PRIYA COOPER / SPORTS EDITOR

Every year, the Kentucky Derby takes place at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first weekend of May. The 2026 Kentucky Derby marks the 152 running of the race and took place this past Saturday, May 2. 

18 horses competed in this year’s race and first place went to Golden Tempo who was named the official winner. The race typically has about 20 horses competing but the Kentucky Derby proceeded with just 18 horses after one of the horses, Great White, was scratched moments before the race when he flipped and threw his jockey. Though the trainer said both the horse and rider were unharmed, the incident renewed scrutiny over animal welfare in horse racing. Great White was the fifth horse scratched during Derby week and the second on race day, underscoring  ongoing   questions about the pressures placed on animals in elite competition.

Entering the race as a long shot, Golden Tempo defied expectations with a victory that made history. The triumph was historic not only for the horse, but also for the sport itself. Golden Tempo’s trainer Cherie DeVaux,  became  the first woman   ever  to  win the  Kentucky Derby, breaking one of horse racing’s most enduring barriers. 

Golden Tempo stormed down the  track and beat 17 horses around the final turn before   charging down the stretch at Churchill Downs. In front of a crowd of more than 100,000 people, the 23-to-1 long shot overtook morning-line favorite Renegade in the closing strides to win the Kentucky Derby by a neck. Golden Tempo completed the 1 1/4 race in 2:02.2 minutes.

The Kentucky Derby is known for having all types of celebrities  make  appearances  at the  race. The  event  is  as  much a fashion  showcase  as a sporting event, famous for extravagant hats and luxury fashion, alongside significant celebrity appearances and parties. This year Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordan Hudson, Sue Bird, Jaxon Dart and Von Miller were some of the notable figures watching the race. 

USD senior Isabella Sabbarese shared her thoughts on the celebrity culture at the Kentucky Derby. 

“I honestly don’t know much about the race at all, everything I heard and saw on social media is just about the famous actors and athletes who were in attendance,” Sabbarese said. “It kind of feels more like a fashion show than anything else but I do like to see what people are wearing.”

The horse race is renowned for sports betting as well as fashion culture. The biggest betting story from the 2026 Derby was the massive return of the winner Golden Tempo, who paid $48.24 on a $2 win bet, plus $19.14 to place and $11.90 to show after going off at 23-to-1 odds. Bettors who backed favorites earned far less, with Renegade — second place — returning $7.14 to place and $5.46 to show, while third-place finisher Ocelli — third place — delivered a lucrative $36.34 show payout. 

The official distribution was also heavily skewed toward the top finishers, with Golden Tempo earning $3.1 million for first place, Renegade taking $1 million for second and Ocelli receiving $500,000 for third. In short, Golden Tempo’s upset victory created one of the most profitable Derby betting outcomes, especially for bettors who  took  a  chance  on  long    odds.

Exotic wagers produced the biggest successes. A two dollar exacta – wager based on who will finish the race first and second in the correct order, which was Golden Tempo–Renegade paid $278.86. While a 50-cent trifecta, that was Golden Tempo–Renegade–Ocelli, returned $5,625.39. The most lucrative result came from the one dollar superfecta, which paid $94,489.95 — turning a small wager into a massive payout for anyone who predicted the top four in order. 

Cherie DeVaux celebrates being the first female trainer to win a Kentucky Derby. Photo courtesy of @kentuckyderby/Instagram