NEWSLETTER
It’s time for the Kentucky Derby, as the biggest event in horse racing is almost here! The top thoroughbreds will be running for the roses on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know about Kentucky Derby horses in 2023.
Full List of Horses for Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
The top horses in the sport are set to compete to win the Kentucky Derby. The 149th Derby is the first event of the Triple Crown.
Here’s a look at the horses and contenders competing with their odds to win.
- Hit Show (30-1)
- Verifying (15-1)
- Two Phil’s (12-1)
- Confidence Game (20-1)
- Tapit Trice (5-1)
- Kingsbarns (12-1)
- Reincarnate (50-1)
- Mage (15-1)
- Skinner (20-1)
- Practical Move (10-1) (Withdrew due to illness)
- Disarm (30-1)
- Jace’s Road (50-1)
- Sun Thunder (50-1)
- Angel of Empire (8-1)
- Forte (3-1)
- Raise Cain (50-1)
- Derma Sotogake (JPN) (10-1)
- Rocket Can (30-1)
- Lord Miles (30-1)
- Continuar (JPN) (50-1)
- Cyclone Mischief (30-1)
- Mandarin Hero (JPN) (20-1)
- King Russell (50-1)
All eyes are on Tapit Trice, Forte, and the colt Angel Empire as some of the top horses competing on May 6. Forte and Tapit Trice are considered to be the top two horses in the event. Forte won the 2023 Florida Derby in early April on his road to the Kentucky Derby.
Practical Move won the 2023 Santa Anita Derby but has been scratched from the derby with a high temperature. Angel of Empire won the Arkansas Derby ahead of the Kentucky Derby.
The question now is who will win the 149th Kentucky Derby? The top 20 horses will be competing with the final three waiting as alternates in case of injury, withdrawal, etc.
Deaths of Four Horses Before the Race
In some very sad news, four horses died in a six-day span at the Kentucky Derby. One of the horses was a derby horse. It’s a horrible situation during horse racing’s biggest week. The horse deaths will undoubtedly cast a shadow on Kentucky Derby Day.
Two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. died suddenly from undetermined causes. Parents Pride died on Saturday and Chasing Artie died on Tuesday. The other two horses sustained musculoskeletal injuries that they couldn’t recover from. Wild on Ice died last Thursday, while Take Charge Briana died on Tuesday.
Best Odds in the Derby Field
It wouldn’t be the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs without some betting odds. Here are the best odds and Kentucky Derby favorites for this year.
– Forte (3-1)
– Tapit Trice (5-1)
– Angel of Empire (8-1)
– Derma Sotogate – JPN (10-1)
Forte has the best odds of the 2023 Kentucky Derby field and will be the favorite heading into the derby on Saturday. Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire has the third-best odds and is hoping to stay hot in the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Recent Kentucky Derby Winners
The running of the Kentucky Derby is a longtime tradition and one of the most popular events in sports. It usually runs on the first Saturday in May and is the first event in the Triple Crown. It is followed by the Preakness Stakes and The Belmont Stakes.
Here’s a look at some of the recent winners ahead of Kentucky Derby number 149.
2022: Rich Strike (Sonny Leon)
2021: Mandaloun (Florent Geroux)
2020: Authentic (John R. Velazquez)
2019: Country House (Flavien House)
2018: Justify (Mike E. Smith)
2017: Always Dreaming (John R. Velazquez)
2016: Nyquist (Mario Guitierrez)
2015: American Pharoah (Victor Espinoza)
A couple of these horses have won the Kentucky Derby en route to a Triple Crown. American Pharoah and Justify each went on to win the Triple Crown after claiming the Derby. Back in 2015, American Pharoah happened to be the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
2023 Kentucky Derby: Date, Time, and Channel
The 2023 Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 6. The event takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky at 6:57 p.m. ET on NBC.
If you are looking to watch the horses take their shot at a Kentucky Derby crown, you can watch on NBC or its streaming app Peacock. If you don’t have traditional cable, streaming services such as Youtube TV, FuboTV, Sling, and more should have packages that include the NBC channel.
2023 Kentucky Derby Horses FAQs
A few of the horses with the best odds at the Kentucky Derby on May 6 include Forte (3-1), Tapit Trice (5-1), Angel of Empire (8-1), and Derma Sotogake (10-1).
The 2023 Kentucky Derby is a thoroughbred racing event that takes place on Saturday, May 6. The event begins at 6:57 p.m. ET and is broadcasted live on NBC.
Rich Strike won the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Sonny Leon was the jockey of the winning horse of the derby.
