The world’s horse racing enthusiasts have fallen in love with Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner. The 151st running of the Derby, which took place at the famed Churchill Downs, had an exciting finish when Sovereignty overtook a formidable pack to win.
Background:
With 5-1 odds, Sovereignty was the second favorite coming into the race. Hall of Famer Bill Mott trains this Florida Derby winner, while Junior Alvarado rides him. He began at post number 18, which put him well out of the 20-horse field.
In a field of 20 horses, starting from post position #18, which is usually considered difficult, Sovereignty beat the odds with a strong finish.
Kentucky Derby 2025 Winner Sovereignty’s Prize Money Breakdown
The Kentucky Derby purse reached $5 million for the second year in a row. The distribution of the funds was as follows:
First Place (Sovereignty): a coveted gold trophy plus $1.3 million
Position 2: $1 million
The other five top finishers got lower but still substantial prizes.
Winning the Derby significantly raises a horse’s breeding value in addition to the cash. Junior Alvarado, the winning jockey, usually receives a personal trophy in addition to 10% of the purse.
Why Horses Are Given Only One Chance
One distinctive aspect of the Derby is that it is only open to three-year-old colts and fillies, meaning that horses can only race it once in their lifetime. This increases the significance of Sovereignty’s victory in the Kentucky Derby in 2025.
Every year, the Kentucky Derby becomes progressively more difficult and historic because just three fillies have ever won—the latest being in 1988.
When Was the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Following its long-standing custom of a late-afternoon race, the main event was held on Saturday at 6:57 PM ET.
How to View the Kentucky Derby Replay in 2025
Here’s how the coverage was presented in case you missed the live action:
The USA Network began airing at 12 PM ET. The Derby was broadcast on NBC & Peacock from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM ET.
At 6:30 PM ET, Telemundo Deportes coverage aired on Universo and was streamed on the Telemundo app.
All of Churchill Downs’ non-Derby races were broadcast on FanDuel TV.
For Official updates and historical data, visit the Kentucky Derby Website
