Opening Day at Churchill Downs returns to an afternoon start for 2026 Derby Week

Churchill Downs is moving its Spring Meet opener to an afternoon start on Saturday, April 25 (gates 11:30 a.m., first post 12:45 p.m.), and Opening Day will include the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw alongside family-focused events.

Churchill Downs will open its 2026 Spring Meet on Saturday, April 25, shifting the meet opener back to an afternoon schedule after years of night racing. Gates are set to open at 11:30 a.m. and the first post is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. The change comes as Sunday racing returns to Kentucky Derby Week for the first time in 16 years. Opening Day will include the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw and a range of family-oriented activities. Opening Day details: - Gates open at 11:30 a.m.; first race (first post) is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. - General admission is listed at $30; Reserved and Box Seating are listed at $45; marathon runners with a medal are reported to receive free admission. - The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw is scheduled on the Second Floor Terrace between 2 and 3 p.m., between races 3 and 4, with the First Turn Club as a weather backup location. - Style Under the Spires fashion contest on Opening Day will carry the theme "coordinated classics," with stylists selecting finalists and a contest segment at the Derby Week Photo Op. - Miss Kentucky 2025, Ariana Rodriguez, is scheduled to sing the national anthem and is noted as the founder of The Lucky Ones, a program that supports children in foster care. - Other Opening Day activations include a jockey and trainer poster signing (limited to 1,000 posters), a VR jockey simulation experience, a Derby Week photo opportunity with a replica trophy, and a kids' hat and bow tie station. Summary: The afternoon start and the return of Sunday racing shift Derby Week toward more daytime programming and family-friendly activations. The Post Position Draw and a slate of contests and events are scheduled on Opening Day, with the Oaks on May 1 and the Derby on May 2.