A Day in the Life of a Kentucky Derby Horse
Where to Watch/Listen: Kentucky Derby Week 2026
Events / Travel
Fans enjoy Kentucky Derby Day 2024 with a bird’s-eye view of the action at Churchill Downs. (Eclipse Sportswire)
The biggest week on the North American horse racing calendar is here, and every major racing media outlet plus many general news organizations will be directing coverage at Churchill Downs every day leading up to the 152nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 2.
This year, there’ll be a boost in horse racing’s exposure as the 152nd Longines Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies will air in the prime time slot on Friday, May 1, during a national broadcast on NBC.
NBC Sports has exclusive broadcast rights to Derby 152, and the $5 million race anchors what will be 12 ½ hours of total horse racing coverage via the network’s channels on Kentucky Oaks and Derby day. Friday features a five-hour program starting on NBCSN from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET and then moving to NBC from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the Kentucky Oaks set to run at 8:40 p.m.
On Saturday, coverage of Kentucky Derby day begins from noon to 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and then switches to NBC from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the Kentucky Derby scheduled to run at 6:57 p.m. All 12 ½ hours of coverage will also be streamed on Peacock.
All races at Churchill Downs aside from the Kentucky Derby will also be shown live on FanDuel TV, and that network’s “Breakfast at the Kentucky Derby” on-site coverage every morning featuring contender workouts and training reports continues daily through Thursday, April 30 starting at 7 a.m. ET. It can be viewed on FanDuel TV and on FanDuel Racing’s YouTube channel.
Churchill Downs and TwinSpires also continue with their “Kentucky Derby Morning Works” shows through Thursday on the Kentucky Derby’s Facebook, X, and YouTube channels. The show runs each morning from 6:45 a.m.-7:45 a.m. ET and highlights the exclusive training window for Derby and Oaks contenders from 7:15 a.m.-7:30 a.m.
In addition to racing from Churchill Downs, FanDuel TV will broadcast daily action from tracks such as Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, and Woodbine as part of their daily package.
Live racing from Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park will be showcased on NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” from Thursday through Sunday, May 3. The show airs on FOX Sports and also includes a Kentucky Derby preview program on Thursday – check the below schedule for channels and times. Oaklawn Park ends its 2025-'26 live meet on Saturday.
Horse racing from tracks around the world is available to subscribers on Racetrack Television Network (RTN), which can be livestreamed on all devices (computer, tablet and smartphone) and on TV via DISH Network, Amazon Fire and Roku.
America’s Best Racing is proud to host “Poker for Ponies LIVE!,” a livestream covering the charity Texas Hold’em poker tournament Thursday evening, April 30, at the Omni Hotel in downtown Louisville. We’ll be on site with behind-the-scenes access as racing’s biggest names match hands with proceeds benefiting aftercare organizations. The charity tournament is presented by Resolute Racing, Coolmore America, and Churchill Downs and ABR’s livestream is sponsored by Resolute Racing. It airs on ABR’s Facebook, X, and YouTube channels from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Below are listings for TV, streaming, and radio coverage of Kentucky Derby week 2026:
Stakes Race Schedule
|
Stakes |
Date |
Post Time |
Channel(s) |
|
Mamzelle Stakes Presented by Kentucky Proud |
April 30 |
6:22 p.m. |
|
|
Unbridled Sidney Stakes |
May 1 |
3:48 p.m. |
|
|
Sheepshead Bay Stakes |
May 1 |
4:12 p.m. |
|
|
Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Sysco |
May 1 |
4:30 p.m. |
|
|
Alysheba Stakes Presented by U.S. Army |
May 1 |
5:12 p.m. |
|
|
Modesty Stakes Presented by Veritas Prime |
May 1 |
6:01 p.m. |
|
|
Fasig-Tipton La Troienne Stakes |
May 1 |
6:56 p.m. |
|
|
Edgewood Stakes Presented by Accenture |
May 1 |
7:40 p.m. |
|
|
Longines Kentucky Oaks |
May 1 |
8:40 p.m. |
|
|
Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Ford |
May 2 |
12:38 p.m. |
|
|
Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes Presented by Accenture |
May 2 |
1:12 p.m. |
|
|
Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes |
May 2 |
2:38 p.m. |
|
|
Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by SAP |
May 2 |
3:23 p.m. |
|
|
American Turf Stakes |
May 2 |
4:06 p.m. |
|
|
Fort Marcy Stakes |
May 2 |
TBA |
|
|
Whimsical Stakes Presented by Crown Royal |
May 2 |
TBA |
|
|
Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford |
May 2 |
4:50 p.m. |
|
|
Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes |
May 2 |
5:39 p.m. |
|
|
Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve |
May 2 |
6:57 p.m. |
|
|
Charles Whittingham Stakes |
May 2 |
TBA |
|
|
Beaugay Stakes |
May 3 |
TBA |
|
|
Vagrancy Stakes |
May 3 |
TBA |
|
|
Westchester Stakes |
May 3 |
TBA |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
TV/Livestream Schedule
|
Date |
Program |
Time |
Network/Social Media |
|
April 27 |
"Kentucky Derby Morning Works" |
6:45 a.m. |
|
|
April 27 |
"Breakfast at the Kentucky Derby" |
7 a.m. |
|
|
April 27 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 27 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 28 |
"Kentucky Derby Morning Works" |
6:45 a.m. |
|
|
April 28 |
"Breakfast at the Kentucky Derby" |
7 a.m. |
|
|
April 28 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 28 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 29 |
"Kentucky Derby Morning Works" |
6:45 a.m. |
|
|
April 29 |
"Breakfast at the Kentucky Derby" |
7 a.m. |
|
|
April 29 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 29 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 30 |
"Kentucky Derby Morning Works" |
6:45 a.m. |
|
|
April 30 |
"Breakfast at the Kentucky Derby" |
7 a.m. |
|
|
April 30 |
"America's Day at the Races" Kentucky Derby Preview Show |
12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. |
|
|
April 30 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. |
|
|
April 30 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 30 |
"Poker for Ponies LIVE!" |
6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. |
|
|
April 30 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
May 1 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. |
|
|
May 1 |
Broadcast of Kentucky Oaks undercard races at Churchill Downs |
4 p.m.-8 p.m. |
|
|
May 1 |
Broadcast of the Kentucky Oaks |
8 p.m.-9 p.m. |
|
|
May 1 |
Live coverage of horse racing, including broadcast of the Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs |
post time varies |
|
|
May 1 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
May 2 |
"Daily Racing Form Kentucky Derby Preview" |
9:30 a.m. |
|
|
May 2 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. on FS1 and 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on FS2 |
|
|
May 2 |
Live coverage of horse racing, including Kentucky Derby undercard races at Churchill Downs |
post time varies |
|
|
May 2 |
Broadcast of Kentucky Derby undercard races at Churchill Downs |
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. |
|
|
May 2 |
Broadcast of Kentucky Derby undercard races at Churchill Downs |
2 p.m.-6:30 p.m. |
|
|
May 2 |
Broadcast of the Kentucky Derby |
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. |
|
|
May 2 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
May 3 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-7 p.m. |
|
|
May 3 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
May 3 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
Radio Schedule
| Date | Program | Time | Network |
| April 27 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| April 28 | Derby Countdown Presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| April 28 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| April 29 | Derby Countdown Presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| April 29 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| April 30 | Derby Countdown Presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| April 30 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| April 30 | 1/ST BET Racing Show | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| April 30 | Brisnet Call-In Show | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| May 1 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| May 1 | Betting with Bobby | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| May 1 | Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton | 5 p.m. | HRRN |
| May 1 | AmWager Weekend Stakes Preview | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| May 1 | Inside Churchill Downs | 6 p.m. | ESPN 680/105.7 |
| May 2 | Equine Forum Presented by TwinSpires | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| May 2 | Off to the Races Radio | 10 a.m. | ESPN Richmond |
| May 2 | Down the Stretch | 10 a.m. | Siriux XM |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
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