Kentucky Derby: Race Time, Betting Odds, Favorites And How To Make A Mint Julep

LOUISVILLE, KY — For the 143rd time, horse racing fans will turn their gaze to Kentucky for what's called the most exciting two minutes in sports - the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby. And, as with every year, there are many questions - such as who is going to win and do you need to know how to make a mint julep?

The Race

Post time is 6:34 Eastern. The race — the first leg of the Triple Crown — is on NBC. It's not called the most exciting two minutes in sports for nothing. The most famous winner was probably Secretariat in 1973, though American Pharoah, who in the Triple Crown in 2015, was wildly popular.

The race was started by Meriwether Lewis Clark — the grandson of William Clark of Lewis and Clark explorer fame. Clark had been to the Epson Derby in England in 1872 and wanted the United States to have a similar event.

The first Derby was won by Aristides. There were about 10,000 people there.

The Horses

First, a look at the horses. After all, while some say the day will be about fancy hats and mint juleps, it's really about the horses.

Classic Empire had been seen as the favorite. He had a great 2016 as a 2-year-old, winning the Breeders Futurity and the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Then came the Holy Bull Stakes in February, a foot abscess and a third-place finish.

He staged a major comeback in the Arkansas Derby, securing his place as the favorite. But there are still some doubters.

So while he is still going in at 6-1, there are other horses worth watching.

A lot of the experts have Always Dreaming and Hence. Both are solid horses with a solid chance. Working against both of them is a little bit of history. Every winner since 1998 won their first races as 2-year-olds. Go back to 1950 and there have only been two horses that had not won first as 2-year-olds: Fusaichi Pegasus and Monarchos.

Both Always Dreaming and Hence came close but didn't make it to the winner's circle until this year.

Doesn't mean that they can't win, And Always Dreaming is the favorite at 4-1, but... While the favorite has won the last four times, they've only won 55 times out of 142.

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Then there's Irish War Cry, who beat Classic Empire in the Holy Bull. His history problem? He won the Wood Memorial, and only two horses that finished in the money at the Wood — Empire Maker and Funny Cide — did the same at the Derby.

Also, Irish War Cry is starting in the 17th position — a position from which no one has ever won the Derby.

Who else probably won't win based on history? Well, you might want to write off Irap, Practical Joke and McCracken, who finished 1-2-3 last month in the Blue Grass Stakes. No Stakes winner has won the Derby since 1991. The last horse to compete in the Stakes and win the Derby was Street Sense a decade ago.

You can also probably forget about Lookin at Lee, who is running from the first post position. Only two horses in more than 50 years starting on the rail have gone on to win: Chateaugay in 1963 and Ferdinand in 1986.

Then there's Gunnevera, who finished ahead of Classic Empire and behind Irish War Cry in the Holy Bull. Running from the 10th position at 9-1, Gunnevera is also running faster than he ever has.

So does that mean Classic Empire and Gunnevera are safe bets? Maybe. Maybe not. That's why they run the race.

As reporters, we here at Patch will be watching two horses in particular: Patch and Fast and Accurate.

The Mint Julep

Now, the mint julep. Some love it, some hate it. If you want to know what it's about, here's the recipe:

You need some mint leaves, one ounce of simple syrup and two ounces of bourbon or rye.

Put the mint in a cup and grab a muddler. If you don't have a muddler, use a wooden spoon. Press the mint against the sides of the cup. Gently. You're just releasing the oil from the leaves. Press too hard and you'll end up with a bitter taste. Add the simple syrup. Fill the cup with crushed ice and then add the bourbon or rye. Stir gently until the drink starts to forth a little. Add some mint as a garnish.

Drink.

What's Next

The second leg of The Triple Crown is The Preakness in two weeks at Pimlico in Maryland. That's followed by The Belmont Stakes in three weeks.

The Field And Odds As Of Friday Morning:

• 1- Lookin at Lee 25-1
• 2- Thunder Snow 18-1
• 3- Fast and Accurate 35-1
• 4 - Untrapped 79-1
• 5- Always Dreaming 4-1
• 6- State of Honor 64-1
• 7- Girvin - 18-1
• 8- Hence 15-1
• 9- Irap 41-1
• 10- Gunnevera 9-1
• 11- Battle of Midway 44-1
• 12- Sonneteer 37-1
• 13 - J Boys Echo 43-1
• 14- Classic Empire 6-1
• 15- McCracken 501
• 16- Tapwrit 37-1
• 17- Irish War Cry 6-1
• 18- Gormley 26-1
• 19- Practical Joke 32-1
• 20- Patch 16-1

Photo Andy Lyons/Getty Images News/Getty Images