Kentucky Derby TV Schedule: Complete Guide to Watching the Race

The 138th Run for the Roses takes place on Saturday, but the coverage of the 2012 Kentucky Derby has already begun. The best two minutes in sports isn't for another two days, but for those of you who can't wait, this is your guide to everything at Churchill Downs.

Bodemeister and Union Rags are the current favorites at 9-2 and 5-1 odds, respectively, according to SportBet.com. Gemologist, Dullahan, I'll Have Another and Creative Cause are all also worth keeping an eye on.

Other big names include Alpha and Take Charge Indy, who are both at 12-1, Hansen at 16-1 and El Padrino (one of my upset picks) at 20-1.

Horses to Watch

Bodemeister

The only reason Bodemeister is ranked so high is because he crushed his competition at the Arkansas Derby, winning by a ridiculous nine lengths over the next horse. Can he keep that up? Only time will tell.

Union Rags

Union Rags is one of the top picks to win this year's Derby. He stumbled at the Florida Derby, however, and finished third in a race he was supposed to run away with. That has his stock dropping, but he is definitely still in the mix for No. 1 in the power rankings.

Alpha

Alpha hasn't had a good start in what seems like a lifetime, but if he can get out of the gate quickly, he should win it all. That's how fast Alpha can be.

Take Charge Indy

Calvin Borel is riding him. Need I go on?

Potential Steals and Smart Moves for Your Money

I'll Have Another

His win over Creative Cause looks great, and it's tough to bet against him since then. His only bad finish was at Saratoga as a two-year-old on a sloppy track, but he has been consistently successful in every other race.

Creative Cause

Continuously improving, Creative Cause looks like he could shock the world at Churchill Downs, and I am high on him after his comeback at Norfolk.

Hansen

Getting the No. 14 post instead of the dreaded rail post has him riding high, and now that he can stalk, he has a chance for the upset.

TV Schedule for Thursday, May 3

8-10 a.m.	Derby Countdown Show	HRRN	Radio
12 noon	Churchill Downs Race Coverage	HRTV	TV
4-5 p.m.	Derby Classics	NBC Sports	TV
5-6 p.m.	Derby Access	NBC Sports	TV

TV Schedule for Friday, May 4

8-10 a.m.	Derby Countdown Show	HRRN	Radio
9:30 a.m.	Kentucky Oaks Day Coverage	HRTV	TV
3-6 p.m.	Kentucky Oaks & Undercard Stakes Race Coverage	HRRN	Radio
4-5 p.m.	Derby Classics	NBC Sports	TV
5-6 p.m.	Kentucky Oaks 138	NBC Sports	TV

TV Schedule for Saturday, May 5

9:30 a.m.	Kentucky Derby Day Coverage	HRTV	TV
11-4 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Undercard	NBC Sports Network	TV
2-4 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Undercard Stakes Coverage	HRRN	Radio
4-5 p.m.	Access at the Kentucky Derby/Red Carpet Special	NBC Sports	TV
5-7 p.m.	Kentucky Derby 138	NBC Sports	TV

Be sure to check out Bleacher Report for the most complete and entertaining coverage of the 138th Kentucky Derby.

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