Sixteen Things to Know About the Kentucky Derby
Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage April 16-19
Events / TravelThere’s just a little over two weeks until the 152nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2, and contenders for the first jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown are arriving at Churchill Downs for final workouts before the race.
Meanwhile, there is still plenty of excitement on hand in the sport, topped by a rematch of the 1-2 finishers from last year’s Kentucky Derby at Oaklawn Park and a racecard at Laurel Park that will have an impact on the second Triple Crown race, the Preakness Stakes at that Maryland track on May 16.
Sovereignty and Journalism, the respective winner and runner-up of the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, are scheduled to make their 4-year-old debuts in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap Saturday, April 18. That race will also include 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio and will be broadcast live on FS2 as part of NYRA’s “America’s Day at the Races” show. The Oaklawn Handicap will also air on FanDuel TV.
At Laurel Park, five stakes races are scheduled for Saturday, topped by the Federico Tesio Stakes. That race offers its winner an automatic berth in the $2 million Preakness Stakes, which will be held at Laurel this year while Pimlico Race Course undergoes reconstruction. Those races will be broadcast on FanDuel TV and will also be featured in ABR’s livestream (see below).
“America’s Day at the Races” runs from Thursday, April 16, through Sunday, April 19 this week with action from Aqueduct and Oaklawn, airing on FOX Sports. Check the below schedule for channels and times.
FanDuel TV continues its daily coverage of tracks including Keeneland Race Course, Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, and Santa Anita Park, which begins its Hollywood meet on Friday, April 17.
Additional coverage of Keeneland’s popular meet is available via the Keeneland livestream on keeneland.com and the track’s YouTube channel, and on “Today at Keeneland,” a 30-minute preview show before each racecard hosted by Keeneland Director of Communications Gabby Gaudet and analyst Scott Hazelton. “Today at Keeneland” streams on keeneland.com, YouTube, and several other outlets.
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.
Don’t miss America’s Best Racing’s “Preakness Preview Day LIVE!” show which will stream Saturday from 2:30-5 p.m. ET focusing on five stakes races at Laurel Park culminating with the Federico Tesio. Hosted by ABR’s Dan Tordjman and Alexa Zepp along with Tim Littau, the show will feature special guests and handicapping insights. “Preakness Preview Day LIVE!” is sponsored by the National Thoroughbred League and streams on ABR’s Facebook, X, and YouTube channels.
Here’s a rundown of this week’s horse racing coverage on TV, streaming, and radio:
Stakes Race Schedule
|
Stakes |
Date |
Post Time |
Channel(s) |
|
Baird Doubledogdare Stakes |
April 17 |
5:16 p.m. |
|
|
Federico Tesio Stakes |
April 18 |
4:49 p.m. |
|
|
Ben Ali Stakes |
April 18 |
5:16 p.m. |
|
|
VisitLEX Elkhorn Stakes |
April 18 |
5:48 p.m. |
|
|
American Stakes |
April 18 |
7 p.m. |
|
|
Oaklawn Handicap |
April 18 |
7:20 p.m. |
|
|
Santa Maria Stakes |
April 19 |
TBA |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
TV/Livestream Schedule
|
Date |
Program |
Time |
Network/Social Media |
|
April 16 |
"Today at Keeneland" |
11:30 a.m. |
|
|
April 16 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
April 16 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 16 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 17 |
"Today at Keeneland" |
11:30 a.m. |
|
|
April 17 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-7 p.m. |
|
|
April 17 |
"Daily Racing Form Weekend Preview" |
2:30 p.m. |
|
|
April 17 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 17 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 18 |
"Today at Keeneland" |
11:30 a.m. |
|
|
April 18 |
"America's Day at the Races" including broadcast of the Oaklawn Handicap |
1 p.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on FS2 and 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS1 |
|
|
April 18 |
"Preakness Preview Day LIVE!" |
2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. |
|
|
April 18 |
Live coverage of horse racing featuring broadcasts of the Preakness Preview Day racecard and the Oaklawn Handicap |
post time varies |
|
|
April 18 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 19 |
"Today at Keeneland" |
11:30 a.m. |
|
|
April 19 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
April 19 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
April 19 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
Radio Schedule
| Date | Program | Time | Network |
| April 16 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| April 16 | 1/ST BET Racing Show | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| April 16 | Brisnet Call-In Show | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| April 17 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| April 17 | Betting with Bobby | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| April 17 | Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton | 5 p.m. | HRRN |
| April 17 | AmWager Weekend Stakes Preview | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| April 17 | Inside Churchill Downs | 6 p.m. | ESPN 680/105.7 |
| April 18 | Equine Forum Presented by TwinSpires | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| April 18 | Off to the Races Radio | 10 a.m. | ESPN Richmond |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
