2018 Kentucky Derby

144th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
Logo for the 2018 Kentucky Derby
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
DateMay 5, 2018 (2018-05-05)
Winning horseJustify[1]
Winning time2:04.20
Starting price2.90/1
JockeyMike Smith
TrainerBob Baffert
OwnerChina Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm
ConditionsSloppy (sealed)[2]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance157,813[3]
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The 2018 Kentucky Derby (officially, the 2018 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve[4]) was the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, and took place on Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. The field was open to 20 horses, with a purse of US$2 million.[5][6] The Derby is held annually in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, at the end of the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km), and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875.[7]

The race was broadcast by NBC, with coverage by NBCSN of undercard races beginning at 12:30pm EDT and main network coverage of pre-race activities starting at 2:30pm EDT.[8] Post time was 6:52pm EDT. The race was won by Justify, who was the post-time favorite, in a time of 2:04.20 over a sloppy track.[2] It is the first time since 1882 that the race was won by a horse that did not race at the age of two.[1]

  1. ^ a b Melissa Hoppert (May 6, 2018). "Justify Wins Kentucky Derby, Conquering Rain, Mud and a 136-Year Curse". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference EquibaseChart was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Gabe, Hauari (May 5, 2018). "Over 157,000 people braved the elements at the 2018 Kentucky Derby". Courier Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  4. ^ Frank Angst (October 25, 2017). "Woodford Reserve is New Kentucky Derby Sponsor". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 Kentucky Derby & Oaks". Kentucky Derby. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Kenan Goyette (March 2, 2018). "When is the Kentucky Derby 2018? Post time, race start, how to watch". Sporting News. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  7. ^ "History Of Churchill Downs". Churchill Downs. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "Watch Derby on NBC". www.kentuckyderby.com. Kentucky Derby. Archived from the original on April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2018.