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The Kentucky Derby, the first race of the prestigious Triple Crown, will be held this Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. 2025 marks the 151st running of the most famous horse race in the land, and at this year’s Run for the Roses you’ll want to keep an eye on Sovereignty, Sandman and Journalism, three of the oddsmakers top horses that currently dominate the leader board and are vying for a cut of the $5 million purse.
If you don’t have plans to attend the race in person, you can still tune in to a full day of racing action. NBC and USA Network will broadcast all of Saturday’s preliminary races as well as the main event from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET. You can also start streaming the day’s events at noon on Peacock.
Here are the best ways to watch the race live from home.
Sandman will compete Saturday at the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
When does the Kentucky Derby start?
The Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 3. TV coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and USA and runs until 7:30 p.m. ET. You can also stream coverage on Peacock, the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com starting at noon.
Post time is set for approximately 6:57 p.m. ET (3:57 p.m. PT); that’s an 11:57 p.m. BST start on Saturday night in the UK and 8:57 a.m. AEST on Sunday morning for those watching live in Australia.
How can I watch the Kentucky Derby on TV in the US?
If you don’t have cable, there are plenty of ways to watch the Kentucky Derby. The least expensive that doesn’t require streaming is to connect an over-the-air antenna to your TV and tune in to your local NBC station.
If you’re streaming on a PC, phone or tablet, you can watch on NBCSports.com, Peacock or the NBC Sports app.
You could also check out a live TV streaming service, all of which offer free trials. Not every service carries your local NBC station, however, so check the links below to make sure.
James Martin/CNET
Peacock, owned by NBC, offers some live sports to go along with its on-demand entertainment. The $8-a-month tier gives you access to the Kentucky Derby, English Premier League soccer, Sunday Night Football, select WWE events, Indy Car races and some PGA golf tournaments. The service also airs other sports, such as rugby, figure skating, track and field and cycling.
Read our Peacock review.
Sling/CNET James Martin/CNET
YouTube TV costs $60 a month for the first 2 months for new customers and $83 a month thereafter and includes NBC in most markets. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your region.
Read our YouTube TV review.
James Martin/CNET
Hulu with Live TV (with ads) costs $83 a month and includes NBC in most markets. Click the “View channels in your area” link on its welcome page to see which local channels are offered in your ZIP code.
Read our Hulu with Live TV review.
James Martin/CNET
Can I livestream the Kentucky Derby in the UK?
The Kentucky Derby is available in the UK on the Sky Sports Racing channel. If you have Sky Sports as part of your existing TV package, you can stream the Kentucky Derby via the Sky Go app. Otherwise, you can stream the race on the Now TV app with a subscription to Now Sports, which offers live streaming access to every Sky Sports channel, and starts at £15 for a day pass. Monthly memberships start at £26/month.
Sky subsidiary Now offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. Subscription prices start at £15 for a day pass or £26 per month with a 6-month commitment.
Livestream the Kentucky Derby in Australia
Racing fans in Australia can watch this year’s event on the Kayo Sports streaming service.
A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices. If you’re in Australia and just looking to catch this week’s Kentucky Derby coverage, you can snag a no-risk 7-day free trial if you’re a new customer.
The service gives you access to a wide range of sports including F1, NRL, NFL, F1, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts.
