The 2025 Kentucky Derby will start at approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The event takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The gates open earlier in the day at 9 a.m. ET, with the first race post at 11 a.m. ET, but the main Kentucky Derby race—the centerpiece event—usually begins around 6:57 p.m. ET. Coverage on NBC will start earlier in the afternoon around 2:30 p.m. ET, with streaming options available on Peacock.