The most famous horse race in the United States takes place Saturday -- the 2020 Kentucky Derby. This year’s race is running later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result of being postponed, it’s the second race of the Triple Crown. Post time is scheduled for 7:01 p.m., and the race will be held without fans.
Don’t have cable? You can watch the race live for FREE with FuboTV (free 7-day trial).
Tiz the Law enters the race having won the Belmont Stakes in June and is the heavy favorite. If he wins Saturday, he can go for the Triple Crown at Pimlico on Oct. 3.
What: 2020 Kentucky Derby.
When: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.
Time: 7:01 p.m. (TV coverage starts at 2:30 p.m.).
Where: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Ky.).
TV: NBC.
Cable channel finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, WOW.
Live stream: Fubo.tv (7-day free trial); watch for free on Sling TV (promotional offers); Hulu + Live TV and NBCSports.com (TV provider sign-in required).
Check out the lineup and up-to-date odds
Tiz the Law enters the Derby at 3-to-5 odds. Beth Harris of the Associated Press wrote about how Tiz the Law, who is the heaviest Derby favorite in decades, leads this group of horses into a race like no other.
Gone will be the parade of celebrities on the red carpet, the who’s who of sports, politics and entertainment crowding Millionaires Row, the national anthem sung by a big name. The University of Louisville marching band won’t strike up “My Old Kentucky Home” while the crowd sings along as the horses step onto the track, and the traditional call of “Riders up!” won’t be shouted by a bold-faced name standing in the paddock.
Tiz the Law has already won the Belmont Stakes, the kickoff to the Triple Crown that was run in June at a shorter distance. A victory in the Derby would set him up for a Triple try in the Preakness on Oct. 3.
Also in his favor is that he’s already proved he can handle the Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles, often the biggest question for any 3-year-old colt. Tiz the Law won the Travers by 5 1/2 lengths over the same distance at Saratoga a month ago.
“He’s checked all those boxes, and I believe he very well could win the Triple Crown this year,” said Jerry Bailey, the retired Hall of Fame jockey and NBC Sports analyst.
Tiz the Law has won six of seven career starts — his only loss came at Churchill Downs last year — by staying close to the pace and making one big run at the top of the stretch.
“I’d like for us to be laying third all the way around until we get down for business,” Tagg said. “You think he’s gotten in trouble here, in trouble there and next thing you know he’s in front. He’s a pretty amazing horse.”
Mark Casse, trainer of Enforceable, isn’t ready to hand Tiz the Law the roses. “He still has to have a clean trip,” he said.
The field has been reduced to 16 horses, smallest since 2003 when Funny Cide won. That gelding was owned by Sackatoga Stable, which owns Tiz the Law. Managing partner Jack Knowlton and his co-owners will ride yellow school buses to the track, just as Sackatoga did 17 years ago.
Honor A. P. is the 5-1 second choice. His trainer is John Shirreffs and the jockey is Mike Smith, who teamed to win the 2005 Derby with 50-1 shot Giacomo.
“The odds don’t guarantee anything,” Shirreffs said. “We just have to see how the race is run.”
For Kentucky Derby gear: Visit Fanatics and Lids.