Opening Day photos at Churchill Downs, start of Kentucky Derby Week

Dancewhenyoucan, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, wins and Blasphemous Rumors, ridden by Axel Concepcion, got place during the sixth race on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

A boy watches as horses enter the track during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

A jockey come through the tunnel on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Two girls play on the stairs during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Bugler Steve Buttleman plays "The Call to the Post" during the sixth race on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

A girl picks out a horse toy during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Cookie Time, ridden by John McKee, was walking to the gate of the sixth race on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

A group of attendees get their photo taken during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

A boy watches as horses enter the track during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Churchill Downs bugler Steve Buttleman and Churchill Charlie hang out ahead of the Derby and Oaks draws on Opening Day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

People watched during the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw on the upper level Paddock terrace at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2026.

Attendees watch as horses race by during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

WAVE 3 sports director Kendrick Haskins and news anchor Shannon Cogan interview trainer Brad Cox after the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Cox has three horses -- Commandment, Fulleffort and Further Ado -- in this year's Derby. April 25, 2026.

The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trophies before the post position draws on opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Trainer Mark Casse reacts during the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Casse is the trainer of Silent Tactic, which drew Post 13. April 25, 2026.

The Japanese team of Wonder Dean celebrated their horse's no. 10 post position after the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2026.o

A girl picks out a horse toy during opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

The Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses and jockey Luan Machado meet and greet for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

A woman with a brightly colored fascinator walks around the paddock terrace before the start of the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2026.

Post position for the Kentucky Derby on opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Some seeked shade under the unseasonably hot sun on the paddock terrace during the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2026.

Scenes from Kentucky Oaks and Kenutcky Derby Post Position Draw at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Whitney Arnold and Steve Trusty were there for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Scenes from Kentucky Oaks and Kenutcky Derby Post Position Draw at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Some seeked shade under the unseasonably hot sun on the paddock terrace during the 2026 Kentucky Derby Draw at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2026.

People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

A crowd of owners, trainers, jockeys and connections watch the post position draws for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks on opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trophies before the post position draws on opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Gustavo Delgado, trainer for The Puma, pulls down the silks from the board during the post position draw for the Kentucky Derby 2026 at opening day at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Kentucky Derby 2026 post positions are set on April 25 for the Derby race, held this year on May 2. April 25, 2026

Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone read the horse and post positions for the Kentucky Derby 2026. April 25, 2026

Miss Kentucky 2026 Ariana Rodriguez put the horses in their post position of the Kentucky Derby 2026. April 25, 2026

Kentucky Derby 2026 post positions are set Saturday for the race next Saturday. April 25, 2026

Miss Kentucky 2026 Ariana Rodriguez put the horses in their post position of the Kentucky Derby 2026. April 25, 2026

Kentucky Oaks 2026 post positions are set Saturday for the race next Friday. April 25, 2026

Kentucky Derby 2026 post positions are set Saturday for the race next Saturday. April 25, 2026

Scenes from Kentucky Oaks and Kenutcky Derby Post Position Draw at Churchill Downs. April 25, 2026

Pure Joy, ridden by Jose L. Ortiz, won the first race on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Dee Johnson and Barry Brewer walk in for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Pure Joy, ridden by Jose L. Ortiz, passes Plaza Cue, ridden by Luis Saez, during the first race on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Churchill Charlie and Michele Harlow get their picture taken for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Plaza Cue, ridden by Luis Saez, and Ali Girl, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. come out of the starting gate during the first race on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Trae Spina shows up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Carrie Biloti, left, Jessica Morse, center, and Jerri Sly visit the Pink Snails for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Chris Martin walks in for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

The Pink Snails were in attendance for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Michelle Winningham gets her picture made for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Churchill Charlie walks in for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.

Jackie and Elliot Outlaw walk in for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Apr. 25, 2026.