The Kentucky Derby turns 150 years old this year, extending its run as America’s longest continuously held sporting event.

Twenty horses stampeding 1 1/4 miles around Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May is considered 2 of the most exciting minutes in sports. There will be some 150,000 fans on hand, many of them in resplendent attire — the hats! — and others sipping on mint juleps and other drinks during the all-day party. It’s almost time for “Riders up!”

When is the Derby post time?

6:57 p.m. Eastern on Saturday.

What’s the forecast?

Saturday’s forecast is for a high around 79 degrees with a 40% chance of rain. The last sloppy track for the Derby was in 2019, when Country House was declared the winner after a 22-minute review by the stewards. Maximum Security crossed the line first, but was disqualified for interference. The Churchill dirt strip has been listed as fast the last four derbies.

How to watch

Coverage begins Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern with five hours of racing from Churchill Downs, capped by the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies (USA Network, streaming on Peacock).

Derby Day coverage on Saturday begins at noon with the undercard races on USA Network and Peacock. At 2:30 p.m., network coverage shifts to NBC. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream live coverage to subscribers.