About Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby runs on the first Saturday of May — May 1 in 2027 — at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The countdown above ticks toward "the most exciting two minutes in sports," the longest continuously held sporting event in America, run every year since 1875.
The Derby is equal parts horse race and pageant: twenty three-year-old thoroughbreds chasing the garland of roses, 150,000 spectators in extravagant hats, mint juleps by the hundred-thousand, and the crowd singing "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses step onto the track. It opens the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Because the Derby is fixed to the first Saturday in May rather than a set date, the calendar day moves each year — falling on May 1 in 2027 and May 6 in 2028. That rhythm makes it easy to anticipate, and the countdown above ticks toward the next post time at Churchill Downs in your own timezone. Add the Kentucky Derby to your own countdown page so you never miss the run for the roses.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Saturday, May 1, 2027next |
| 2028 | Saturday, May 6, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, May 5, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, May 4, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, May 3, 2031 |
FAQ
When is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Saturday, May 1, 2027 — the Derby is always the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Why is the Kentucky Derby important?
Run since 1875, it is the longest continuously held sporting event in the United States and the most prestigious horse race in the country, opening the Triple Crown.
Why is it called the Run for the Roses?
The winning horse is draped with a garland of more than 400 red roses — a tradition since 1896.
What is the Triple Crown?
The Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes — winning all three in one season is among the rarest feats in sports.