The 141st Kentucky Derby 2015 horse race is coming to Churchill Downs this weekend and the event is on Saturday with full festivities over the weekend and the TV channel coverage starts on NBC and is streaming live on the NBC Sports Network Live Extra website and coverage will be from noon to 7:30 p.m. ET and the actual Derby starts at 6:24 p.m. ET.
The field this year is a big one, as the race has 20 horses at the start and that makes the opening part of the event very important for the jockeys. The outside gate horses could be at a disadvantage and that could make this event one of the most compelling in years, as some may have to push their way up front this time around. Last year California Chrome captured the attention of the nation and now another horse could do that this season.
Dortmund has the number eight post in the draw, while Ocho Ocho Ocho has the number one spot ahead of carpe Diem. The ninth spot has Bolo with Firing Line and Stanford next, while International Star, Itsaknockout, Keen Ice and Frosted are next. The draw positions are very important this year, as the large field could keep some horses on the outside and also could make it tough to move up. Far Right is perfectly in the 20th spot with that name, while American Pharaoh and Upstart are also on that end with War Story and Mr. Z.
American Pharaoh is favored to win the race and he will be at the number 18 gate with 11-4 odds in the race. Carpe Diem has 9/1, while Materiality and MubTaaqhij are at 14/1. The Kentucky Derby posts at 6:25 p.m. ET on Saturday and that will be the big event of the weekend and kicks off the Triple Crown season.
There will be prep races and on Friday the Kentucky Oaks Day is in full swing with the 14-horse field of 3-year-old fillies. That race gets started just before 6 pm ET and will be on the NBC Sports Network, which has seven races live on Friday for the TV schedule ahead of the actual Derby.
Check here for the full Kentucky Derby 2015 Schedule and race preview and for more on the post positions and ODDS for the race.