes, hence its nickname "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports".
How many horses run in the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby field is capped at 20 horses, the largest field of any major Triple Crown race. Entry is determined by the Road to the Kentucky Derby points system across roughly 35 prep races. The top 20 point earners qualify; an "Also Eligible" list of 4 horses can substitute in if scratches occur.
When is the next Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs every year. The 153rd Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2027. Future wager (KDFW) pools typically open in late November for the following year.
What is the difference between the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks runs the Friday before the Derby for 3-year-old fillies (female horses), at the same 1¼-mile distance. The Derby on Saturday is open to all 3-year-old horses (mostly colts and geldings). Both races take place at Churchill Downs during the same race week, with the Oaks-Derby Double a popular wager combining winners of both.
Can you bet the Kentucky Derby with a credit card?
Most ADW (Advance Deposit Wagering) platforms do not accept credit cards due to federal restrictions on gambling-related credit transactions. TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, TVG, and DraftKings Horse Racing all accept debit cards, bank transfers (ACH), PayPal, and prepaid Play+ cards. At-track betting at Churchill Downs is cash-based at most windows.
What channel is the Kentucky Derby on?
NBC carries the Kentucky Derby network broadcast, with coverage typically running from 12:00 PM ET on race day. NBC Sports, USA Network, and Peacock also stream undercard races throughout Derby Week. Fanatics, NBC Sports, and TwinSpires offer live in-app streaming of the race for ADW account holders.