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2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2; Renegade 4-1 Favorite

4/28/2026

33 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Renegade Targets Derby

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs, 6:57 p.m. ET.
The odds are 4-1 for Renegade (post 1), 6-1 for Commandment (post 6) and 10-1 for The Puma.
Renegade and Commandment each have a 35-day layoff since March 28, with Luis Saez slated to ride Commandment in his 13th start.
Michelle Yu backs The Puma at 10-1 despite Commandment’s win, while Jody Demling backs Renegade and Fulleffort (20-1).

Summary

Derby Offers $5M

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will feature a $5 million purse.
No Florida-bred horse has entered, a rare omission.
The Kentucky Oaks for three-year-old fillies is set for Friday, May 1, 2026, one day before the Derby.
Average $2 win wagers have returned $55.88 over the past five years, with exotic pools delivering six-figure payouts.
Secretariat’s 1:59.4 record from 1973 remains the fastest Derby time.

History

Historical Context

The Kentucky Derby first reached television on May 7 1949 when Louisville’s WAVE-TV produced a local NBC broadcast, pioneering Zoomar lenses. After the purse topped $100,000 in 1954, NBC assumed national rights in 2001, cementing the race’s TV presence. The 152nd Derby in 2026 continues that legacy, drawing sponsors to the historic Churchill Downs venue.

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Renegade Targets Derby

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs, 6:57 p.m. ET.
The odds are 4-1 for Renegade (post 1), 6-1 for Commandment (post 6) and 10-1 for The Puma.
Renegade and Commandment each have a 35-day layoff since March 28, with Luis Saez slated to ride Commandment in his 13th start.
Michelle Yu backs The Puma at 10-1 despite Commandment’s win, while Jody Demling backs Renegade and Fulleffort (20-1).

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