2023 Kentucky Derby: Schedule, Time, Participants, How to Watch

The Kentucky Derby is back, baby! The legendary horse racing event is returning in 2023 for its 149th iteration, and it's just as extravagant as ever. This race is the first leg of the famed American Triple Crown of horse racing. Despite some oddities heading into the event, there's still a lot of excitement over the Derby.

When will the Kentucky Derby start?

The 2023 Kentucky Derby will be held on Saturday, May 6. The race is scheduled to start at 6:57PM Eastern time. From past experience, though, the race more often starts at a slightly later time that the announced schedule.

Who will be participating at the Derby?

There were twenty horses initially scheduled to participate in the Kentucky Derby. However, four of the horses were scratched from competing due to various medical reasons. There is a list of three eligible replacements in situations like this. Therefore, the race will start with just 19 horses at the gates. Here are the horses participating, listed according to their starting gate.

1. Hit Show
2. Verifying
3. Two Phil’s
4. Confidence Game
5. Tapit Trice
6. Kingsbarns
7. Reincarnate
8. Mage
9. Skinner (scratched)
10. Practical Move (scratched)
11. Disarm
12. Jace’s Road
13. Sun Thunder
14. Angel of Empire
15. Forte (scratched)
16. Raise Cain
17. Derma Sotogake
18. Rocket Can
19. Lord Miles (scratched)
20. Continuar (scratched)
21. Cyclone Mischief
22. Mandarin Hero
23. King Russell