The Road to the Kentucky Derby is now complete. (photo courtesy of Churchill Downs)
The 144th running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) will be run Saturday, May 5, 2018 and for the sixth consecutive year, a tiered point system in select races will determine who qualifies to America’s greatest race.
Each year 20 horses have the once in a lifetime chance to run in the Kentucky Derby. To earn a spot in the starting gate, they must travel along the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of designated races at tracks across the country and around the world.
Points are awarded to the top four finishers in each race. The 20 horses with the most points will earn a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
A year ago, Churchill Downs introduced the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” to provide a potential entry in the Kentucky Derby for a horse based in Japan. This year, a path is being extended to European horsemen as well.
The updated Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings.
Kentucky Derby Prep Season
| Date | Race | Track | Winner | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 9/16/17 | Iroquois | Churchill Downs | The Tabulator | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 9/30/17 | FrontRunner | Santa Anita | Bolt d’Oro | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 10/7/17 | Champagne | Belmont | Firenze Fire | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 10/7/17 | Breeders’ Futurity | Keeneland | Free Drop Billy | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 11/4/17 | BC Juvenile | Del Mar | Good Magic | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 11/25/17 | Kentucky Jockey Club | Churchill Downs | Enticed | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 12/2/17 | Remsen | Aqueduct | Catholic Boy | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 12/9/17 | Los Alamitos Futurity | Los Alamitos | McKinzie | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 12/17/17 | Springboard Mile | Remington Park | Greyvitos | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1/6/18 | Sham | Santa Anita | McKinzie | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1/13/18 | Lecomte | Fair Grounds | Instilled Regard | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1/13/18 | Jerome | Aqueduct | Firenze Fire | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1/15/18 | Smarty Jones | Oaklawn Park | Mourinho | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/3/18 | Withers | Aqueduct | Avery Island | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/3/18 | Holy Bull | Gulfstream | Audible | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/3/18 | Robert B. Lewis | Santa Anita | Lombo | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/10/18 | Sam F. Davis | Tampa Bay Downs | Flameaway | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/17/18 | Risen Star | Fair Grounds | Bravazo | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 2/17/18 | El Camino Real Derby | Golden Gate | Paved | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/19/18 | Southwest | Oaklawn Park | My Boy Jack | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Kentucky Derby Championship Series
| Date | Race | Track | Winner | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 3/3/18 | Fountain of Youth | Gulfstream | Promises Fulfilled | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 3/10/18 | Gotham | Aqueduct | Enticed | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 3/10/18 | Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | Quip | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 3/10/18 | San Felipe | Santa Anita | Bolt d’Oro | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 3/17/18 | Rebel | Oaklawn | Magnum Moon | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 3/17/18 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | Blended Citizen | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 3/24/18 | Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | Noble Indy | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 3/25/18 | Sunland Derby | Sunland Park | Runaway Ghost | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| 3/31/18 | UAE Derby | Meydan | Mendelssohn | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 3/31/18 | Florida Derby | Gulfstream | Audible | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 4/7/18 | Wood Memorial | Aqueduct | Vino Rosso | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 4/7/18 | Blue Grass | Keeneland | Good Magic | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 4/7/18 | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita | Justify | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 4/14/18 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | Magnum Moon | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| 4/14/18 | Lexington | Keeneland | My Boy Jack | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
European Road To The Kentucky Derby
| Date | Race | Track | Winner | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 9/24/17 | Juddmonte Beresford | Nass (IRE) | Saxon Warrior | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 9/30/17 | Juddmonte Royal Lodge | Newmarket (GB) | Roaring Lion | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 10/1/17 | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | Chantilly (FR) | Happily (IRE) | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 10/28/17 | Racing Post Trophy | Doncaster (GB) | Saxon Warrior (JPN) | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 3/7/18 | Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes | Kempton Park (GB) | Gronkowski | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 3/9/18 | Patton (Listed) | Dundalk (IRE) | Mendelssohn | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 3/20/18 | Burradon | Newcastle (GB) | Gronkowski | 30 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
Japan Road To The Kentucky Derby
| Date | Race | Track | Winner | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 11/25/17 | Cattleya Sho | Tokyo | Ruggero | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 12/13/17 | Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | Kawasaki | Le Vent Se Leve | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2/19 /18 | Hyacinth | Tokyo | Sumahama | 30 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
