Horse racing will be back in the American sports landscape 11 months after American Pharoah captured the first Triple Crown since 1978. And of course, the Kentucky Derby was the biggest step he took along the way before winning the next two races to put himself in the sport's pantheon of greatness.
Will we see more of the same at this year's Kentucky Derby? We don't know, and we don't know how the world will react since we saw the history we'd waited so long for just a year ago. American Pharoah was a truly special horse, after all. But the beauty of the Kentucky Derby is that there will always be a Triple Crown hopeful coming out of it, barring injury. That gives us some excitement entering the Preakness and, with a win at Pimlico, major intrigue for the Belmont Stakes.
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A handful of races this spring go a long way in determining the field and odds for the Kentucky Derby. Good finishes in prep races earn points toward qualifying for the Derby.
What day is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby, as always, will be held during the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisvile, Ky. This year, it falls on May 7, with the Kentucky Oaks run on May 6.
The Preakness Stakes will be two weeks after the Derby, with the Belmont three weeks after that.
MORE: How Triple Crown winners fared after Derby, Preakness and Belmont wins
What time does the Kentucky Derby start?
There's more to Derby Saturday than just the signature event, which will be run at approximately 6:34 p.m. ET on May 7. There are more than a dozen undercard races — last year, one even featured Wes Welker's horse Undrafted. It won.
Kentucky Derby 2016 TV schedule, channel
NBC still carries all three Triple Crown horse races each spring, and the network will kick off its coverage with the Kentucky Derby post position draw on NBC Sports Network on Wednesday of Derby week.
NBC Sports Network will also broadcast 5.5 hours of Kentucky Oaks coverage on Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET and four hours of Derby undercard races before TV action switches over to NBC at 4 p.m. ET.
Kentucky Derby 2016 contenders, odds
The Kentucky Derby prep races wrap up the third weekend in April, the Arkansas Derby the most notable.
Nyquist is unbeaten in seven starts with wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall and Florida Derby during the first weekend in April. He's trained by Doug O'Neill, who saddled I'll Have Another, the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Exaggerator won the Santa Anita Derby and finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Mohaymen was unbeaten in five starts before finishing fourth in his first Grade 1 Stakes race, the Florida Derby.
Nyquist +350
Exaggerator +450
Mohaymen +700
Destin +900
Gun Runner +900
Mor Spirit +900
Cupid +1200
Suddenbreakingnews +1300
Brodys Cause +1400
Dancing Candy +1500
My Man Sam +1800
Mo Tom +2200
Smokey Image +2200
Shagaf +2500
Whitmore +2500
Cherry Wine +3000
Fellowship +3000
Lani +3000
Majesto +3000
Outwork +3000
Dazzling Gem +3500
Trojan Nation +3500
Creator +4000
Swipe +4000
Adventist +4500
Laoban +4500
Matt King Coal +4500
Toms Ready +4500
Unbridaled Outlaw +4500
Oscar Nominated +5000
Azar +6000
Awesome Speed +7000
Collected +7000
American Pioneer +7500
Discreetness +7500
MORE: 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile points to 2016 Kentucky Derby
Luna De Loco +7500
Surgical Strike +7500
Gettysburg +8500
Hoffenheim +8500
Star Hill +8500
Lets Meet in Rio +9000
Seymourdini +9500
Synchrony +9500