🐎 Countdown to Kentucky Derby 2027
Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 1, 2027
When Is Kentucky Derby 2027?
Kentucky Derby 2027 is on Saturday, May 1, 2027. The Kentucky Derby, held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is America's most famous horse race. Known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," it features mint juleps, elaborate hats, and thrilling racing.
Kentucky Derby Dates for the Next 10 Years
| Year | Date | Day of Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | May 4, 2024 | Saturday |
| 2025 | May 3, 2025 | Saturday |
| 2026 | May 2, 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | May 1, 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | May 6, 2028 | Saturday |
| 2029 | May 5, 2029 | Saturday |
| 2030 | May 4, 2030 | Saturday |
| 2031 | May 3, 2031 | Saturday |
| 2032 | May 1, 2032 | Saturday |
| 2033 | May 7, 2033 | Saturday |
| 2034 | May 6, 2034 | Saturday |
| 2035 | May 5, 2035 | Saturday |
| 2036 | May 3, 2036 | Saturday |
About Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby, held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is America's most famous horse race. Known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," it features mint juleps, elaborate hats, and thrilling racing.
History & Origins of Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously running sporting event in America, first held on May 17, 1875, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Inspired by the Epsom Derby in England, it was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of explorer William Clark. The race is run at 1¼ miles and is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," the Derby has become as much about fashion and Southern culture as it is about horse racing.
Traditions & How to Celebrate Kentucky Derby
- Wearing elaborate hats and fascinators (especially for women)
- Drinking mint juleps — the official cocktail of the Derby
- Singing "My Old Kentucky Home" as horses walk to the starting gate
- Placing bets on the races throughout the day
- Dressing in seersucker suits and spring attire
- The blanket of red roses draped over the winning horse ("Run for the Roses")
- Celebrity watching on Millionaires Row
- Attending Derby parties with Southern food and themed decorations
Fun Facts About Kentucky Derby
Approximately 120,000 mint juleps are served at Churchill Downs over the two-day Derby weekend.
The Kentucky Derby has been run every year since 1875, surviving two World Wars and a pandemic.
Secretariat holds the speed record, running the 1973 Derby in 1:59.4 — a record that still stands.
Only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown, most recently Justify in 2018.
The infield at Churchill Downs can hold over 80,000 spectators.
The garland of roses tradition has been a part of the Derby since 1896.