Watch the Race: Official 2026 Kentucky Derby Replay
The full race replay below shows Golden Tempo’s remarkable run from last to first — the kind of finish that defines the Kentucky Derby’s reputation as the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Video courtesy of YouTube. The official Kentucky Derby replay is also available on NBC Sports, Peacock, and TwinSpires.
Race Recap: Last to First Under the Twin Spires
For the better part of a mile and a quarter, the 2026 Kentucky Derby looked like a different story. The pace was honest, a tightly packed mid-pack jockeyed for position into the far turn, and Golden Tempo — hung wide and far back through the early fractions — appeared hopelessly out of the hunt.
Then came the move. As the field straightened for home, jockey Jose L. Ortiz angled Golden Tempo to the outside and asked him to run. What followed was the kind of acceleration that brings a grandstand to its feet: Golden Tempo swept past tiring rivals through the upper stretch, drew alongside the leaders inside the sixteenth pole, and powered clear in the final strides to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
Renegade, the Todd Pletcher trainee with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, ran a game second after breaking sharply from the rail. Ocelli, ridden by Joseph D. Ramos for trainer D. Whitworth Beckman, closed from off the pace to round out the trifecta from post 22. The announcer’s call rang through Churchill Downs as Golden Tempo crossed under the wire — and a roughly $2 wager paid back $48.24.
2026 Kentucky Derby Payouts
Win, Place, and Show payouts for the 152nd Kentucky Derby (based on a $2 wager). All payouts are official, posted by Churchill Downs after the race was declared official.
| Post | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Golden Tempo | $48.24 | $19.14 | $11.90 |
| 1 | Renegade | — | $7.14 | $5.46 |
| 22 | Ocelli | — | — | $36.34 |
$2 Win Bet
$48.24
Roughly 23-1 final odds
$2 Place Bet
$19.14
Golden Tempo to place
$2 Show Bet
$11.90
Golden Tempo to show
Complete Order of Finish
Eighteen horses started the 2026 Kentucky Derby after five scratches earlier in the day. Below is the official order of finish and purse distribution. The top five finishers split the multi-million-dollar guaranteed purse.
| Pos | Horse |
|---|---|
| 1 | Golden TempoWINNER |
| 2 | Renegade |
| 3 | Ocelli |
| 4 | Chief Wallabee |
| 5 | Danon Bourbon |
| 6 | Incredibolt |
| 7 | Commandment |
| 8 | Wonder Dean (JPN) |
| 9 | So Happy |
| 10 | Emerging Market |
| 11 | Further Ado |
| 12 | Potente |
| 13 | Six Speed |
| 14 | Robusta |
| 15 | Albus |
| 16 | Intrepido |
| 17 | Litmus Test |
| 18 | Pavlovian |
Scratched (5)
The following horses were scratched before the running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby:
- 5Right to Party
- 9The Puma
- 13Silent Tactic
- 20Fulleffort
- 21Great White
How Golden Tempo Won: Last to First
A simple visualization of where Golden Tempo sat at each stage of the race — from dead last on the backstretch to first across the wire.
Approximate field position by stage. Bar position = where Golden Tempo sat in the field (further right = farther back).
About the Winning Connections
Winning Trainer
Cherie DeVaux
Cherie DeVaux earned her first Kentucky Derby victory with Golden Tempo. The win caps a steady ascent through the thoroughbred ranks and adds her name to a short list of trainers to capture the Run for the Roses.
Winning Jockey
Jose L. Ortiz
Jose L. Ortiz delivered a perfectly timed ride aboard Golden Tempo, sitting patiently as the early pace developed and unleashing his mount’s acceleration at exactly the right moment to surge from last to first.
What’s Next: The Triple Crown Trail
With the Kentucky Derby in the books, Golden Tempo’s connections now face the time-honored Triple Crown question: ship on to Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, or take extra rest before pointing toward the Belmont Stakes? The condensed five-week Triple Crown calendar is one of the most demanding stretches in all of thoroughbred racing.
Whatever path the new champion takes, the 2026 Kentucky Derby will be remembered as a defining moment — one of those races that reminds the sporting world why a million people stop what they are doing on the first Saturday in May to watch twenty thoroughbreds run a mile and a quarter under the twin spires.
Recent Kentucky Derby Winners
Golden Tempo’s 2026 victory joins a Derby roll call that stretches back to 1875. Here are the most recent champions.
| Year | Winner | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | Jose L. Ortiz |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Flavien Prat |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | Brian Hernandez Jr. |
| 2023 | Mage | Javier Castellano |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon |
| 2021 | Medina Spirit* | John Velazquez |
| 2020 | Authentic | John Velazquez |
| 2019 | Country House | Flavien Prat |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza |
* Medina Spirit was disqualified after a post-race drug test. Mandaloun was elevated to first place as the official winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Derby Day Timeline
How the 152nd Kentucky Derby Day unfolded at Churchill Downs.
8:00 AM
Gates Open
10:30 AM
First Race
12-3 PM
Undercard Races
3-5 PM
Stakes Races
5:00 PM
Pre-Derby Pageantry
~6:57 PM
THE DERBY
7-9 PM
Final Races & Exit
Approximate times for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Day program.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Kentucky Derby Results
Who won the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2, 2026, ridden by jockey Jose L. Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux. Breaking from post position 19, Golden Tempo trailed the field for most of the race before launching a sweeping rally on the final turn and powering down the stretch to win, paying $48.24 to win on a $2 wager.
How much did Golden Tempo pay to win?
Golden Tempo paid $48.24 to win, $19.14 to place, and $11.90 to show on a $2 ticket. Renegade (post 1) paid $7.14 to place and $5.46 to show. Ocelli (post 22) paid $36.34 to show. The win price reflected starting odds of roughly 23-1, making Golden Tempo one of the larger longshot winners in recent Derby history.
What was the order of finish for the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The top five finishers were: 1) Golden Tempo, 2) Renegade, 3) Ocelli, 4) Chief Wallabee, 5) Danon Bourbon. The full 18-horse order of finish is published on this page. Five horses scratched before the race: Right to Party, The Puma, Silent Tactic, Fulleffort, and Great White.
How can I watch a replay of the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The official 2026 Kentucky Derby race replay is available on YouTube and through NBC Sports, Peacock, Churchill Downs, and TwinSpires. The full race replay showing Golden Tempo's last-to-first run is embedded above on this page.
Who trained and rode Golden Tempo?
Golden Tempo was trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by jockey Jose L. Ortiz. The victory was a career milestone for both, with DeVaux earning her first Kentucky Derby win as a trainer.
More Derby Coverage
Past Derby Winners
Complete list of Kentucky Derby winners throughout history.
Famous Derby Moments
The most legendary races and finishes in Derby history.
2026 Derby Contenders
The full pre-race field analysis for the 152nd Run for the Roses.
Derby Betting Strategy
How handicappers approach value betting and longshots like Golden Tempo.