Kentucky Derby - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Kentucky_Derby The Kentucky Derby (pron.: /ˈdɜrbi/) is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Col