Getty Jockey Louis Saez, riding Essential Quality.
After being held last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 147th annual Kentucky Derby is back in its usual spring slot, taking place Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.
The Derby Day undercard races will be televised on NBC Sports Network (Noon-2:30 p.m. ET) and NBC (2:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. ET), while the Kentucky Derby will be on NBC (6:57 p.m. ET post time).
But if you don’t have cable, here are some ways you can watch a live stream of the Kentucky Derby on your Roku, Firestick, Apple TV or other streaming device:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of NBC (live in most markets), NBC Sports Network and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the 2021 Kentucky Derby live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV also comes with 250 hours of cloud DVR space.
AT&T TV
AT&T TV has four different channel packages: “Entertainment”, “Choice”, “Ultimate” and “Premier.” NBC (live in most markets) and NBC Sports Network are included in every package, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for AT&T TV, you can watch the 2021 Kentucky Derby live on the AT&T TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the AT&T TV website.
If you can’t watch live, AT&T TV also comes with 20 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to unlimited hours).
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports Network and 40-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Blue” channel bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but you can get $10 off your first month and get Showtime, Starz and Epix included for free:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the 2021 Kentucky Derby live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
If you can’t watch live, Sling TV comes included with 50 hours of cloud DVR.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of NBC (live in most markets), NBC Sports Network and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which you can try out for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the 2021 Kentucky Derby live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
If you can’t watch live, Hulu with Live TV also comes with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials).
Kentucky Derby 2021 Preview
Attendance will be limited at this year’s event, which was won by Authentic in last fall’s September race after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As always, this year’s Derby is the first race of the Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Known Agenda, the son of top sire Curlin, is one of the favorites to win and is coming off an impressive victory in the Florida Derby in late March. With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Todd Pletcher, Agenda has three wins, one second place and one third place showing in six competitions.
The favorite to win the Derby this year, though, is Essential Quality, who has been trained by Brad Cox and will be ridden by jockey Luis Saez. An elite racehorse, Quality has five wins in his five starts, most recently winning on April 3 at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
“It’s one of those things where Luis has confidence in him [and] we have confidence in Luis,” Cox told the media last weekend. “We kind of feel like he’s going to put him where he needs to be, where he’s comfortable, and hopefully he can get in position, turn for home and be there at the wire.”
Saez, who was the jockey for Maximum Security when the horse was disqualified after initially winning the Kentucky Derby in 2019 due to interference during the race, says he’s ready for redemption.
“If we win, I would dedicate this race to my wife and my daughters. We have been through so many hard times, especially since the 2019 Derby, and they have been my support. I would also dedicate the race to the late Juan Saez, my brother, who is in the sky now,” Saez said, adding: “And I would dedicate the victory to Maximum Security.”
Here’s a look at the horses who will be competing in the Derby, along with the odds of winning for each:
- Known Agenda (6-1)
- Like The King (50-1)
- Brooklyn Strong (50-1)
- Keep me in mind (50-1)
- Sainthood (50-1)
- O Besos (20-1)
- Mandaloun (15-1)
- Medina Spirit (15-1)
- Hot Rod Charlie (8-1)
- Midnight Bourbon (20-1)
- Dynamic One (20-1)
- Helium (50-1)
- Hidden Stash (50-1)
- Essential Quality (2-1)
- Rock Your World (5-1)
- King Fury (20-1)
- Highly Motivated (10-1)
- Super Stock (30-1)
- Soup And Sandwich (30-1)
- Bourbonic (30-1)