2018 Kentucky Derby: TV time, horses, post positions, betting odds

Saturday’s 144th running of the Kentucky Derby will likely be a crowded field.

The field of 26 entrants vying for the $1.425 million prize will be dropped to 20 horses by Tuesday's draw. The first leg of horse racing's triple corwn has been limited to 20 starters since 1975.

The one horse you won't see Saturday is the one named after New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. The horse, part-owned by Gronkowski, developed a fever and was unable to travel.

Four of the 3-year-old thoroughbreds to watch will be the sons of Scat Daddy -- Justify, Mendelssohn, Flameaway, and Combatant. The thoroughbred, who was retired to stud after injury suffered at the 2007 Kentucky Derby, became a prominent stud. His progeny have earned nearly $13 million in earnings. Scat Daddy died in 2015.

At least 15 favorites have won the Kentucky Derby in the last 50 years. Last year’s winner, Always Dreaming, was a 9/2 favorite to win. He won in 2:03.59. The fastest time recorded at the Derby was by Triple Crown winner Secretariat in 1973. He raced around Churchill Downs in 1:59.40.

» Related: How to make the perfect Derby juleps

But don’t count out the long shots. The highest odds any horse has started at in the Derby since 2009 was 69-1. The long shot to win big on Derby day was Mine That Bird in 2009. He won by 6-3/4 lengths at odds of 50-1, paying $103.20 for a $2 bet.

The Derby is the first of horse racing’s TripleCrown, which includes the Derby (May 5), Preakness Stakes (May 19), and Belmont Stakes (June 9). The Derby is frequently referred to as “The Run for the Roses,” because of the blanket of 554 red roses awarded to the winner.

The 2018 Kentucky Derby will be televised on NBC and streamed by NBC Sports. Post time will be 6:50 p.m. Saturday, May 5.