How to watch the Kentucky Derby in 2023: Channel, race time, odds and more

Contents

How to watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby What channel is the Kentucky Derby on?Other ways to watch the Kentucky Derby on NBC Who is the favorite to win the 2023 Kentucky Derby?Kentucky Derby 2023 jockeys and horses:Let’s review: Here’s the best way to watch the Kentucky Derby

Twenty horses are headed off to the races today, so grab your most dramatic hat or a delicious mint julep and let’s giddy up and get ready to watch the 149th Kentucky Derby. This year’s derby has already bucked expectations, with four major shake ups in the original 20-horse field. Contenders Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continuar and Skinner have all been removed from the race roster. Horses Mandarin Hero, Cyclone Mischief and King Russell have been subbed in as alternates, leaving the field one horse short ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Getting ready to watch this year’s Run for the Roses? The Triple Crown kickoff will air on NBC this year, meaning you won’t need to be down south to enjoy the equestrian festivities. Cord cutter? No worries: You can stream the event live on Peacock or Sling Blue (more info on each below). Whether you’re throwing a Derby party or planning to bet on your favorite horse, here’s what you need to know about the 2023 Kentucky Derby, including predictions, an updated roster, how to watch or stream the derby without cable and more.

How to watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby

Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Race start time: 6:57 p.m ET
Location: Churchill Downs
TV: NBC
Streaming:

What channel is the Kentucky Derby on?

The most exciting two minutes in sports will be easier than ever to watch this year, with a record 7.5 hours of race day coverage scheduled to air on NBC and stream on Peacock beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 6.

But the Derby Day coverage will actually kick off prior to race day at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 5 with five hours of Kentucky Oaks day racing airing on USA Network and streaming on Peacock. Across two days of coverage, NBC will present a total of 15 live races from Churchill Downs.

If you already have access to NBC, then you should be off and running! No need to keep reading. But if you’re not sure how to tune in to NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage in 2023, then hold your horses and check out our suggestions for the best way to watch the race below, including streaming, cable and more.

(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Starting at just $5 a month, a Peacock subscription is the easiest way to stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including this year’s Kentucky Derby! You’ll also get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” and even recent theatrical releases like “Cocaine Bear” and “M3GAN.”

For $10 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC Channel (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.

$5 at Peacock

Other ways to watch the Kentucky Derby on NBC

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

You can stream the Kentucky Derby on NBC through Sling TV’s Blue tier. With no long-term contract, a 50% discount on your first month and 40 other channels to enjoy, Sling Blue is an easy option for cord cutters who may be missing their cable package, but have no desire to go back to paying the big bill that comes along with it.

Along with NBC, Sling Blue includes USA, Food Network, MSNBC, Fox and more.

$20 at Sling TV

Who is the favorite to win the 2023 Kentucky Derby?

As it currently stands, Forte, a horse trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz., is widely seen as the favorite to win in this year’s derby. Forte has been drawn into post No. 15 for the upcoming race and is the reigning champion in the 3-year-old group.

However, audiences love a dark horse, and there will certainly be plenty of people looking to place bets on a less obvious candidate this Saturday.