Kentucky Derby 2018: Post Time, Post Positions and Full TV Coverage Info

Firenze Fire has been handed the unfortunate spot on the rail in the 2018 Kentucky Derby and will thus race from Post 1 on Saturday.

The spectacle at Churchill Downs in Louisville often hinges on the draw, and for the jockeys, the trap farthest to the left is far from desirable, as the rest of the 20-strong field jostle to get in position for the first corner.

Paco Lopez will have to produce a tremendous ride to steer Firenze Fire into a position to win on Saturday. Pre-race favourite Justify will begin in Post 7, while Mendelssohn and Audible, expected to be close rivals, will begin in No. 14 and No. 5, respectively.

Here is the draw for the 144th edition of the Derby, the television schedule for the big day and a preview of what to expect under the Twin Spires.

Kentucky Derby Draw

The race's Twitter account relayed the lineup for Saturday's Run for the Roses:

TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)

Date: Saturday, May 5

Post Time: 6:34 p.m. (ET) / 11:34 p.m. (BST)

Race Preview

Rob Carr/Getty Images

If the horse in Post 1 were to get away fast and stay in the lead, a run around the rail would be the shortest route to glory in the Kentucky Derby. However, the position on the inside has not been the most favourable down the years.

The last time a horse battled to victory from No. 1 was Ferdinand in 1986. Here's a reminder of his memorable triumph:

Two years later, Risen Star also produced a good performance to finish third from Post 1. But since then, only one horse from that trap has made it into the top three; Lookin at Lee was second 12 months ago.

Although running from the first slot can be daunting, statistically it's not the worst position to be in at the start of the race. Post 17 has never yielded a winner in the history of the event. Post 14 is another horses have struggled to thrive from, with the last victor from there being Carry Back in 1961.

In 2017, Always Dreaming capitalised on an excellent draw. Post 5 allowed him the chance to get into a good position early on without being put under too much pressure; the spot has produced 10 winners, more than any other. Audible will be hopeful that trend continues.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Of this year's runners, Justify is looking like the horse to beat regardless of post positions, as he was sensational in April's Santa Anita Derby. 

Not only did the Bob Baffert-trained colt beat Bolt d'Oro by three lengths, but he was hindered in that win too, as Thoroughbred Today editor Claudia Loreno noted:

As we can see here, courtesy of XBTV, he's looked in tremendous form in the buildup to the Derby:

Still, should the Apollo Curse hinder Justify—no horse that hasn't raced as a two-year old has won the Derby since 1882—as it has done so many three-year-old debutants down the years, then there is quality further back in the field that can capitalise.

While horses that have prepared for the Run for the Roses in Dubai haven't tended to fare well, it was difficult not to be impressed by Mendelssohn's debut on dirt in the UAE Derby at Meydan, as he romped to an 18 ½ length victory.

Meanwhile, Audible will hope history repeats itself on Saturday. He won the 2018 Florida Derby, and the past two champions in that event—Always Dreaming in 2017 and Nyquist in 2016—have gone on to win the first Triple Crown race of the year.