Kentucky Derby Post Positions: Past Winners and Starting Spots History
To make an informed bet on the 2025 Kentucky Derby, you will want to do as much betting research as possible. One of the key areas to study for the big race at Churchill Downs is the post position for each horse. Below is a look at the Kentucky Derby post positions for this year’s race, as well as the post position history for Derby winners.
Kentucky Derby post positions
While we wait for the 2025 post positions, we'll break down the value of each spot. Here's a look at the post positions from last year's Kentucky Derby. Mystik Dan ultimately won the race from the No. 3 stall.
| Post | Cloth No. | Horse | FanDuel (May 4) | Morning Line odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Dornoch | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 2 | 2 | Sierra Leone | +300 | 3-1 |
| 3 | 3 | Mystik Dan | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 4 | 4 | Catching Freedom | +800 | 8-1 |
| 5 | 5 | Catalytic | +3000 | 30-1 |
| 6 | 6 | Just Steel | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 7 | 7 | Honor Marie | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 8 | 8 | Just A Touch | +1000 | 10-1 |
| OFF | Scratch | |||
| 9 | 10 | T O Password | +3000 | 30-1 |
| 10 | 11 | Forever Young | +1000 | 10-1 |
| 11 | 12 | Track Phantom | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 12 | 13 | West Saratoga | +5000 | 50-1 |
| 13 | 14 | Endlessly | +3000 | 30-1 |
| 14 | 15 | Domestic Product | +3000 | 30-1 |
| 15 | 16 | Grand Mo The First | +5000 | 50-1 |
| 16 | 17 | Fierceness | +250 | 5-2 |
| 17 | 18 | Stronghold | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 18 | 19 | Resilience | +2000 | 20-1 |
| 19 | 20 | Society Man | +5000 | 50-1 |
| 20 | 21 | Epic Ride | +5000 | 50-1 |
| OFF | Scratch |
Post position is extremely important in horse racing, and nowhere is it more critical than in the Kentucky Derby, which boasts the largest field of any major U.S. horse race. As such, it can significantly impact the Kentucky Derby odds.
The post position is the stall or gate from which the horse will start the race, and it can impact a horse's chances of winning in several ways.
Horses that draw an inside post position, which is closer to the rail, may have an advantage because they have a shorter distance to travel to get to the first turn. This can save them energy and give them a better chance of being in a good position early in the race. However, it can also cause traffic issues for a horse with subpar early speed, especially in a crowded field like in the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby field typically has a whopping 20 horses.
Horses that draw an outside post position, which is farther away from the rail, may have to cover more ground on the turns. A wide draw can also make it harder for a horse to get a good position early in the race. However, horses breaking from outside post positions may have more room to maneuver and avoid traffic.
List of Kentucky Derby winners with post positions
Here is a look at recent Kentucky Derby winners, along with their post positions.
- 2024 Mystik Dan: Post 3
- 2023 Mage: Post 8
- 2022 Rich Strike: Post 20
- 2021 Mandaloun: Post 7
- 2020 Authentic: Post 15
- 2019 Country House: Post 18
- 2018 Justify: Post 7
- 2017 Always Dreaming: Post 5
- 2016 Nyquist: Post 13
- 2015 American Pharoah: Post 15
- 2014 California Chrome: Post 5
- 2013 Orb: Post 15
- 2012 I'll Have Another: Post 19
- 2011 Animal Kingdom: Post 16
- 2010 Super Saver: Post 4
- 2009 Mine That Bird: Post 8
- 2008 Big Brown: Post 20
- 2007 Street Sense: Post 7
- 2006 Barbaro: Post 8
- 2005 Giacomo: Post 10
- 2004 Smarty Jones: Post 13
- 2003 Funny Cide: Post 5
- 2002 War Emblem: Post 5
- 2001 Monarchos: Post 16
- 2000 Fusaichi Pegasus: Post 15
What is the best post position to have in the Kentucky Derby?
Post 5 has produced the most wins in Kentucky Derby history, with 10 victories. The most recent Kentucky Derby winners to come from post 5 were Always Dreaming (2017) and California Chrome (2014).
Post 10 at Churchill Downs has also been an extremely lucky starting spot as well. Post 10 has the best in-the-money percentage (win-place-show). It also owns the second-best win percentage behind post 5 and post 20.
Here is the win rate percentage for each post position, dating back to 1930 - the first year a starting gate was used.
| Post Position | Win Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8.4% |
| 2 | 7.4% |
| 3 | 6.3% |
| 4 | 5.3% |
| 5 | 10.5% |
| 6 | 2.1% |
| 7 | 8.5% |
| 8 | 9.6% |
| 9 | 4.4% |
| 10 | 10.2% |
| 11 | 2.4% |
| 12 | 3.8% |
| 13 | 6.4% |
| 14 | 2.9% |
| 15 | 9.5% |
| 16 | 7.7% |
| 17 | 0.0% |
| 18 | 5.4% |
| 19 | 3.2% |
| 20 | 10.5% |
Though post position does mean plenty for a horse's prospects, bettors would be wise not to use it as the sole barometer for determining which wagers to make via our best Kentucky Derby betting sites.
The best post positions in terms of win rate are all multiples of five: the No. 5, No. 10, and No. 20 spots have all produced double-digit win rates - even with the 20 position only having been in place for the 11 Kentucky Derby races prior to 2024.
What is the worst post position to have in the Kentucky Derby?
The No. 17 post is pretty much cursed, having never produced a winner. Only 6.7% of horses racing out of the 10 spot have landed in the money, which is when a horse wins, places or shows. Forty Niner had the best results coming out of post 10, as he finished in second place in 1988.
Post 11 has had a rough go of it as well. It has produced just two winners and the last horse to win out of this post came in 1988 (Winning Colors).
Kentucky Derby wins by post position
Here are the number of Kentucky Derby winners by post position since 1930, including Mystik Dan's win from the No. 3 spot in the 2024 Kentucky Derby:
| Post Position | Number of wins |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 8 |
| 8 | 9 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 9 |
| 11 | 2 |
| 12 | 3 |
| 13 | 5 |
| 14 | 2 |
| 15 | 6 |
| 16 | 4 |
| 17 | 0 |
| 18 | 2 |
| 19 | 1 |
| 20 | 2 |
In-the-money finishes by post position
Here's a look at the in-the-money (ITM) results by post position in Kentucky Derby history through the 2024 edition of the race. This means that the horse won the race, placed, or showed.
| Post Position | ITM Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | 18.9% |
| 2 | 27.4% |
| 3 | 23.2% |
| 4 | 15.8% |
| 5 | 23.2% |
| 6 | 13.7% |
| 7 | 21.3% |
| 8 | 20.2% |
| 9 | 19.8% |
| 10 | 29.5% |
| 11 | 14.3% |
| 12 | 12.5% |
| 13 | 20.6% |
| 14 | 19.5% |
| 15 | 14.3% |
| 16 | 19.2% |
| 17 | 6.7% |
| 18 | 16.2% |
| 19 | 6.5% |
| 20 | 15.8% |
Horses starting from the No. 10 position have produced more in-the-money finishes than any other competitors since 1930, cashing more than 29 percent of the time. The No. 2 spot is a fitting runner-up here, with the 5-hole producing the third-most cashes of all-time.
How to use post position to handicap the Kentucky Derby
Here's how you can use post position to handicap the Kentucky Derby:
- Understand what post position means: In horse racing, post position refers to the starting gate from which each horse begins the race. The Kentucky Derby has 20 horses, so each horse is assigned a number from 1 to 20 based on the post position they draw.
- Look at historical trends: Over the years, certain post positions have been more successful than others in the Kentucky Derby. For example, horses starting from post positions 5-8 have won the race more often than any other post position, while horses starting from post positions 1 and 2 have won the race the least.
- Consider the horse's running style: Each horse has a running style, which can be classified as a front runner, a stalker, or a closer. Front runners tend to go to the front early and try to stay there, while stalkers tend to sit just behind the leaders and make a move later in the race. Closers tend to stay near the back of the pack early and make a strong late run to the finish. You should consider the horse's running style and how it fits with the post position they drew.
- Look at the track conditions: The track conditions can also impact how well a horse will do in the race. For example, if the track is wet or muddy, it can impact the favorability of being up close and/or near the rail.
- Analyze the entire field: Don't just focus on one or two horses based on their post position. Look at the entire field and consider all of the factors that could impact the outcome of the race. Remember that horse racing is unpredictable, and anything can happen on race day.
Using post position to handicap the Kentucky Derby can be a helpful tool, but it's important to remember that there are many other factors to consider as well. Take your time and do your research, and hopefully, you'll pick a winner!
Horse racing betting odds pages
| Kentucky Derby Odds | Preakness Stakes Odds | Belmont Stakes Odds |
| Kentucky Derby Post Position | Preakness Stakes Post Position | Belmont Stakes Post Position |
Kentucky Derby 2025 FAQs
Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby 2025?
Americans can legally wager on horse racing in the following states:
Kentucky sports betting is up and running, so Kentucky horse racing fans should be able to bet from anywhere in the state for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. You can also check out our list of the best Kentucky Derby betting sites here!
Who is the 2025 Kentucky Derby favorite?
We're still awaiting the opening odds for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Who won last year's Kentucky Derby?
Mystik Dan won last year's Kentucky Derby with jockey Brian Hernandez and trainer Kenneth McPeek.
When is the 2025 Kentucky Derby held?
The 2025 edition of the Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 3.
Where is the 2025 Kentucky Derby held?
The Kentucky Derby is held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
How are Kentucky Derby odds displayed?
You'll often see horse racing betting sites post odds presented as fractional; for example, an entry might be listed as a 3-1 favorite or a 50-1 underdog. For those looking to convert fractional horse racing odds to American or decimal odds, you can use our free and handy odds converter.
Here are our best Kentucky Derby betting sites:
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