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NBC to Air 2026 Kentucky Derby, $3.1 M Purse

5/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 152nd Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
NBC and Peacock will broadcast the race live at 6:57 p.m. Eastern Time.
The winner will receive a $3.1 million purse and Derby fame.
Renegade leads at 4-1 odds, while Commandment and Further Ado are 6-1 odds and top the points standings.

History

Historical Context

Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. modeled the new Louisville Jockey Club on England’s Epsom Derby during a 1872 trip, leading to the first Kentucky Derby on May 17 1875—15 horses, a $2,800 purse, and Aristides’s win under Black jockey Oliver Lewis. After financial crises and Matt Winn’s 1902 revival, the race grew to a $3.1 million purse by the 152nd running in 2026, broadcast by NBC.

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Story summary

The 152nd Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
NBC and Peacock will broadcast the race live at 6:57 p.m. Eastern Time.
The winner will receive a $3.1 million purse and Derby fame.
Renegade leads at 4-1 odds, while Commandment and Further Ado are 6-1 odds and top the points standings.

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