Coldest Kentucky Derbys in history: Where 2026 race ranks among chilliest events at Churchill Downs

Considering it’s annually held on the first weekend in May, the weather at the Kentucky Derby is typically favorable.

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Most years, the sun is shining with warm weather in Louisville, Kentucky, as some of the best three-year-old thoroughbred horses compete in «The Run for the Roses.» But sometimes, the event coming just after the April rain means it’s chillier than expected at the Kentucky Derby.

That’s expected to be the case in 2026, with cooler temperatures likely on the way at Churchill Downs.

Here’s a look at where the 2026 Kentucky Derby could rank among the coldest races at Churchill Downs.

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What is the coldest Kentucky Derby in history?

The coldest Kentucky Derby in history, according to the National Weather Service, had a low temperature of 36 degrees. That happened in both 1940 and 1957.

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The coldest-ever high temperature at Churchill Downs for Derby day was 47 degrees, which came in 1935 and 1957.

For the 2026 Kentucky Derby, temperatures aren’t expected to approach any of those historic levels. The NWS’ seven-day forecast for Louisville calls for partly-sunny conditions on Saturday with a high temperature of 60 degrees. Still, 60 degrees is a bit low for the area in early May; typically, temperatures will be in the mid-70s for the Kentucky Derby.

The last time a Kentucky Derby didn’t have a high temperature at 60 degrees or higher was 1989, when the high was just 51 degrees in Louisville, per the NWS.

MORE: All-time Kentucky Derby records

Coldest Kentucky Derbys in history

Here’s a look at the coldest high temperatures ever in Louisville on the day of Kentucky Derby, per the NWS.

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