Sovereignty remains the only horse to have defeated Preakness winner Journalism and brought his record to five wins from eight starts, with his sole defeat this year coming when second to Tappan Street in March's Florida Derby.

As the track’s parent company looks to build on its already profitable streams of revenue, race attendees could see more ticket options next year and newly renovated areas of the horseracing venue, said Churchill Downs Inc. Preisdent and CEO Bill Carstanjen.

The Kentucky Oaks will make its prime-time debut in 2026. When will post be? How will the card be impacted? Will the Derby follow suit? What to know.

NBC Sports will showcase the Kentucky Oaks in primetime for the first time ever in 2026, it was announced today by Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN, “CDI”) and NBC Sports. The 152 nd Kentucky Oaks, featuring thoroughbred racing’s best three-year-old fillies, will be presented on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

If you're one of those rare Louisvillians who goes to both races, the alarm clock will feel a little earlier on Derby morning after a night at the track.

Churchill Downs Inc. announced the Kentucky Oaks will for the first time ever be presented in prime time on NBC in 2026.

According to its quarterly business results and its earnings call, revenue for the year came from Derby day bets and a number of historical racing machine venues in Kentucky and Virginia.

Technically, the Kentucky Derby is about horse racing. While wearing a hat was once a functional choice for attendees (it often gets hot!), it soon shifted into an opportunity to perform social status.

Though Groovy’s turn in the Kentucky Derby may not have been a winning one, once he landed in the barn of the right trainer, this sprinting star became a record-breaker.