The Kentucky Derby is on May 4, 2024, and the contenders earn points in selected prep races across the country. Since the Derby field is limited to 20 entrants (with a maximum for 4 also-eligibles), there has to be a method for determining which of the many horses who want to enter can get in the race. In the past, graded stakes earnings were used to determine who will get in the field when entries are taken, but many people disliked this system since one good race as a 2-year-old could get a sub-par horse in over a more talented late bloomer. Since 2013, a new points system called the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" where a specific series of 36 prep races each worth a specific amount of points has decided which horses get in the Derby. A similar system is also in place for the Kentucky Oaks run on May 3, but fillies who want in the Derby will have to compete in with the colts for Derby points. While Derby points earned by fillies will also count toward the Oaks, Oaks points will not count towards the Derby.
Below is a list of horses in order of points earned for both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks as of April 14, 2024. Also included for comparison are their earnings in non-restricted stakes races which also serve as a tie-breaker. There are also a separate Japan Road to the Derby and European Road to the Derby which guarantee a spot to one horse from Japan and one horse from Europe, if they opt to come for the Kentucky Derby.
Results and schedule for the Road to the Derby races. Horses trained by Bob Baffert are not allowed to earn points as he has been banned from the Derby in 2024, however horses can be transferred to other trainers by the January 31 deadline and begin scoring points when racing under the new trainer's name, and can run in the Derby if they draw in with sufficient points. However unlike the last 2 years, none of Baffert's horses were transferred out by their owners.
The Kentucky Derby is on May 4, 2024, and the contenders earn points in selected prep races across the country. Since the Derby field is limited to 20 entrants (with a maximum for 4 also-eligibles), there has to be a method for determining which of the many horses who want to enter can get in the race. In the past, graded stakes earnings were used to determine who will get in the field when entries are taken, but many people disliked this system since one good race as a 2-year-old could get a sub-par horse in over a more talented late bloomer. Since 2013, a new points system called the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" where a specific series of 36 prep races each worth a specific amount of points has decided which horses get in the Derby. A similar system is also in place for the Kentucky Oaks run on May 3, but fillies who want in the Derby will have to compete in with the colts for Derby points. While Derby points earned by fillies will also count toward the Oaks, Oaks points will not count towards the Derby.
