The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 2. The field for the Derby was limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There were three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America, the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the Euro/MidEast road consisting of ten races in England, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and France. The top five finishers in the specified races received points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races acted as a tie breaker.
Standings
The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series. Entrants that have been nominated are ranked in the standings. Legend: --> ==Prep season==
Prep season
Initial prep events ''Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points)'' Select prep events Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points == Championship series events==
Championship series events
First leg of series Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=25 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points Second leg of series These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily. Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points with the exception of the Lexington Stakes; 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points ==Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby==
Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby
The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby is designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top two finishers in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby. The series consists of ten races – In Europe four events run on the turf in late 2025 when the horses are age two, plus two races run on a synthetic surface in early 2026. The last four events are in the Middle East including the Group 2 UAE Derby. Note: • the four races in 2025 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point • the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes, Patton Stakes, UAE Two Thousand Guineas, Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points • the Saudi Derby: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points • the UAE Derby: 1st=100 points; 2nd=50 points; 3rd=25 points; 4th=15 points; 5th=10 points ƒ Filly ;Qualification Table The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the two horses that can be nominated. Legend: --> == Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby ==
Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby
The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on through the top five finishers. Note: ƒ Filly Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=5 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=15 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points Fukuyru: 1st=40 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=12 points; 4th=8 points; 5th=4 points ;Qualification Table The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated. Legend: --> ==Notes==