• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby 2019: What Time It Starts, How to Watch, Odds-On Favorite

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 4, 2019, 8:00 AM ET

Pour the mint juleps and bring out your wide brimmed hat. It’s Derby time!

The 145th Kentucky Derby has been called “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” The problem with an event that concentrated, though, is it’s a short window—and an easy one to miss.

If you’re thinking about catching the action this weekend, we’ve put together this primer for you to answer all of your pressing questions.

What time does the 2019 Kentucky Derby start?

The Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday of every May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This year, it takes place on May 4.

Post time, when the horses and jockeys are required to be at the starting post, is 6:38pm ET. The race itself will begin at 6:50pm ET. It won’t last long.

What TV channel is the Kentucky Derby on?

NBC is the official broadcaster of the Kentucky Derby and it plans to go wall to wall with coverage, starting at 2:30pm ET. If you’re hungry for additional pre-race analysis, you can also find it on the NBC Sports Network.

Can I watch the Kentucky Derby online or via a streaming service?

You can! And you can watch it in many places.

The NBC Sports Website and app are both expected to carry the race. And fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial, will have it as well.

Which horse is the odds-on favorite to win this year’s Kentucky Derby?

Originally, Omaha Beach was considered the early favorite for this year’s race. But the equine was forced to drop out of the race due to injury earlier this week. That puts Game Winner at the front of the betting pack, with 5/1 odds. Roadster and Improbable are close behind at 6/1, as of Friday morning.

When are the other two races in the Triple Crown?

No one’s expecting a Triple Crown winner this year, but if there’s a decisive victory by any horse, that could change. The Preakness Stakes, the second race in the crown, takes place on May 18. The Belmont Stakes will be run on June 8.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—How to get the $1,000 mint julep being served at this year’s Kentucky Derby

—Meet the data-obsessed collector tracking whiskies going for millions on the auction block

—Why the 2020 Super Bowl will have fewer commercial breaks

—Inside the battle for the future of sports betting

—Follow Fortune on Flipboard for the latest news and analysis

About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

tiger
LawTiger Woods
‘I was just talking to to the president’: Tiger Woods bodycam video hints at Trump role
By R.J. Rico and The Associated PressApril 3, 2026
3 minutes ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, April 3, 2026
Personal Financesilver
Current price of silver as of Friday, April 3, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 3, 2026
5 minutes ago
trump
PoliticsWhite House
Trump insists $1.5 trillion military budget for a war Congress didn’t approve ranks above day care, Medicare, Medicaid
By Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking and The Associated PressApril 3, 2026
7 minutes ago
Current price of gold as of April 3, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of April 3, 2026
By Danny BakstApril 3, 2026
9 minutes ago
jobs
EconomyU.S. jobs report
U.S. jobs report bounces back from dismal February with surprisingly strong 178,000 payrolls
By Paul Wiseman and The Associated PressApril 3, 2026
14 minutes ago
Dell’s CFO built a 27-year career without leaving the company. Here’s how he kept moving up
NewslettersCFO Daily
Dell’s CFO built a 27-year career without leaving the company. Here’s how he kept moving up
By Sheryl EstradaApril 3, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
Real Estate
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
1 day ago
Major 4-day workweek study suggests that when we work 5 days we spend one doing basically nothing
Success
Major 4-day workweek study suggests that when we work 5 days we spend one doing basically nothing
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of oil as of April 2, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 2, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
23 hours ago
Paul Krugman smacks down Trump speech with argument that $4 gas is ‘less than half’ of the Hormuz hit. Here’s what he’s talking about
Economy
Paul Krugman smacks down Trump speech with argument that $4 gas is ‘less than half’ of the Hormuz hit. Here’s what he’s talking about
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
17 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
2 days ago
Deutsche Bank asked AI if it’s true that AI will solve the economy’s inflation problems. The robots answered
Economy
Deutsche Bank asked AI if it’s true that AI will solve the economy’s inflation problems. The robots answered
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.