The Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious and the first leg of the American Triple Crown of horse racing events. The 151st Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 3rd, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 miles or 10 furlongs long. Only 3-year-old Thoroughbreds are eligible to compete on the dirt track, and 20 horses participate in the Kentucky Derby. It’s called “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” due to its approximate duration.
Buy tickets from the official website to enjoy the Kentucky Derby excitement at Churchill Downs if you can’t attend the venue in person. You can watch it live on TV or stream online from anywhere by following our Kentucky Derby 2025 live streaming guide.
2025 Kentucky Derby Race at a Glance
| Date: | Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 |
| Post Time: | 6.57 pm ET / 3.57 pm PT / 11.57 pm BST |
| Venue: | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Feature: | 3-year-old Thoroughbred |
| Distance: | 2 km (1 1⁄4 miles) |
| Last Winner: | Mystik Dan |
| TV Channels: | NBC, USA Network (US) | TSN (CAN) | Sky Sports (UK) |
| Free live stream: | WATCH HERE |
2025 Kentucky Derby Schedule & TV Coverage
NBC is the home of the Kentucky Derby. Fans can watch the Kentucky Derby 2025 on Saturday, May 3rd, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET on Peacock and USA Network, and from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
NBC Sports will also telecast the Kentucky Oaks the day before, on Friday, May 2nd, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET on USA Network, Peacock, and its app. Before 1:00 PM, FanDuel TV will air the Oaks Day telecast from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM ET.
Horse racing fans from the UK can tune into Sky Sports, and Canadian fans should tune into TSN. If you are outside the coverage area, you can watch the Kentucky Derby 2025 live stream online using a VPN to access its live TV streaming service from anywhere.
2025 Kentucky Derby Oaks & Race Day Schedule
| DATE | TIME (ET) | EVENT | TV CHANNELS & TIMING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 2nd, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Kentucky Oaks 151 | 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET FanDuel TV 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET USA Network & Peacock 6 p.m. ET– Last Race FanDuel TV |
| Saturday, 3rd, 2025 | 12 p.m.-7:30 p.m. | KY DERBY 151 – Live Coverage (Post Time: 6:57 pm ET) | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET FanDuel TV 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET USA & Peacock 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET NBC & Peacock 7:30 p.m. ET– Last Race FanDuel TV |
2025 Kentucky Derby Events Schedule
Derby Week Racing starts on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and ends with the Kentucky Derby race on May 3rd, 2025.
| EVENTS | DATES |
|---|---|
| Opening Night | Saturday, April 26th |
| Dawn at the Downs | Sunday, April 27th and Monday, April 28th |
| 502’sDay | Tuesday, April 29th |
| Winsday | Wednesday, April 30th |
| Thurby (Presented by Old Forester) | Thursday, May 1st |
| The Longines Kentucky Oaks | Friday, May 2nd |
| Kentucky Derby (Presented by Woodford Reserve) | Saturday, May 3rd |
How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby: Live stream in the US?
NBC, USA Network, and Peacock are the broadcasters for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. You can watch the early races of the Kentucky Derby on USA Network from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET. Coverage then switches over to NBC and Peacock from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM ET, featuring the Kentucky Derby and Race #12, which has a post time of 6:57 PM ET / 3:57 PM PT.
Kentucky Derby Live Stream via Cable
Since you have a cable connection, you’re all set to watch a live stream of the Kentucky Derby 2025. You can access the stream on the NBC Sports website. You’ll need to log in using your TV provider details.
Quick Guide to Watching NBC TV Live Online:
- Visit www.nbc.com/live.
- Click on “LINK TV PROVIDER” in the navigation bar.
- Select your TV provider and enter your login details.
- Enjoy watching the Kentucky Derby 2025 live online!
How to Watch Kentucky Derby 2025 without Cable
If you don’t have cable, fear not. There are live TV streaming services that include NBC and USA Network. Some of them offer a 5/7-day free trial for new users.
Here is the list of live TV streaming services:
FuboTV
FuboTV is overall the best service due to the number of channels, cost, and free trial offer. You can take this option to stream the Kentucky Derby for free. FuboTV offers over 200+ channels, including NBC, USA Network, Fox, CBS, ESPN, and more. The monthly cost is $84.99. It is known for its extensive sports channel lineup.
You can watch the Kentucky Derby by recording it using Cloud DVR. Every account comes with unlimited hours of Cloud DVR space at no extra charge. The Family Share option also allows you to stream from three devices simultaneously.
Sling TV
Sling TV is one of the cheapest and most popular OTT streaming services. It comes in two options – Sling Blue and Sling Orange. Each package costs $45.99. However, when combined, they cost $66.99, which is relatively cheaper.
The Orange package provides 35 channels, and the Blue package has over 45 channels. With Sling Blue, you can watch the live Kentucky Derby 2025, as it includes NBC (for select markets), USA, Bravo, NBCSN and Syfy.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is another powerful streaming service with over 95 top channels, including sports and news. You can watch live and on-demand TV, full seasons of exclusive series, current episodes, hit movies, Hulu Originals, Disney+, and ESPN+ content for just $82.99/month.
There are no hidden fees, and you can cancel anytime without hassle. So, enjoy all your TV in one place with Unlimited DVR. Hulu + Live TV is one of the best options to watch the Kentucky Derby without cable and on any device.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM, formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TV Now, is a popular OTT internet television service owned by DirecTV. It offers four packages, with the basic ENTERTAINMENT package providing access to over 90 live TV channels for $86.99 + tax per month.
All plans include NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, Telemundo, and The CW, making it more than enough to stream the Kentucky Derby 2025. DIRECTV STREAM also offers a 5-day free trial to test their service.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV offers over 100 top channels for live sports, entertainment, news, and more, including ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, CNBC, USA Network, BBC World News, and MSNBC. It provides unlimited recording storage, and you can share your subscription with five other people. YouTube TV’s monthly cost is $82.99, and new users can try its service free for 7 days.
Peacock
You can watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Peacock, which offers two subscription options: Peacock Premium for $7.99 per month with ads, and Peacock Premium Plus for $13.99 per month without ads, allowing offline viewing. Both plans include live sports, making them suitable for watching the Derby. It doesn’t offer any trial. Peacock is accessible on various devices like smartphones, smart TVs, and game consoles.
How to Live Stream the Kentucky Derby 2025 from Anywhere?
Below, you’ll find the broadcasters and countries showing the event. However, if you are outside your country of residence and try to access it, you will encounter geo-restrictions.
However, you can overcome this by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN changes your IP address to make it appear as though you’re browsing from another location. This means you can access services as if you were back home, enjoying local coverage from anywhere.
Stream the Kentucky Derby Using a VPN:
- Choose a Streaming Service: Opt for a service like FuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
- Select a VPN: ExpressVPN is highly recommended in 2025 for its security and speed.
- Install and Set Up the VPN: Download the VPN, install it on your device, and open the application. Set your location to the United States by selecting a US IP address.
- Connect and Stream: Wait for the VPN to connect, then return to your streaming service to start watching the Kentucky Derby.
How to watch Kentucky Derby live stream in Canada?
You can watch the Kentucky Derby race and all the pre-show coverage live on TSN in Canada. Coverage begins at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT, with post time set for 6:57 PM ET / 3:57 PM PT.
TSN also offers TSN Direct, a subscription-based streaming service that provides access to TSN’s extensive live and on-demand programming.
TSN Direct offers three subscription plans:
- Monthly Plan: $19.99
- Annual Plan: $199.90
- 4-Month Plan: $60 (limited-time offer)
*Taxes apply to all packages.
If you have a cable TV subscription that includes TSN, you can watch TSN live at no extra cost by signing in with your cable provider credentials. You can stream TSN on your mobile device, Smart TV, or computer.
How to watch Kentucky Derby 2025 live stream in the UK?
UK Horse racing fans can watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Sky Sports. Kentucky Derby UK coverage starts at 8.45 pm BST and UK post time is 11.57 pm BST.
Subscribers can watch race day live using Sky Go app, which is available on nearly all the latest mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles.
If you have no Sky Subscription, Now TV Sky Sports Monthly Pass is the best option to watch without cable and hassle. It includes all 11 channels. To access your streaming service outside the UK. You need to download Good VPN app to musk your IP as detailed above.
How to Watch Kentucky Derby live stream in Australia?
Aussie horse racing fans can watch the Kentucky Derby 2024 live on ESPN through Foxtel. If you have a Foxtel subscription, you can also stream it on the Foxtel Go app. If you don’t want a long and expensive contract, Kayo Sports is a great option. It will stream every race live, so you won’t miss a moment of the action. In Australia Kentucky Derby starts at 8:57 AM AEST on Sunday.
Kayo has two plans:
- One Plan – $25 per month (watch on one device)
- Basic Plan – $35 per month (watch on multiple devices)
Both plans come with a FREE 7-day trial, so you can try it out before you decide!
Where can I Watch Kentucky Derby 2025 live free online?
There are some options on the web, you can watch KY Derby 2025 live online for free. We categorize those options into 2 part
01. Legal Way
You need to sign in at their NBC Sports official website using your email ID and password that allows you to use cable, satellite, or Telco TV provider and start watching Kentucky Derby live free without any hassle.
Most of the media streaming services give you 7-day free trial package. We recommended FuboTV. Here you can enjoy the Kentucky Derby 2025 live stream free from any devices without any cost.
You can watch Kentucky Derby workouts, WATCH PARTY- From the Farm and other events are live online free
02. Illegal Way
Some free streaming sites also host live videos of this race. Here you can watch it for free. But we don’t recommend it because those sites are full of ads, PPI programs, viruses, etc. So those sites can harm your device and you can face problems. After that, If you want to watch the Kentucky Derby race from the free streaming website. it’s your own decision.
Watch the Kentucky Derby Live with an Antenna and DVR
There is nothing frustrating more than missing the live action of your favorite game. The Kentucky Derby is no different, missing the live action of this exciting 2-minute sports event can be really disturbing. You have to do anything possible to ensure you get the signal all the way from.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is using cable cutters which ensures they catch every bit using an antenna and over-the-air-DVR. What basically happens is that the antenna receives signals from the broadcast channels such as FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC. The signal is then broadcast over the air network and can be watched on your Television.
Everything you need to know about KY Derby 2025
Kentucky Derby is different from other of sports events. It is not only about horse racing, but also the crowd of people, tradition, dress, hats, party, and many more. This event always stops many people from conducting their activity.
It is one of the most anticipated horse racing events in the world. Every year, on the first Saturday in May, about 150000 people gather at Churchill Downs to witness the most significant racing event of the year.
They make memories with their friends and family. If you plan to attend the venue with your friends or family, it is the right time to get as many relevant information as possible. It will be more prevalent if it is your first trip.
Kentucky Derby History
When talking about Kentucky Derby it basically refers to a horse race that’s presented by Woodford Reserve and importantly held yearly in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Additionally, the derby is usually held on the first Saturday of May, taking a couple of weeks and it’s normally referred as Kentucky Derby Festival. The race takes place in Churchill Downs which is the most famous racetrack for hosting Kentucky Derby.
Some of the horses that involve race include geldings, Thoroughbreds, fillies, and Colts. The fillies carry approximately 55 kilograms (121 Pounds), gelding and Colts carry 57 kilograms (126 Pounds) and Thoroughbreds cover a distance of about 2km (1.4 miles). Moreover, the game is commonly referred as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes Sport” which basically as a result of its duration. Other people in the United States also refer it as “The Fastest Two Minute in Sport” or “Run for the Roses”.
Interestingly, unlike many other horse races in the United States, Kentucky Derby has actually been run in each consecutive year since the year 1875. Furthermore, the Kentucky Derby is the initial leg for the American Triple Crown, which is then followed by Preakness Stakes and finally Belmont Stakes. For a horse to win the Triple Crown it must essentially win all the three matches.
Kentucky Derby Dresses and Hats
Kentucky Derby is also about fashion. Both male and female attendees should not overlook the dress codes for Kentucky Derby and Oaks. However, you shouldn’t worry because the rule is so simple. Ladies wear pastel-colored suits, spring dresses, and Derby hats.
It is an excellent chance for female attendees to express their fashion statement. Speaking of the dress, ladies can keep it simple with the dress full of color, or floral, or equine patterns. Since it is an outdoor event, consider wearing a dress in layers. For footwear, you can’t go wrong with spring heel or sandal. Accessories are more flexible. You could opt from jewelry, bags, hats, and so on. But don’t exclude the caps because these will come in handy when there is Kentucky Derby hat parade.
The Kentucky Derby has such amazing allows for men. The key here is to dress casually or semi-formal. Focus on tropical colors or primary colors if you want to be safe.
About Kentucky Derby Party 2025
The actual Kentucky Derby racing might only last for a few minutes. But the entire event is a day-long festivity. The gate will open early in the morning, and that’s when you start your celebrations. Kentucky Derby 2025 is the ultimate theme party. You will want to set the theme with the invitations, Derby decorations, dress codes, Mint Julep as the signature drink, also the Kentucky Derby games. It is an excellent idea to tag along with your family and friends to join in the festivity.
With the above guideline, it’s undoubtedly that you won’t miss any live action when it comes to watching the Kentucky Derby. All the ways discussed above have been tested and found effective about steaming a live event. With that said, now you will be able to watch the Kentucky Derby without a cable.
2025 Kentucky Derby Prize Money
The 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby by Woodford Reserve is slated for the most vibrant event in the race’s history. The 2025 Kentucky Derby will feature a record-setting purse of $5 million. The prize money will be distributed among the top five finishers as follows:
- The winner will receive $3.1 million.
- The runner-up will earn $1.1 million.
- Third place will receive $500,000.
- Fourth place will get $250,000.
- Fifth place will take home $150,000 .
Where can I get the Kentucky Derby 2025 Ticket packages?
This can be done at derbyexperiences.com. In a nutshell, derbyexperience.com is the only official partner with Churchill Downs. Importantly, the platform guarantees you that your Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks tickets are packaged with exceptional extras together with a trackside. These are unique ticketing services that you cannot get anywhere else.
On the website, you majorly required to select and importantly do a comparison for your 2025 Kentucky Derby ticket using the interactive seating and price range or better still you can create your own ultimate party experience using the provided package button.
Also Check: Kentucky Derby Winners Full List