The field is set for the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The post draw and morning line odds for the Kentucky Derby were released Tuesday, and the Run for the Roses has a full field of 20 runners.
The Derby favorite is Essential Quality (2-1), followed by Rock Your World (5-1) and Known Agenda (6-1).
| Post | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Known Agenda | 6-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher |
| 2 | Like the King | 50-1 | Drayden Van Dyke | Wesley Ward |
| 3 | Brooklyn Strong | 50-1 | Umberto Rispoli | Daniel Velazquez |
| 4 | Keepmeinmind | 50-1 | David Cohen | Robertino Diodoro |
| 5 | Sainthood | 50-1 | Corey Lanerie | Todd Pletcher |
| 6 | O Besos | 20-1 | Marcellino Pedroza | Greg Foley |
| 7 | Mandaloun | 15-1 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
| 8 | Medina Spirit | 15-1 | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert |
| 9 | Hot Rod Charlie | 8-1 | Flavien Prat | Doug O’Neill |
| 10 | Midnight Bourbon | 20-1 | Mike Smith | Steve Asmussen |
| 11 | Dynamic One | 20-1 | Jose Ortiz | Todd Pletcher |
| 12 | Helium | 50-1 | Julien Leparoux | Mark Casse |
| 13 | Hidden Stash | 50-1 | Rafael Bejarano | Vicki Oliver |
| 14 | Essential Quality | 2-1 | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
| 15 | Rock Your World | 5-1 | Joel Rosario | John Sadler |
| 16 | King Fury | 20-1 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenny McPeak |
| 17 | Highly Motivated | 10–1 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown |
| 18 | Super Stock | 30-1 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
| 19 | Soup and Sandwich | 30-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Casse |
| 20 | Bourbonic | 30-1 | Kendrick Carmouche | Todd Pletcher |
America’s most popular race and “most exciting two minutes in sports” will draw significant wagering action after the 2019 race held in May set a record, with $165.5 million bet on the controversial race. Wagering on the 2020 race was down significantly due to the global pandemic and the change of date to September.
Types of bets and how to bet the Kentucky Derby
To quality for the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby, horses competed in Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races at shorter distances and earned points based on top-four finishing position. The Championship Series races in 2021 awarded more points to the winners, and those races included:
Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series races
- Feb. 13: Risen Star * – Fair Grounds (Winner – Mandaloun)
- Feb. 27: Fountain of Youth * – Gulfstream Park (Greatest Honour)
- March 6: Gotham Stakes * – Aqueduct (Weyburn)
- March 6: Tampa Bay Derby * – Tampa Bay Downs (Helium)
- March 6: San Felipe * – Santa Anita Park (Life Is Good)
- March 13: Rebel Stakes * – Oaklawn Park (Concert Tour)
- March 20: Louisiana Derby ** – Fair Grounds (Hot Rod Charlie)
- March 27: Jeff Ruby Stakes ** – Turfway Park (Like the King)
- March 27: Florida Derby ** – Gulfstream Park (Known Agenda)
- March 27: UAE Derby ** – Meydan Race Course (Rebel’s Romance)
- March 30: Sunland Derby * – Sunland Park (Canceled)
- April 3: Blue Grass ** – Keeneland (Essential Quality)
- April 3: Santa Anita Derby ** – Santa Anita Park (Rock Your World)
- April 3: Wood Memorial ** – Aqueduct (Bourbonic)
- April 10: Arkansas Derby ** – Oaklawn Park (Super Stock)
* 85-point race and 50 points to the winner
** 170-point race and 100 points to the winner
2021 Kentucky Derby race information
- Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021
- Time: 6:57 p.m. EST
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- Tablet, Online, Mobile: NBC Sports App and streamed live on NBCsports.com/live
- Track and Location: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Surface: Dirt
- Horses: 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds
- Track Record: Secretariat – 1:59.40 in 1973
The 2021 Kentucky Derby will be televised Saturday, May 1, by NBC Sports from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST, and on NBC from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. EST. The Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve, is Race 12, with post time at 6:57 p.m. EST and riders mounting their horses at 6:30. Also, the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies running 1 1/8 miles is Friday, April 30, with post time at 5:51 p.m. EST for Race 11.
