Kentucky Derby 2024 Post Time: NBC TV Start Time, Final Predictions and More

The 2024 Kentucky Derby is set to go off from Churchill Downs on Saturday with a 6:57 p.m. ET post time to punctuate one of the most important weekends of the horse racing calendar.

The 150th running of the Derby will kick off this year's Triple Crown season with Todd Pletcher-trained colt Fierceness the odds-on favorite to come away with the Roses.

Of course, being the favorite at post time doesn't guarantee victory. With 20 horses competing over the 1¼-mile track, there are a lot of variables that could generate an unexpected result. Just two years ago we saw Rich Strike pull off one of the greatest upsets in racing history at 80-1 odds.

So get those mint juleps ready, it's almost time to see who is going to contend for the Triple Crown this year.

Here's a look at the TV schedule, latest odds and entrants who will contend for the prize and a shot at history.

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

When: Saturday, May 4

Post Time: 6:57 p.m. ET

Prize Money: $3 million purse ($1.86 million payout to the winner)

TV Schedule

• 10:30 a.m. – Noon ET; FanDuel TV.
• Noon – 2:20 p.m. ET; USA, Peacock.
• 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET; NBC, Peacock.
• 7:30 p.m. ET through the final race; FanDuel TV.

1. Dornoch 17-1

2. Sierra Leone 5-1

3. Mystik Dan 20-1

4. Catching Freedom 8-1

5. Catalytic 37-1

6. Just Steel 30-1

7. Honor Marie 14-1

8. Just A Touch 13-1

9. Encino, Scratch

10. T O Password56-1

11. Forever Young 7-1

12. Track Phantom 45-1

13. West Saratoga 30-1

14. Endlessly 47-1

15. Domestic Product 31-1

16. Grand Mo The First 54-1

17. Fierceness 5-2

18. Stronghold 35-1

19. Resilience 26-1

20. Society Man 59-1

21. Epic Ride 53-1

Lineup, jockeys and odds courtesy of KentuckyDerby.com.

Just A Touch Surprises

Just A Touch opened the week at 10-1 and has actually seen his odds get longer as the week progresses. There might be a lot of bettors who are disappointed they didn't back him when this race is over.

For one, the Brax Cox trainee has an exciting lineage as a son of Justify. One of the major drawbacks to Just A Touch is that he was unraced as a two-year-old. In the past, that's been a dead giveaway that a horse wasn't going to win the Roses at Churchill Downs.

Justify challenged that notion in 2018, breaking the Curse of Apollo. Just A Touch has only made three career starts but he's improved in every one of them and shown tactical speed along the way.

His running style, which looks to stalk the lead, could play very well in this race.

Forever Young Disappoints

Forever Young is a colt who has gained some steam throughout race week. He opened up at 10-1 and has slowly crept up the list of favorites from a betting perspective. The Japanese import has gone five-for-five in his career, including two wins in 2024.

The wins at the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby are impressive. But the history of Japanese-bred horses at the Derby is not so impressive. They are 0-4 since 2019 and the UAE Derby has not been a harbinger of good things at Churchill Downs. There have been 19 UAE winners who have tried to win the roses and all came up short.

Forever Young will be making his racing debut in the United States and it's a big ask to expect a finish in the money.

Sierra Leone Wins

If the odds are to be believed this is a two-horse race with room for an upset based on how those two navigate the large field.

Fierceness is a worthy favorite. He has some dominant wins on his resume and he's the fastest horse in the field.

But his consistency is an issue. A bet on him as the favorite has questionable value because you don't know if he'll look like the horse that stormed the Florida Derby or the one that finished third at the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes back in February.

Sierra Leone has been the much more consistent option, delivering strong results in every start. He's the pick.