The real winner of the 150th Kentucky Derby might have been anyone who rooted for chaos Saturday. A thrilling two minutes at Churchill Downs culminated in a photo finish, the closest the race has seen since 1996.
After a few tense minutes, it became clear that Mystik Dan had etched his name into the history books as the winner of the Kentucky Derby, outlasting Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a nose.
Mystik Dan had 18-1 odds when he entered the post, making him even more of a long shot than 2023 winner Mage. Sierra Leone (9-2) and Forever Young (7-1) finished exactly where their odds predicted they would, but favorite Fierceness faded to a 15th-place finish after a strong start out of the gate.
The win is the pinnacle of trainer Kenny McPeek's career, coming a day after he and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. won the Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna. Now McPeek will be among the key decision-makers determining whether Mystik Dan will run at the Preakness and attempt to move one step closer to a Triple Crown.
MORE: Best and worst outfits at the Kentucky Derby
The photo finish at Churchill Downs is just one more historic moment in what has been an unpredictable stretch of Kentucky Derby races. Since 2018, the Kentucky Derby has seen record-setting rain, two winners later disqualified, a September race, an 80-1 winner and now a photo finish. "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" lived up to its billing Saturday.
The Sporting News tracked live updates, results and highlights from the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Check out the full results and key moments below.
Kentucky Derby finish order
| Order | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | Mystik Dan | 18-1 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 9-2 |
| 3 | Forever Young | 7-1 |
| 4 | Catching Freedom | 8-1 |
| 5 | T O Password | 47-1 |
| 6 | Resilience | 32-1 |
| 7 | Stronghold | 34-1 |
| 8 | Honor Marie | 15-1 |
| 9 | Endlessly | 47-1 |
| 10 | Dornoch | 22-1 |
| 11 | Track Phantom | 41-1 |
| 12 | West Saratoga | 22-1 |
| 13 | Domestic Product | 27-1 |
| 14 | Epic Ride | 47-1 |
| 15 | Fierceness | 3-1 |
| 16 | Society Man | 46-1 |
| 17 | Just Steel | 20-1 |
| 18 | Grand Mo The First | 48-1 |
| 19 | Catalytic | 34-1 |
| 20 | Just a Touch | 11-1 |
MORE: Complete list of Kentucky Derby winners
Watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby
WOW. 😱
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 4, 2024
Mystik Dan WINS the 150th Kentucky Derby in a PHOTO FINISH! pic.twitter.com/N2jfd2TsKe
Kentucky Derby updates, highlights, results
(All times Eastern)
7:06 p.m. — MYSTIK DAN WINS THE KENTUCKY DERBY! The No. 3 horse, with 18-1 odds, is the presumed winner as we wait for the official results to be posted.
At the wire! Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby. pic.twitter.com/2aiutu2mWz
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 4, 2024
7:05 p.m. — A photo will determine the winner...
7:04 p.m. — Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone have a photo finish! And Forever Young is right there with them. It couldn't be any closer than that!
7:04 p.m. — Mystik Dan is in front!
7:03 p.m. — Track Phantom (41-1) has taken over the lead, with Fierceness falling to third. No horse has separated itself.
7:02 p.m. — Fierceness has the early lead, with Just Steel hanging right there.
7:01 p.m. — And they're off!
6:59 p.m. — More than 156,000 are in attendance at Churchill Downs. The 20 horses are finally approaching the posts.
6:57 p.m. — Post time! Horses are still filing into place, but we're minutes from the start of the race.
6:49 p.m. — If this is anything like a typical year, the race won't begin exactly at 6:57 p.m. ET. With eight minutes remaining, the walk is just getting started.
6:44 p.m. — Martha Stewart gives the "riders up" command, and the final walkover begins at Churchill Downs.
6:42 p.m. — We are 15 minutes out from post time! The celebration is turning into tension.
6:35 p.m. — Per the NBC broadcast, the skies are darker but the rain is holding off at Churchill Downs. It appears it will stay that way through the race.
6:31 p.m. — Fierceness is a popular pick among NBC's team at Churchill Downs, but Catching Freedom got some love as well with a few picks.
6:24 p.m. — The signature Kentucky Derby walkover continues, and one familiar face for baseball fans is among the group: former Nationals and Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, who owns Dornoch.
6:17 p.m. — It's a family affair for Track Phantom trainer Steve Asmussen, as his son, Keith, is Just Steel's jockey. Oh, and he's much taller than most jockeys.
6:05 p.m. — As the broadcast points out, betting favorites have finished high in recent editions of the Kentucky Derby, but they haven't won over the last five years. Fierceness is looking to change that trend.
5:48 p.m. — Endlessly (47-1) has the most distant odds at the moment, which means even the biggest possible upset wouldn't rival Rich Strike's win at 80-1 odds in 2022. Fierceness is the favorite at 7-2.
5:40 p.m. — The weather remains better than expected at Churchill Downs as post time inches closer.
Some of the people hanging at the front of @ChurchillDowns. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/Bo5CMsbkwZ
— Mario Anderson 📺 (@MarioAndersonTV) May 4, 2024
5:05 p.m. — There are some small scattered thunderstorms in the Louisville area, but so far the rain is holding off with post time less than two hours away.
4:50 p.m. — A special guest arrives at Churchill Downs:
Kevin the Minion has made it to the Kentucky Derby! 😎 @Minions | #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/Fb5wLwYQvA
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 4, 2024
4:35 p.m. — Gun Pilot prevails in the Churchill Downs Stakes. This was the race won by inspirational Cody's Wish a year ago.
Gun Pilot kicks clear in the stretch to win the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes presented by @Ford! Cristian Torres was aboard the Three Chimneys Farm homebred. pic.twitter.com/BnYUfSA4lC
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 4, 2024
4:15 p.m. — Fierceness remains the favorite with 7-2 odds at this point, with Sierra Leone (5-1) and Forever Young (6-1) just behind. Forever Young jumped Catching Freedom, who had the third-shortest odds for much of the day.
3:40 p.m. — Some early views from Churchill Downs, where rain is largely holding off so far.
Derby Day views. #KyDerby | @ChurchillDowns pic.twitter.com/aOLXOtlMi5
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 4, 2024
3:30 p.m. — A well-dressed Travis Kelce is among the celebrities in attendance at Churchill Downs.
Travis Kelce is at the Kentucky Derby pic.twitter.com/Yu3lIY4VbH
— BBQ Chiefs (@BBQChiefs) May 4, 2024
2024 Kentucky Derby post time
- Date: Saturday, May 4
- Post time: 6:57 p.m. ET
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock | NBC Sports app | Fubo
NBC's live coverage of the Kentucky Derby will start at 2:30 p.m. ET, more than four hours before the race's 6:57 p.m. ET post time.
Viewers can also stream the Kentucky Derby on Peacock, the NBC Sports App, or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
2024 Kentucky Derby post positions
| Post Position (Number) | Horse | Odds |
| 1 (1) | Dornoch | 18-1 |
| 2 (2) | Sierra Leone | 9-2 |
| 3 (3) | Mystik Dan | 18-1 |
| 4 (4) | Catching Freedom | 8-1 |
| 5 (5) | Catalytic | 37-1 |
| 6 (6) | Just Steel | 28-1 |
| 7 (7) | Honor Marie | 13-1 |
| 8 (8) | Just a Touch | 13-1 |
| 9 (10) | T O Password | 56-1 |
| 10 (11) | Forever Young | 7-1 |
| 11 (12) | Track Phantom | 45-1 |
| 12 (13) | West Saratoga | 30-1 |
| 13 (14) | Endlessly | 50-1 |
| 14 (15) | Domestic Product | 31-1 |
| 15 (16) | Grand Mo the First | 54-1 |
| 16 (17) | Fierceness | 5-2 |
| 17 (18) | Stronghold | 35-1 |
| 18 (19) | Resilience | 26-1 |
| 19 (20) | Society Man | 60-1 |
| 20 (21) | Epic Ride | 55-1 |
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