Update 8:21 a.m. EDT May 3: Omaha Beach, considered a favorite to win the race, was scratched from the Kentucky Derby because of a breathing problem. Haikal has also been scratched from the race. He has a leg issue.
Original story: It's happened in May in Kentucky for the past 145 years –The "Run for the Roses," the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" the first jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown.
This year’s Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with a field of 20. Here is a look at the 2019 Kentucky Derby – what time, what channel, who is running and what their odds of winning are.
When is the 2019 Kentucky Derby?
Saturday, May 4
What time does it start?
Coverage of the race begins at 2:30 p.m. ET. Post time for the race is 6:50 p.m. ET.
What channel is it on?
NBC will broadcast pre-race activities along with the race.
Is it livestreamed?
Yes. Click here, NBC Sports Live, to watch on Saturday.
How far do the horses run?
1¼ miles
What is the track surface?
Dirt.
What is the record for the Kentucky Derby?
Secretariat holds the record at the Derby. The horse ran 1¼ miles in 1:59 and two-fifths seconds.
What’s the purse for this year’s derby?
The purse is $3 million. The winner gets $1.86 million, second place gets $600,000; third place gets $300,000, fourth place gets $150,000 and fifth place gets $90,000.
Which horses are running in the 2018 Kentucky Derby and what are the odds?
Here are the horses expected to run on Saturday and the latest odds (as of 10 a.m. ET on Monday).
Kentucky Derby horses and odds
No. 1 War of Will (15-1)
No. 2 Tax (20-1)
No. 3 By My Standards (15-1)
No. 4 Gray Magician (50-1)
No. 5 Improbable (5-1)
No. 6 Vekoma (15-1)
No. 7 Maximum Security (8-1)
No. 8 Tacitus (8-1)
No. 9 Plus Que Parfait (30-1)
No. 10 Cutting Humor (30-1)
No. 11 Haikal (30-1) - Scratched due to an abscess on his left hoof.
No. 12 Omaha Beach – Scratched due to breathing issues.
No. 13 Code of Honor (12-1)
No. 14 Win Win Win (12-1)
No. 15 Master Fencer (50-1)
No. 16 Game Winner (9-2)
No. 17 Roadster (5-1)
No. 18 Long Range Toddy (30-1)
No. 19 Spinoff (30-1)
No. 20 Country House (30-1)
No. 21 Bodexpress (30-1)
SLO-MO: Three Derby Contenders in sync in their final work before Saturday's Run for the Roses. pic.twitter.com/4eE2iuvxCj
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 28, 2019
Who is singing the national anthem?
Grammy Award-winning country music star and actress Jennifer Nettles will perform the national anthem at the 145th Kentucky Derby. The Georgia native is the lead vocalist for international duo Sugarland.
Speaking of songs, what song is it that the crowd sings before the race?
It's tradition for the crowd to sing, "My Old Kentucky Home" prior to the race. The song was written by Stephen Foster. Below are the lyrics if you want to sing along. The song was altered from Foster's lyric to replace the word "darkie" with the word "people." Foster wrote the song as an anti-slavery ballad.
“My Old Kentucky Home, Good-night”
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright;
By 'n by hard times comes a knocking at the door
Then my old Kentucky home, Good-night!
Chorus:
Weep no more my lady.
Oh! Weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For my old Kentucky home
For the old Kentucky home, far away.
What’s the weather going to be like?
According to Weather.com, there is a 70 percent chance of rain in Louisville on Saturday.
Does the Derby have an official drink?
It does, and it’s called a Mint Julep. Here’s the recipe:
The Old Forester Mint Julep Recipe
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky
Silver Julep Cups
Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Where can you find the Kentucky Derby Facebook and Twitter accounts?
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Cox Media Group
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