2023 Kentucky Derby

149th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Grade I stakes race
2023 Kentucky Derby
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
DateMay 6, 2023 (2023-05-06)
Distance1+14 mi (10 furlongs; 2,012 m)
Winning horseMage
Winning time2:01.57
Final odds15–1
JockeyJavier Castellano
TrainerGustavo Delgado
OwnerOGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds
ConditionsFast
SurfaceDirt
Attendance150,335
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The 2023 Kentucky Derby (branded as the 149th Running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve for sponsorship reasons)[1] was the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. It took place on May 6, 2023, the first Saturday in May, in Louisville, Kentucky. The race was open to 20 horses, who qualified for the race by earning points on the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race at a distance of 1+14 miles (2.0 km) and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875. The purse for 2023 was US$3 million.[2] The race was won by Mage.

The race was broadcast by NBC, with coverage of undercard races beginning at 10:30 am EDT on USA Network and main network coverage of pre-race activities starting at 12:30 pm EDT. It was also livestreamed on NBCSports.com.[3] According to The Blood-Horse, NBC's broadcast "averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 14.8 million viewers—making it the most-watched sporting event and second most watched show (behind only the Academy Awards) since Super Bowl LVII in February."[4]

During the week of the 2023 Derby, seven horses died at Churchill Downs, including two who were euthanized prior to the signature race on Saturday.[5]

  1. ^ Frank Angst (October 25, 2017). "Woodford Reserve is New Kentucky Derby Sponsor". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "Kentucky Derby Purse Raised to $3 Million". www.kentuckyderby.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Guha, Rocky (March 15, 2022). "When is the Kentucky Derby 2023? Start Time, TV Channel, Odds". Kentucky Derby. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "KY Derby Most Watched Sports Event Since Super Bowl". The Blood-Horse. May 8, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  5. ^ De la Fuente, Homero; Sottile, Zoe (May 6, 2023). "7 horses have died at Churchill Downs since the start of Kentucky Derby week". CNN. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.