Do you know when the Kentucky Derby 2025 is coming up? You have not missed it entirely. Though the actual date seems to have passed, here is a flashback that will keep you engaged and carried along.
The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a points system by which horses qualify for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which will be held in May.
Field size for the Derby was capped at 20 horses, with up to four on an “also eligible” list in case there is a late scratch. Horses could qualify for the Derby via three separate paths: the main Road consisting of races in North America, the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the Euro/MidEast road consisting of races in England, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates and France.
Points were awarded to the top five finishers of the designated races, with higher points in the major prep races in March and April. Non-restricted stakes earnings were used as a tiebreaker.
Facts About the Kentucky Derby 2025
Lead-up races for 2025, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby was similar to the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby, which was made up of 36 races, 21 for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 15 for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season, with the following exceptions:
- The Virginia Derby, a Grade III event on grass, will switch to the dirt on March 15th at Colonial Downs and has been added to the Championship Season
- The Listed Sunland Park Derby is now an event in the Kentucky Derby Prep Season (KD-PTS), racing in the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.
- The UAE Derby has been dropped from the main North American road and moved within the rebranded Euro/Mideast road
- The Euro/Mideast road comes off the Cardinal Stakes
There has also been a change in points in Championship Series races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Six horses are the minimum for all points to count.
Scaled points will apply if there are fewer than six starters. Three-fourths of a point will be awarded when five horses start, and half of a point if four or fewer horses start.
What Time is the Kentucky Derby 2025?
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is almost here, with 19 horses slated to load for a 6:57 p.m. ET post at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Two 2025 Kentucky Derby horses have been scratched this week, including Rodriguez, a horse trained by Bob Baffert, a 12-1 horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby odds.
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