“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” is back. The 2025 Kentucky Derby will be the 151st iteration and Churchill Downs is sure to be one of the most popular sporting venues in the world when the starting gun sounds. If you are a horse racing veteran, welcome. If you have never watched a horse race in your whole life, stick around. We’ll get you caught up on everything you need to know.
What Happened in 2024
This was truly one of the great races in quite a while with a three-horse photo finish that settled the race. Mystik Dan came out on top with the first nose finish in the race since 1996. Even better, Mystik Dan was an 18:1 odds horse. It went to show that any horse and any jockey can take home the most prestigious honor in horse racing.
History of the Derby
The Kentucky Derby which also goes by, “The Run for the Roses” is the oldest continuously run sporting event in the U.S. It was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr…. yes, of the famous Lewis and Clark family. From the mint juleps to fancy hats and fast horses, the Derby quickly became a Southern tradition. Why it’s so important to horse racing fans is because it’s the first leg of the Triple Crown.
The Field in 2025
As always, there are 20 horses in the field for the Kentucky Derby. There are 47 owners amongst those 20 horses that are hoping, praying, and most importantly, betting that their horse will cross the finish line first. This year, the same owners own two of the favorite horses to win it all, Citizen Bull and Rodriguez. They have 10 primary owners that should feel pretty good about their odds entering the weekend.
Horses to Watch
Citizen Bull: This is a Bob Baffert horse. Baffert is widely considered the most successful owner in the sport. Citizen Bull is coming into the weekend with post-position favors.
Rodriguez: Also a Baffert horse, Rodriguez has much better odds at 12-1. This horse has an inside draw which isn’t nearly as favorable.
Journalism: No, not the profession. This horse is actually the favorite to take home the trophy with 3-1 odds. Journalism won the Santa Anna derby and is extremely fast.
Burnham Square: Quite the name and comes with great odds too. 12-1 odds for Burnham Square. Experts say its style is perfect for the derby.
Sandman: At 6-1 odds, Sandman should be right in the thick of things. It has a major win at the Arkansas Derby.
Sovereignty: At 5-1 odds, the Florida Derby runner-up should put together a great show.
Best Names in the Field
It would be quite the win for Journalism to finish first at the Derby, considering there haven’t been too many wins in the real world of journalism in the last few years. I also love Final Gambit, Chunk of Gold, American Promise, and my favorite, Flying Mohawk