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Road to the Roses
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The Road to the Roses is recognized with the Kentucky Derby title as the most sought-after prize in horse racing. It inspires thousands of horse owners, trainers, and jockeys.
But every year, on that first Saturday in May at the historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, only 20 thoroughbreds will have earned the right to compete.
Before 2013, derby contenders became eligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby if they earned enough prize money during key Graded Stakes races on the Road to the Roses.
Now, there is a points-based system where the points get higher during the prep races peaking with the Championship Series in the week prior to the Kentucky Derby on the long Road to the Roses.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday, May 2, 2026 and is held at the most iconic and beautiful racetrack Churchill Downs, located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
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2026 Kentucky Derby Prep Races – Road to the Roses
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The Kentucky Derby Odds are live. Time to place your bet now!
| Date | Race | Track | Road | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2025 | Iroquois Stakes | Churchill Downs | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Sep 27, 2025 | Beresford Stakes | Curragh | EU / Middle East Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Sep 27, 2025 | The Royal Lodge Stakes | Newmarket | EU / Middle East Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 4, 2025 | Champagne Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 4, 2025 | Breeders’ Futurity | Keeneland Racecourse | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 4, 2025 | American Pharoah | Santa Anita Park | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 5, 2025 | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | ParisLongchamp | EU / Middle East Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Futurity Trophy Stakes | Doncaster | EU / Middle East Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Street Sense Stakes | Churchill Downs | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct 31, 2025 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | Del Mar | US Road | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | Kentucky Jockey Club | Churchill Downs | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | Cattleya Stakes | Tokyo Racecourse | Japan Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Remsen Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Los Alamitos Futurity | Los Alamitos Race Course | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec 17, 2025 | Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | Kawasaki Racecourse | Japan Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Dec 20, 2025 | Gun Runner Stakes | Fair Grounds Race Course | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec 20, 2025 | Remington Springboard Mile | Remington Park | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Jerome Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Smarty Jones Stakes | Oaklawn Park | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan 17, 2026 | Lecomte Stakes | Fair Grounds Race Course | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan 23, 2026 | UAE 2000 Guineas | Meydan Racecourse | EU / Middle East Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan 31, 2026 | Holy Bull Stakes | Gulfstream Park | US Road | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Withers Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Southwest Stakes | Oaklawn Park | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 7, 2026 | Robert B. Lewis Stakes | Santa Anita Park | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 7, 2026 | Sam F. Davis Stakes | Tampa Bay Downs | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Risen Star Stakes | Fair Grounds Race Course | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Saudi Derby | King Abdulaziz Racecourse | EU / Middle East Road | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Feb 15, 2026 | Sunland Derby | Sunland Park Racetrack | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes | Meydan Racecourse | EU / Middle East Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 21, 2026 | John Battaglia Memorial | Turfway Park | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Hyacinth Stakes | Tokyo Racecourse | Japan Road | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Feb 25, 2026 | Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes | Kempton Park | EU / Middle East Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | Gotham Stakes | Aqueduct Racetrack | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | Fountain of Youth Stakes | Gulfstream Park | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | San Felipe Stakes | Santa Anita Park | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar 1, 2026 | Rebel Stakes | Oaklawn Park | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Patton Stakes | Dundalk | EU / Middle East Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar 14, 2026 | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | US Road | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar 21, 2026 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar 21, 2026 | Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds Race Course | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar 28, 2026 | Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar 28, 2026 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar 28, 2026 | Fukuryu Stakes | Nakayama Racecourse | Japan Road | 40-20-12-8-4 |
| Mar 28, 2026 | UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse | EU / Middle East Road | 100-60-30-15-10 |
| Apr 4, 2026 | Wood Memorial | Aqueduct Racetrack | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr 4, 2026 | Blue Grass | Keeneland Racecourse | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr 4, 2026 | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | US Road | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr 11, 2026 | Lexington Stakes | Keeneland Racecourse | US Road | 20-10-6-4-2 |
The Origin of the Road to the Roses
In the winner’s circle, the top horse is presented with a beautiful garland made of more than 400 red roses. In 1904 the red rose was adopted as the official flower of the Kentucky Derby, hence the Run to the Roses!
It was New York sports columnist Bill Corum, who dubbed the Kentucky Derby the “Run for the Roses,” in 1925. The tradition of the rose is so strong that some owners have even had the flower dipped in silver to preserve it. In fact, a silver-dipped flower from the garland of the 1982 winner, Gato del Sol, is on display in the Kentucky Derby Museum, at Churchill Downs.
Garland of Roses
The rose garland is now synonymous with the Kentucky Derby. The first appearance of the rose in the winner’s circle was in 1896 when Ben Brush received a floral arrangement of white and pink roses. Today, the Governor of Kentucky and other dignitaries present the garland and the trophy in the winner’s circle at the completion of the Derby. There’s even a song called “Run for the Roses” composed by Dan Fogelberg which was released in time for the 1982 running of the roses.
In 1987, the Kroger Company became the official florist of the Kentucky Derby and it created the garland in the aisles of one of its stores on the eve of the Derby. It’s typically a scene of long lines where race fans try to catch a peek at the Derby winner’s garland of roses. Not your typical trip to the grocery store with winning jockeys signing autographs in the back of the store!
The roses are stitched one by one by hand to a green silk backing with the seal of the Commonwealth and Twin Spires on one side and that year’s running of the roses on the other. There is a single rose pointing upward which is said to “symbolize the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner’s Circle.” It’s a meticulous process and very labor intensive. The roses are shipped in significantly, cut to size then stored in upright vials for the assembly team to get to work, some of whom have been participating in this tradition for more than the 27 years that it’s been Kroger’s job to create work of art.
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