The dust has settled at Churchill Downs following the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. Golden Tempo crossed the finish line first to secure the first jewel of the Triple Crown. The focus shifts immediately to the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. A chance at racing immortality awaits the colt. Training schedules will tighten, and the racing public will monitor every workout leading up to Pimlico.
For fans analyzing the upcoming odds, checking our horse racing futures is a smart play. If you want to sharpen your overall handicapping skills for the rest of the Triple Crown trail, be sure to review our comprehensive guide to 2026 horse racing season betting strategies.
Who Won The 2026 Kentucky Derby?
Golden Tempo proved his stamina and speed on the first Saturday in May. He broke well from the gate and maintained a striking position just off the early leaders. The pace was demanding from the start. Golden Tempo bided his time near the rail before tipping out at the top of the stretch. His final furlong showcased raw athleticism, letting him put away the competition to wear the blanket of roses.
2026 Kentucky Derby Official Results
The official order of finish confirmed a tight battle at the front. The top four finishers provided lucrative payouts for exotic bettors.
| Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Golden Tempo | 23-1 | José Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux |
| 2nd | Renegade | 5-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher |
| 3rd | Ocelli | 70-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | D. Whitworth Beckman |
| 4th | Chief Wallabee | 7-1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 5th | Danon Bourbon | 14-1 | Atsuya Nishimura | Manabu Ikezoe |
| 6th | Incredibolt | 27-1 | Jaime Torres | Riley Mott |
| 7th | Commandment | 7-1 | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
| 8th | Wonder Dean | 20-1 | Ryusei Sakai | Daisuke Takayanagi |
| 9th | So Happy | 6-1 | Mike Smith | Mark Glatt |
| 10th | Emerging Market | 11-1 | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown |
| 11th | Further Ado | 7-1 | John Velazquez | Brad Cox |
| 12th | Potente | 23-1 | Juan Hernandez | Bob Baffert |
| 13th | Six Speed | 40-1 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Bhupat Seemar |
| 14th | Robusta | 50-1 | Emisael Jaramillo | Doug O’Neill |
| 15th | Albus | 50-1 | Manny Franco | Riley Mott |
| 16th | Intrepido | 55-1 | Hector Berrios | Jeff Mullins |
| 17th | Litmus Test | 34-1 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert |
| 18th | Pavlovian | 51-1 | Edwin Maldonado | Doug O’Neill |
Scratched: Right to Party (No. 5), The Puma (No. 9), Silent Tactic (No. 13), Fulleffort (No. 20), Great White (No. 21)
Who Is Golden Tempo’s Jockey?
José Ortiz guided Golden Tempo to victory. Ortiz executed a flawless ride, saving ground on the turns before finding a clear path in the stretch. His tactical decisions kept Golden Tempo out of trouble in the crowded 20-horse field. The win adds another prestigious trophy to Ortiz’s already decorated career. He rode with confidence and perfect timing.
A Brotherly Rivalry At The Wire
The 2026 Derby turned into a family affair in the final strides. José Ortiz aboard Golden Tempo surged past his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr. on Renegade, to secure the win. The two siblings frequently battle for top jockey honors nationwide. This race put their rivalry on the biggest stage in the sport. Irad set down Renegade for a determined run on the lead. José found another gear from Golden Tempo to edge past in the shadow of the twin spires.
Cherie DeVaux’s Historic Milestone
This victory represents a monumental shift in the sport. For 152 years, no woman had ever trained a Kentucky Derby winner. Cherie DeVaux broke that barrier with Golden Tempo. She managed the colt’s campaign flawlessly leading up to the race. Her conditioning program had Golden Tempo peaking at the exact right moment. The racing community celebrated her achievement widely, marking a new chapter at Churchill Downs. Her accomplishment is now permanently etched in the Kentucky Derby history books.
Breeding A Champion
Golden Tempo is a son of the legendary Curlin. Curlin was retired from stud duty earlier in 2026 following declining fertility. This makes Golden Tempo’s classic win incredibly poignant for the breeding industry. Curlin has long been a top sire, passing on his stamina and classic distance capabilities to his progeny. Golden Tempo mirrors his sire’s powerful build and late kick.
Full List Of Kentucky Derby Past Winners, History
The Kentucky Derby dates back to 1875. Aristides won the inaugural running. The race has crowned champions like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, American Pharoah, and Justify. The tradition of the race demands excellence from every participant. Recent history shows a mix of favorites and longshots claiming the roses.
| Year | Winner | Time |
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | 2:01.45 |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | 2:02.31 |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | 2:03.34 |
| 2023 | Mage | 2:01.57 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | 2:02.61 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | 2:01.36 |
| 2020 | Authentic | 2:00.61 |
| 2019 | Country House | 2:03.93 |
| 2018 | Justify | 2:04.20 |
| 2017 | Nyquist | 2:01.31 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | 2:01.31 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 2:03.02 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | 2:03.66 |
| 2013 | Orb | 2:02.89 |
| 2012 | I’ll Have Another | 2:01.83 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | 2:02.04 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | 2:04.45 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | 2:02.66 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | 2:01.82 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | 2:02.17 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | 2:01.36 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | 2:02.75 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 2:04.06 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | 2:01.19 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | 2:01.13 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | 1:59.97 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | 2:01.00 |
| 1999 | Charismatic | 2:03.20 |
| 1998 | Real Quiet | 2:02.20 |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | 2:02.40 |
| 1996 | Grindstone | 2:01.00 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | 2:01.20 |
| 1994 | Go for Gin | 2:03.60 |
| 1993 | Sea Hero | 2:02.40 |
| 1992 | Lil E. Tee | 2:03.00 |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold | 2:03.00 |
| 1990 | Unbridled | 2:02.00 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | 2:05.00 |
| 1988 | Winning Colors | 2:02.20 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | 2:03.40 |
| 1986 | Ferdinand | 2:02.80 |
| 1985 | Spend A Buck | 2:00.20 |
| 1984 | Swale | 2:02.40 |
| 1983 | Sunny’s Halo | 2:02.20 |
| 1982 | Gato Del Sol | 2:02.40 |
| 1981 | Pleasant Colony | 2:02.00 |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | 2:02.00 |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | 2:02.40 |
| 1978 | Affirmed | 2:01.20 |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | 2:02.20 |
| 1976 | Bold Forbes | 2:01.60 |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure | 2:02.00 |
| 1974 | Cannonade | 2:04.00 |
| 1973 | Secretariat | 1:59.40 |
| 1972 | Riva Ridge | 2:01.80 |
| 1971 | Canonero II | 2:03.20 |
| 1970 | Dust Commander | 2:03.40 |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | 2:01.80 |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | 2:02.20 |
| 1967 | Proud Clarion | 2:00.60 |
| 1966 | Kauai King | 2:02.00 |
| 1965 | Lucky Debonair | 2:01.20 |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | 2:00.00 |
| 1963 | Chateaugay | 2:01.80 |
| 1962 | Decidedly | 2:00.40 |
| 1961 | Carry Back | 2:04.00 |
| 1960 | Venetian Way | 2:02.40 |
| 1959 | Tomy Lee | 2:02.20 |
| 1958 | Tim Tam | 2:05.00 |
| 1957 | Iron Liege | 2:02.20 |
| 1956 | Needles | 2:03.40 |
| 1955 | Swaps | 2:01.80 |
| 1954 | Determine | 2:03.00 |
| 1953 | Dark Star | 2:02.00 |
| 1952 | Hill Gail | 2:01.60 |
| 1951 | Count Turf | 2:02.60 |
| 1950 | Middleground | 2:01.60 |
| 1949 | Ponder | 2:04.20 |
| 1948 | Citation | 2:05.40 |
| 1947 | Jet Pilot | 2:06.80 |
| 1946 | Assault | 2:06.60 |
| 1945 | Hoop Jr. | 2:07.00 |
| 1944 | Pensive | 2:04.20 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | 2:04.00 |
| 1942 | Shut Out | 2:04.40 |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | 2:01.40 |
| 1940 | Gallahadion | 2:05.00 |
| 1939 | Johnstown | 2:03.40 |
| 1938 | Lawrin | 2:04.80 |
| 1937 | War Admiral | 2:03.20 |
| 1936 | Bold Venture | 2:03.60 |
| 1935 | Omaha | 2:05.00 |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | 2:04.00 |
| 1933 | Brokers Tip | 2:06.80 |
| 1932 | Burgoo King | 2:05.20 |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | 2:01.80 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | 2:07.60 |
| 1929 | Clyde Van Dusen | 2:10.80 |
| 1928 | Reigh Count | 2:10.40 |
| 1927 | Whiskery | 2:06.00 |
| 1926 | Bubbling Over | 2:03.80 |
| 1925 | Flying Ebony | 2:07.60 |
| 1924 | Black Gold | 2:05.20 |
| 1923 | Zev | 2:05.40 |
| 1922 | Morvich | 2:04.60 |
| 1921 | Behave Yourself | 2:04.20 |
| 1920 | Paul Jones | 2:09.00 |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | 2:09.80 |
| 1918 | Exterminator | 2:10.80 |
| 1917 | Omar Khayyam | 2:04.60 |
| 1916 | George Smith | 2:04.00 |
| 1915 | Regret | 2:05.40 |
| 1914 | Old Rosebud | 2:03.40 |
| 1913 | Donerail | 2:04.80 |
| 1912 | Worth | 2:09.40 |
| 1911 | Meridian | 2:05.00 |
| 1910 | Donau | 2:06.40 |
| 1909 | Wintergreen | 2:08.20 |
| 1908 | Stone Street | 2:15.20 |
| 1907 | Pink Star | 2:12.60 |
| 1906 | Sir Huon | 2:08.80 |
| 1905 | Agile | 2:10.75 |
| 1904 | Elwood | 2:08.50 |
| 1903 | Judge Himes | 2:09.00 |
| 1902 | Alan-a-Dale | 2:08.75 |
| 1901 | His Eminence | 2:07.75 |
| 1900 | Lieut. Gibson | 2:06.25 |
| 1899 | Manuel | 2:12.00 |
| 1898 | Plaudit | 2:09.00 |
| 1897 | Typhoon II | 2:12.50 |
| 1896 | Ben Brush | 2:07.75 |
| 1895 | Halma | 2:37.50 |
| 1894 | Chant | 2:41.00 |
| 1893 | Lookout | 2:39.25 |
| 1892 | Azra | 2:41.50 |
| 1891 | Kingman | 2:52.25 |
| 1890 | Riley | 2:45.00 |
| 1889 | Spokane | 2:34.50 |
| 1888 | Macbeth II | 2:38.00 |
| 1887 | Montrose | 2:39.25 |
| 1886 | Ben Ali | 2:36.50 |
| 1885 | Joe Cotton | 2:37.25 |
| 1884 | Buchanan | 2:40.25 |
| 1883 | Leonatus | 2:43.00 |
| 1882 | Apollo | 2:40.00 |
| 1881 | Hindoo | 2:40.00 |
| 1880 | Fonso | 2:37.50 |
| 1879 | Lord Murphy | 2:37.00 |
| 1878 | Day Star | 2:37.25 |
| 1877 | Baden-Baden | 2:38.00 |
| 1876 | Vagrant | 2:38.25 |
| 1875 | Aristides | 2:37.75 |
A complete record of all 152 winners highlights the changing bloodlines and riding styles over the decades. Golden Tempo now joins this elite roster. The colt’s name will be engraved alongside the all-time greats.
Looking Ahead to the Preakness Stakes
As the celebration fades in Louisville, the racing world’s attention immediately shifts toward Maryland and the second leg of the Triple Crown. Golden Tempo accomplished far more than just winning a race; he broke a 152-year barrier for female trainers and secured a defining classic victory for his sire’s lineage. Whether this colt can handle the grueling two-week turnaround for the Preakness Stakes to keep the Triple Crown dream alive is the most pressing question in the sport right now.
For now, Golden Tempo and his connections have earned their permanent place in racing lore, leaving fans and handicappers eager to see how the rest of his three-year-old campaign unfolds.
