Full Breakdown
Kentucky Derby 2026: Celebrity Spectacle and Sporting Highlights at Churchill Downs
5/3/2026, 11:18:36 PM
The 152nd Kentucky Derby Unfolds
On Saturday, May 2 2026, the 152nd Kentucky Derby opened at 6:57 p.m. at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Twenty thoroughbreds contested the first leg of the Triple Crown. Betting odds listed Renegade (4-1), Commandment (6-1) and Further Ado (6-1) as the early favorites, while the field also featured So Happy (7-1) and the long-shot Puma.
Celebrity Attendance Highlights
The Derby’s red-carpet attracted a wide array of sports and entertainment figures. Former Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis and wide-receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, now teammates on the Tennessee Titans, arrived together with former Wildcat defensive end Ray Davis of the Buffalo Bills. Former UK basketball star Oscar Tshiebwe, now with the Utah Jazz, was spotted in a cowboy hat and white suit.
NFL coach Bill Belichick, entering his second season with the North Carolina Tar Heels, attended with girlfriend Jordon Hudson; the pair posted photos from the Kentucky Oaks and the Derby. Other notable guests included singer-actress Nicole Scherzinger, who celebrated performing at the Oaks, television personality Star Jones, former NSYNC members Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, and Miss Kentucky USA 2025 Mattie Barker, who placed her first bet on a hometown horse, Robusta.
Local officials—U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Mayor Craig Greenberg and Governor Andy Beshear—joined the festivities, underscoring the event’s statewide significance.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Andy Beshear praised the Derby’s global reach, noting that “it’s a good time to be a Kentuckian.” State leaders highlighted the Derby as a showcase for Kentucky’s culture and tourism, while the Kentucky Horse Park and the Louisville Metro Government coordinated security and public-safety measures for the crowds.
Data & Statistics
- Date & time: May 2, 2026, 6:57 p.m.
- Venue: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
- Entrants: 20 horses
- Top odds: Renegade (4-1), Commandment (6-1), Further Ado (6-1)
- Broadcast: NBC and Peacock (U.S.)
On-the-Ground Reports
Trainer Mark Glatt, preparing his horse So Happy for a Triple Crown bid, reflected on personal loss, saying, “She was a wonderful person.” Levis shared his Derby horse picks—Commandment, Chief Wallaby and Emerging Market—while Hudson captioned an Instagram photo of the couple on the track, “Not the first time we’ve trudged through the mud together.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ slightly on the exact odds for Commandment and Further Ado (both listed at 6-1 in some reports, while other outlets omitted odds for Further Ado). No consensus exists on the total number of celebrity attendees, as counts vary across media outlets.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We like to show off the Commonwealth. It's a good time to be a Kentuckian.” — Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky
- “We like Commandment, Commandment, Chief Wallaby and Emerging Market,” — Will Levis, former Kentucky quarterback
- “You get to dress up, you get to bet and you get to hang with your friends. It's just an amazing time, and the Southern Hospitality makes it all wonderful,” — Star Jones, journalist and former The View co-host
- “Not the first time we’ve trudged through the mud together.” — Jordon Hudson, model and television host
- “Yesterday I was on a camel in Morocco and today I’m at the horse races.” — Joakim Noah, former NBA center
- “She was a wonderful person,” — Mark Glatt, trainer of So Happy
What’s Next
The Derby’s outcome sets the stage for the Preakness Stakes on May 16 and the Belmont Stakes on June 6. Coach Belichick will return to North Carolina for preseason preparations, while the Kentucky Wildcats alumni are expected to reconvene for the upcoming football season.
