Put on your best hat: here's how to watch the Kentucky Derby live
Place your bets, put on your best hat, and make yourself a mint julep. It's time, once again, for the annual Kentucky Derby.
The 2023 Kentucky Derby is the 149th running of the annual horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Coverage of the race will last more than eight hours, but the race itself only lasts a few minutes. Here's everything you need to know to make sure you don't miss the climactic moment — and everything leading up to it.
When is the 2023 Kentucky Derby?
The 149th Run for the Roses is scheduled for Saturday, May 6. Coverage will last from noon to 7:30 p.m. ET, but the post time for the race itself is set for 6:45 p.m. ET. You'll want to make sure you're tuned in well before that so you don't miss a beat.
When is the draw for the 2023 Kentucky Derby post positions?
The draw for 2023 Kentucky Derby post positions took place on Monday, May 1. This is when each of the 20 horses in the race will be assigned a starting spot, which can affect the odds. Some starting positions have better chances of winning than others. The official odds for the Derby (aka the "Morning Line") were posted shortly after the draw — which is also when bets usually start taking place. If you're looking to place a bet this year, you can also check out what Kentucky Derby experts are saying.
Who is the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby 2023?
Four out of the last five years, Irad Ortiz Jr. won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. And yet, he hasn't secured a victory at the Kentucky Derby. This could be his year — he'll be riding Forte in the 2023 race. Forte was the early favorite and remains so after the draw at 3-1 odds. Next up is Tapit Trice with 5-1 odds and Angel of Empire with 8-1 odds.
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How to watch and stream the 2023 Kentucky Derby without cable
NBC Sports is the home of the 149th Kentucky Derby, with race coverage and analysis airing live on NBC and NBCSports.com (with a cable provider) on May 6 from 12 to 7:30 p.m. ET. Don't have cable? No problem. Cord cutters can also stream the Run for the Roses live on Peacock with a subscription.
NBC, NBCSports.com, and Peacock will also broadcast the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup.
Can you watch Peacock for free?
Peacock does still offer a free tier, but it only allows you to access limited content. In order to stream live events like the Kentucky Derby, you'll need to subscribe to either the Premium or Premium Plus tier (at least for a month). Sadly, Peacock discontinued its free seven-day trial back in November 2021, but there are still ways to get it for free or at a major discount. Plus, starting at $4.99 per month, it remains one of the most affordable streamers around at full price. Here are the best Peacock streaming deals as of May 1.
Most people will find this Peacock Premium deal the best option. You'll have to deal with some ads, but at just $19.99 for the entire year, it's hard to complain. When you reach the page to choose a plan, select the premium annual subscription (which already saves you 17% compared to the monthly subscription), then enter the code N2TEWDZZ. This drops the usual $49.99 per year cost down to only $19.99 per year. That's a total of 67% in savings and works out to only $1.67 per month. With a yearly subscription, you'll be able to watch tons of live events well after the Kentucky Derby winner has been crowned. Just remember, the deal is only available for your first year of streaming, so when the time comes for auto-renewal, you'll be charged full price. The code won't last forever; be sure to sign up ASAP if you want to secure the deal.
Through June 26, Xfinity Flex and Xfinity X1 customers still access Peacock Premium for free. You must have an Xfinity Flex or Xfinity X1 device to access your free subscription. Just create a Peacock account, then link your Xfinity account to start streaming from now until June 26. At that time, you'll either be downgraded to Peacock's free tier or you'll have the option to resubscribe to Premium through a limited-time offer. Regardless, with the Kentucky Derby happening May 6, you'll be able to stream it for free.
Like Xfinity customers, Spectrum TV and internet customers can score Peacock Premium for free. Spectrum TV customers (other than the Basic tier or Essentials product) can score a free year of Peacock Premium ($49.99 value), while Spectrum internet users (including the TV Essentials product) can score a free 90-day subscription. Just create a Peacock account, link it to your Spectrum account, and add a valid payment method to access the Kentucky Derby footage and other live events. This deal is valid through December 7, so definitely take advantage of it while you can.
Other ways to watch the Kentucky Derby (including free trials)
While Peacock is the most straightforward option for cord-cutters, it's not the only option. If you're looking to watch the Kentucky Derby live, along with other sports, live TV streaming services like fuboTV and YouTube TV are also great options. Even better, some offer free trials — so you can watch all eight hours of Derby coverage on NBC for free, then cancel before you're charged the full monthly fee (which can be kind of steep). Here are the best deals for watching the annual horse race and more via live TV streaming. Double-check that NBC is offered in your zip code before you commit to a service.
DirecTV Stream — $64.99/month for two years
Hulu + Live TV — $69.99/month
fuboTV Pro — 7-day free trial (or 30-day free trial for Best Buy Totaltech members), then $74.99/month
YouTube TV — 5-day free trial, then $62.99/month
$72.99/monthfor three months (save $30)Sling TV — $20/month
$40/monthfor your first month (save $20), then $40/month