PHOENIX — They call it the most exciting two minutes in sports and now, it is time once again for sports fans to turn their eyes on Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
The first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown is held annually on the first Saturday of May, which this year falls on May 4.
And to make sure you don't miss out on the action, here's a look at how you can watch the Kentucky Derby.
How to watch the Kentucky Derby
If you're going to watch the 150th Kentucky Derby at home, it will be broadcast on 12News with live coverage beginning at 11:30 a.m. Arizona time.
What time is the Kentucky Derby?
Post time for the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 3:57 p.m. Arizona time, the climax of more than 10 other races at the track.
You can stream the race on NBCSports.com and on Peacock, NBC's streaming service.
Kentucky Derby Watch Parties in the Valley
If you want to pull out your Sunday best and most flamboyant hat, then there are plenty of watch parties around the Valley for you to attend. Here's a look at some of them.
Turf Paradise Kentucky Derby Party
Turf Paradise, located at 1501 W Bell Road in Phoenix, will be hosting its annual Kentucky Derby party. There will be simulcasts of races from Churchill Downs all day long, along with live horse races, including the $60,000 guaranteed Hasta La Vista Handicap and the $60,000 Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity. General admission is $10 and gates open at 7 a.m.
Turf Paradise will also have its Clubhouse buffet open with breakfast being served from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the all-day buffet are $125 per person. For more information, click here.
Kentucky Derby Watch Party at the Arizona Biltmore
The Arizona Biltmore says fans can come dressed in their finest hats and most dapper attire to watch the Kentucky Derby. The watch party runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and there will be live music from the Diann Shumage Jazz Quartet. There will also be tastings for Blade and Bow Bourbon and contests for best hat and best dressed.
The event is only open to people who are at least 21 years old and reservations are required. For more information, click here.
The Arizona Biltmore is located at 2400 E Missouri Avenue in Phoenix.
Kentucky Derby Party at Bleachers Sports Grill
Bleachers Sports Grill, located at 15410 South Mountain Parkway in Ahwatukee, will have food and drink specials all day on Saturday, including having a mint julep on the menu, for the Kentucky Derby. Bleachers will open at 9 a.m. for race day.
For more information, click here.
Kentucky Derby Party at Grapes & Hops Wine Bar and Shop
Grapes & Hops Wine Bar and Shop, located at 4843 E Greenway Road in Scottsdale, will host a "day of roses, dresses, hats, drinks and horse races."
The shop will have live human races, games, photo props, along with frose and specials on many other drinks.
The party will begin at noon and there will live music from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, click here.
3rd Annual Young Professionals Who Care Kentucky Derby Watch Party
The Young Professionals Who Care organization will be hosting its third annual Kentucky Derby Watch Party on Saturday at Social Tap, located at 4312 N Brown Avenue in Scottsdale.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. and guests are asked to come dressed in their finest derby attire.
There will be food, games, a raffle and much more.
Tickets cost $35 with proceeds benefiting Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels. They can be purchased here. You must be 21 years old or older to attend.
5th Annual Kentucky Derby Party at the Phoenician
The Phoenician, located at 6000 E Camelback Road in Scottsdale, will be hosting its annual Kentucky Derby watch party starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The event will be taking place in the Mowry & Cotton Porch Dining Room.
Tickets for this event cost $165 and come with two mint juleps and a commemorative copper cup. There will also be Southern-inspired food, contests for Women's Best Hat, Gentlemen's Best Southern Style Attire and Best Couple's Attire.
If your ticket has the name of a horse that finishes as as the winner of the Kentucky Derby, a place horse (second place) or a show horse (third place), then you will also receive a winner's circle prize.
Bottles of Woodford Reserve bourbon will also be available for purchase and custom engraving will be available.
For more information, click here.
For more on what to expect on race day and the forecast for Churchill Downs, click here.
Who is favored to win the Kentucky Derby?
Fierceness, who is running out of post 17, is favored to win the Kentucky Derby with 5-2 odds, according to FanDuel. Sierra Leone, who is running out of post 2, has 3-1 odds, and Catching Freedom, running out post 4, has 8-1 odds.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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