Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Guides

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Where to watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby: How to live stream the horse race for free

By

The first Saturday in May is reserved for horse racing as the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby takes center stage. Known as “the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the 2023 Kentucky Derby will take place at its signature track, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 6. The race kicks off the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, with the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to occur in the coming weeks.

Twenty horses are set to compete in the Derby, which is dubbed “The Run for the Roses.” The favorite to win is Forte, who opened with 3-1 odds. The race is a gambler’s dream, as betters win over $150 million wagering on the Kentucky Derby each year. Even if you don’t like betting, the fast action provides an instant boost of serotonin.

Recommended Videos

The Kentucky Derby will have extensive TV coverage before, during, and after the big race. Find out where to watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby below!

Related

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby on NBC

Post Positions and Morning Line Odds for the Kentucky Derby pic.twitter.com/O6VZbjD5QV

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 1, 2023

The 2023 Kentucky Derby airs at 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 6, on NBC. Coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET and ends at 7:30 p.m. ET. Full coverage of the race and the day’s events can be streamed on NBC via NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Log in with your cable provider for access.

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby on NBC

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Peacock

Peacock plans on a TV.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you do not have cable, the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. The service recently crossed 20 million subscribers as it builds its library of movies and TV shows. NBC’s legacy shows, including The Office and Law & Order: SVU, Peacock originals like Poker Face and Mrs. Davis, and Universal’s movie library (including M3GAN and Cocaine Bear) are all streaming on Peacock. There are two paid tiers: Premium, priced at $5 per month with ads, and the ad-free Premium Plus, priced at $10 per month or $100 per year.

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Hulu with Live TV

Hulu app icon on Roku.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

If you want to access NBC without a cable subscription, try Hulu with Live TV, a top-of-the-line TV streaming service that offers broadcast channels like NBC. For $70 monthly, subscribers can gain access to Hulu (with ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (with ads), and ESPN+ (with ads). For $83 monthly, users will receive Hulu (no ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN+ (with ads). You’ll enjoy a variety of programs and movies on the three platforms, including The Bad Batch, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Dropout, and Peyton’s Places.

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Sling TV

Sling TV logo on Apple TV.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

If you own a Sling TV, then you can gain access to the Kentucky Derby. With monthly packages (Orange and Blue) ranging from $40 to $60, users can choose from a variety of channels to include in their subscriptions, including ESPN, TNT, ABC, CNN, and Fox.

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby live stream on YouTube TV

YouTube TV includes all of the basic networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC — without a cable subscription. Popular cable networks like CNN, Disney, ESPN, FX, FS1, MSNBC, and TBS are also available to watch on the service. New subscribers will only pay $63 for the first three months of YouTube TV before it increases to its normal rate of $73 per month. There is a free trial so uncertain subscribers can try out the service before committing to the full price.

Watch 2023 Kentucky Derby on YouTube TV

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby live stream on Fubo TV

FuboTV icon on Apple TV.
FuboTV / FuboTV

Subscribers of Fubo TV have access to over 100 live channels, including NBC. There are no contracts at sign-up and no hidden fees. Choose from four paid packages: Pro, $75 per month; Elite, $85 per month; Premiere, $95 per month; and a special Latino package for $33 per month. Users can check out a variety of news and entertainment channels, including ESPN, MTV, HGTV, MSNBC, FX, USA, and Comedy Central. Sign up for a free trial and see if Fubo TV is the right service for you.

Watch the 2023 Kentucky Derby live stream from abroad with a VPN

NordVPN running on a MacBook Pro.
NordVPN

If you are abroad, then you don’t have to miss out on the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Use a VPN, or virtual private network, to stream the illustrious horse race. A service like NordVPN will make streaming the Derby a lot easier. Nord VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users, so there’s no penalty to try it.

Editors' Recommendations

Dan Girolamo
Dan Girolamo
Entertainment Writer
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers live stream: how to watch the NBA online
Joel Embiid walks off the basketball court.

On the final day of the NBA regular season, Eastern Conference rivals will square up as the Brooklyn Nets head south to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. The game starts at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Sunday, April 14. The 76ers will host the game inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The Nets season ends today after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs. It will be a long offseason in Brooklyn, as the organization needs to decide if it wants to sell off players for draft assets and start a rebuild. Philadelphia, however, will get at least one more week of games in the postseason, whether in the Play-In Tournament or first round. With a healthy Joel Embiid, the 76ers are one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference.

Read more
March Madness 2024 live stream: Where to watch the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament
Logo of the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

After a riveting Sweet 16, only eight teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The Elite Eight determines the winner of each region and, more importantly, punches a ticket to the Final Four next weekend in Phoenix. For some of these teams, making the Final Four would represent a landmark moment for their universities. 

Can anyone stop No. 1 UConn? The defending national champions looked unstoppable in their 82-52 Sweet 16 victory over No. 4 San Diego State. The Huskies have now won their last nine NCAA Tournament games by an average of 22.9 points per game. Another intriguing matchup pits No. 4 Alabama against No. 6 Clemson. These football schools are trying to prove that their basketball teams belong among the elite. The winner of the game will reach the Final Four for the first time in their program's history.
Watch the Elite Eight live stream on CBS, TBS, and TruTV
https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1773536566138253762

Read more
March Madness 2024 live stream: Where to watch the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament
Logo for the Sweet 16 in March Madness.

After the first weekend of competition, 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. Despite some first-round upsets, the favorites dominated in the second round, with all four No. 1 and No. 2 seeds advancing to the Sweet 16. The only double-digit seed remaining is No. 11 NC State.

The best matchup on Thursday night features No. 1 North Carolina taking on No. 4 Alabama. It's a matchup of differing styles, with North Carolina living in the paint and Alabama setting up shop behind the arc. Friday night's best game is No. 1 Houston facing off against No. 4 Duke. The Cougars escaped the Round of 32 with a 100-95 overtime victory over No. 9 Texas A&M. Meanwhile, Duke didn't break a sweat in their 93-55 win over No. 12 James Madison.
Watch the Sweet 16 live stream on CBS, TBS, and TruTV
https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1772081898560376991

Read more