Kentucky Derby
Prep Races

2026 Kentucky Derby Prep Races Schedule

Road to the Kentucky Derby: Key Facts

• Dates: September, 2025, to April, 2026

• Paths: The U.S. Main Road, the European Road, and the Japan Road

• Location: Races are held in the United States, Asia, and Europe

• Distance: Varies from 1 mile to 1 1/8 miles

• Horse Types: Two and three-year-old thoroughbreds eligible

• Surface: Dirt and synthetic tracks.

• Points System: Tiered, ranging from 10-5-3-2-1 in early races to 100-50-25-15-10 in final preps

• Popular Races with Horse Racing Fans: The Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, UAE Derby, and Blue Grass Stakes

• Prize Money: Ranges significantly, with top races offering over a million dollars in purses

FAQ

How to Qualify for the Kentucky Derby

The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby includes 36 pivotal races divided into the Prep Season and the Championship Series. Each contest is assigned a specific point value, deliberately structured to escalate as competitors edge closer to the day of the Derby. 

• Prep Season:

• Runs from late September to early March, awarding points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers in each race. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offers points at a 30-15-9-6-3 scale and boasts a $2,000,000 prize purse. Other notable races like the Robert B. Lewis and Holy Bull provide points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale.

• Championship Series:

• Divided into two legs plus a ‘wild card’ round. The first features minor prep races, usually Grade II, on a 50-25-15-10-5 hierarchy, leading into the second leg’s Super Six Prep races: Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Arkansas Derby, Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, and Wood Memorial Stakes. Each of these can significantly impact standings, with 100 points awarded to the winners.

• Wild Card Races:

• Positioned towards the Championship Series’s conclusion, these races offer a final opportunity to accrue points, typically on a 20-8-4-2 scale. They serve as a last-ditch effort for horses on the cusp of qualification and can be crucial for any late surges in the leaderboard.

• Filling the Positions

• The 18 horses with the highest points at the end of the Championship Series are eligible to enter the Kentucky Derby. Owners must then pay entry ($25,000) and starting ($25,000) fees and declare their intention to run. If any qualifiers do not enter the race, their spot is offered to the next horse in the standings.

• Tie-Breaking:

• The deadlock is resolved by comparing earnings in non-restricted stakes races in a tie in the points. The idea is to try to get the most consistently performing horses throughout the season while prioritizing success in high-stakes competitions.

• International Qualifiers:

• The Kentucky Derby reserves spots for international competitors through two separate paths: the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby” and the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Each road has its series of races and points system, with the top finishers (one European and one Japanese) earning a spot for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.

When is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is the inaugural event of the Triple Crown and is scheduled for Saturday, May 2th, 2026.

Which is the most important Kentucky Derby prep race?

Each of these races can significantly impact the final leaderboard, which will be divided into 210 points among the top five finishers.

How many prep races are there for the Kentucky Derby?

There are 36 races in total, split into the Prep Season (20) and the Championship Series (16). Additionally, there are 7 races in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby and 4 races in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

What are the Kentucky Derby Prep Races?

The Kentucky Derby Prep Races are a series of thoroughbred horse racing events across the United States and beyond. Collectively, they are known as the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’, a pathway that begins in September and extends to the main event. The race operates on a points system, where participants accumulate points in an attempt to qualify for a position at Churchill Downs. 

Is the Road to the Kentucky Derby part of the Triple Crown?

No, the Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of qualifying races determining which horses can compete in the Kentucky Derby, not a part of the Triple Crown itself.