The 2024 Kentucky Derby: Key Information to Keep in Mind

The 150th Kentucky Derby is set to take place this Saturday, attracting millions of viewers to this iconic horse race event. This year, two Kentucky-born horses, Fierceness and Sierre Leone, are the top favorites to win, with Fierceness facing the superstition of breaking from the 17th post, a position that has never produced a winner. The race will kick off at 6:57 p.m. EDT and can be watched on NBC or streamed on various platforms such as DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu Plus Live TV, and Sling. The Kentucky Derby, known for its eccentric fan outfits dating back to the 19th century, features 20 top racing horses sprinting 1 1/4 miles in pursuit of the Triple Crown. The total purse for the race is $5 million, with the winner taking home $1.3 million and a gold trophy, while the second-place finisher receives $1 million. Additionally, the winning horse will be adorned with a hand-sewn blanket of red roses as a symbol of victory.