Kentucky Derby Post Positions 2025: Past Winners & What History Tells Us About Starting Spots

The Run for the Roses is one of the biggest horse racing spectacles in the world, as even casual bettors try their luck with the ponies, so it's essential to know how vital Kentucky Derby post positions are.

There can be value in betting on the latest Kentucky Derby odds from our best horse racing betting sites after considering the impact of each horse's starting position, which has historically had a major influence on the outcome of the first triple crown race of the season.

In this past Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan became the first horse to win from the No. 3 post position since Real Quiet in 1998, ending a drought for the 1-3 spots. After the race, jockey Brian Hernandez said the draw - which put Mystik Dan near the rail - was critical to his chances of winning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Ahead of the 2025 race, be sure to check out the best horse racing Triple Crown odds and our simulation of the ultimate Kentucky Derby race between 20 of the best horses of all time.

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 for the 2024 Kentucky Derby which was drawn on April 27 - a full week before Mystik Dan ultimately won the race from the No. 3 stall - with odds via FanDuel Racing:

What is post position?

Post position is generally 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 at our best Kentucky sports betting sites.

The post position is the stall or gate from which the horse will start the race, and it can affect 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

How Kentucky Derby post position is determined

Post positions for the Kentucky Derby are determined through a random drawing that takes place a few days before the race. The drawing is held at Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby, and is overseen by racing officials.

The drawing process involves assigning a numbered ball to each horse entered in the race, and then placing the numbered balls into a drum. The drum is spun to mix up the balls, and then each ball is drawn one at a time to determine the post position for each horse.

The first ball drawn corresponds to the post position for the horse in the first stall, the second ball drawn corresponds to the post position for the horse in the second stall, and so on until all of the post positions have been assigned.

Post position numbering system

Post positions in horse racing are numbered sequentially, starting from the inside rail and continuing outward. The numbering system is typically used to identify the horse's starting position in the starting gate, and to indicate the order of the horses in the race program.

For example, in a race with eight horses, the inside rail would be numbered as post position one. The posts would continue outward from there - with post position two being next to post position one, post position three being next to post position two, and so on until post position eight.

For larger fields, the post positions are numbered in the same way, but with additional numbers added to indicate the starting position beyond the eighth stall. For example, a field of 20 horses would be numbered from post position one through post position 20.

The Derby will accept up to 24 entries, but Nos. 21-24 will only be able to run if there are scratches (defections) from the body of the field before 9 a.m. ET on the day before the race.

Best post position at the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby post position draw is a significant event as the starting position can impact a horse's chances of winning. However, the historical data shows that the success rate of horses in the Kentucky Derby does not necessarily follow a clear pattern based on post position.

Here were the percentage of Kentucky Derby winners from each post position from 1930 - the first year a starting gate was used - all the way through 2023, not including Mystik Dan's victory from the No. 3 post position in the 2024 race:

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 sports betting apps.

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.

We'll dig a little deeper into the other stats later.

Worst post position at the Kentucky Derby

Only the No. 17 post position have failed to produce even a single Kentucky Derby champion, and its in-the-money percentage (7.1%) is better than only the No. 19 spot, which has produced a top-three finisher just 6.9 percent of the time.

Neither spot has fared well in average finish, either, with both lagging well back of the pack.

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:

The 5, 8, and 10 spots have been the best in terms of producing Kentucky Derby champions, followed closely by spots 1 and 7. In fact, only the 2 and 6 spots have failed to produce more than five race champions among the top 10 spots – so it literally pays to be in the inner half.

Wins-by-post-position trends

Here are some interesting trends centered around Kentucky Derby wins by position:

• While the first three post positions have produced 21 Kentucky Derby winners, we hadn't seen a champion crowned from spots 1, 2, or 3 since Real Quiet (No. 3) prevailed in 1998. That was, of course, until Mystik Dan broke that 26-year drought with a win in the 2024 Kentucky Derby from the No. 3 spot.
• Not only has the No. 5 spot produced the most Kentucky Derby victories, it also has the most second-place finishes in race history with eight. Its average finish of 7.33 is also tops.
• The most prolific position on the outside half of the field: No. 15, which has seen six Kentucky Derby winners, most recently Authentic in 2020.
• The final four positions in the field have yielded just five winners in Kentucky Derby history, including Rich Strike out of the 20 spot in last year's thrilling race.

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 2023 edition of the race:

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 entering 2024.

In-the-money finishes by post position trends

Here's a look at some handy trends based on in-the-money results over the years:

• No. 2 might have a strong track record of ITM success, but it hadn't actually produced a top-3 finisher since Revolutionary placed third at the 2013 Kentucky Derby. That was until Sierra Leone finished second as the pre-race favorite from the No. 2 spot.
• It won't surprise many that six of the 10 inside spots in the race have a cash rate greater than 20 percent, while just three of the 10 outside positions cash at 20 percent or more.
• The No. 14 spot gets the "Close, But No Cigar" award here, producing 15 top-three finishes in Kentucky Derby history but just two victories.
• The No. 17 spot is the only one without a top-two result in the previous 35 years, with Forty Niner producing that post position's only runner-up finish in 1988.

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 2025 FAQs

Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby 2025?

According to TwinSpires, 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. In 2024, the pre-race favorites were FIerceness and Sierra Leone, both of whom were dealing as high as +300 on race day with those odds representing an implied win probability of 25.00%.

Who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby? 

Mystik Dan won the 2024 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.

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