There are twenty horses expected to join the annual running of the Kentucky Derby. With a $3 million purse on the line, the yet-undetermined field of 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will run 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. Post positions will be drawn on Tuesday, April 30.
Field Size Variations
The field size for the Kentucky Derby has fluctuated over the years. In the early days of the race, the field size was typically around 10 horses. However, in recent years, the field size has been increased to 20 horses.
- The largest field size in Kentucky Derby history was 23 horses in 1974.
- The smallest field size in Kentucky Derby history was 5 horses in 1896.
The field size is determined by a number of factors, including the number of horses that are nominated to the race and the number of horses that are eligible to enter the race.
| Year | Field Size |
|---|---|
| 1875 | 15 |
| 1900 | 10 |
| 1950 | 16 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2023 | 20 |
How many horses are in the Kentucky Derby?
Qualifying Races and Entries
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and as such, there is a rigorous process for qualifying for the race. Three-year-old Thoroughbreds must earn points in a series of qualifying races, known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby, in order to be eligible to enter the Kentucky Derby.
The top 20 point earners as of the first Saturday in May are invited to participate in the Kentucky Derby. In the event of a tie, the horse with the highest earnings is given preference. If there are more than 20 horses entered, a random draw is held to determine which horses will participate in the race.
Qualifying races and points awarded:
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Once the field of 20 horses has been set, the horses are randomly assigned post positions. The Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. The race is 1 1/4 miles long and is run on a dirt track.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most challenging races in the world, and winning the race is a huge accomplishment for any horse and jockey. The race has been won by some of the greatest horses in history, including Secretariat, Man o’ War, and Seabiscuit.
Derby Day Line-Up
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and it’s held every year at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is open to 3-year-old thoroughbreds, and the field is limited to 20 horses.
The horses that will be racing in the 2023 Kentucky Derby are:
- Epicenter
- Zandon
- Mo Donegal
- Simplification
- Cyberknife
- Tiz the Bomb
- White Abarrio
- Smile Happy
- Rich Strike
- Crown Pride
- Pioneer of Medina
- Summer Is Tomorrow
- Barber Road
- Tawny Port
- Classic Causeway
- Messier
- Call Me Midnight
- Ethereal Road
- Skippylongstocking
The race will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2023, and the post time is set for 6:57 PM ET.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epicenter | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
| 2 | Zandon | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown |
| 3 | Mo Donegal | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Todd Pletcher |
| 4 | Simplification | John Velazquez | Antonio Sano |
| 5 | Cyberknife | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
| 6 | Tiz the Bomb | Luis Saez | Kenny McPeek |
| 7 | White Abarrio | Tyler Gaffalione | Saffie Joseph, Jr. |
| 8 | Smile Happy | Robby Albarado | Kenny McPeek |
| 9 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric Reed |
| 10 | Crown Pride | Christophe Lemaire | Koichi Shintani |
| 11 | Pioneer of Medina | Joe Bravo | Bob Baffert |
| 12 | Summer Is Tomorrow | David Cohen | Bhupat Seemar |
| 13 | Barber Road | Reylu Gutierrez | John Ortiz |
| 14 | Tawny Port | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Jack Sisterson |
| 15 | Classic Causeway | Julian Pimentel | Brian Lynch |
| 16 | Messier | John Velazquez | Tim Yakteen |
| 17 | Call Me Midnight | Edgard Zayas | Kenny McPeek |
| 18 | Ethereal Road | Joel Rosario | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 19 | Skippylongstocking | Rafael Bejarano | Saffie Joseph, Jr. |
Past Derby Field Sizes
The Kentucky Derby has a long and storied history, dating back to 1875. Over the years, the number of horses racing in the Derby has varied, but it has typically been around 20 horses. In recent years, the field size has been capped at 20 horses, but in the past, there have been as many as 23 horses in the race.
- 1875: 15 horses
- 1876: 17 horses
- 1877: 15 horses
- 1878: 10 horses
- 1879: 12 horses
The smallest field size in Derby history was in 1878, when just 10 horses competed. The largest field size was in 1921, when 23 horses ran in the race.
| Year | Field Size |
|---|---|
| 1875 | 15 |
| 1876 | 17 |
| 1877 | 15 |
| 1878 | 10 |
| 1879 | 12 |
Well, there you have it, folks! The Kentucky Derby is a thrilling spectacle that showcases some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world. With its iconic two minutes of racing, it’s a can’t-miss event for any horse racing enthusiast. And with the information you now have, you can confidently answer the question of how many horses race in the event. Thanks for reading, y’all. Be sure to circle back for more horse racing goodness later on down the road!