The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2024 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 4. 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 (plus one in Dubai), the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the European road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland 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.

For 2024, there are several changes in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby, there were of 37 races, with 22 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 15 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season. In 2024, the following changes were introduced:

Second-place points in all qualifying races have been increased to create added separation from second and third-place finishers Third- and fourth-place points in races that award 100 points to winner have been decreased from 100-40-30-20-10 to 100-50-25-15-10 The Grade III Street Sense Stakes, held on October 29 at Churchill Downs was added to the Early Prep Season The Grade III Sham Stakes was included in the original list of events, but Santa Anita Park did not schedule the event in 2024 Santa Anita Park decreased the distance of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes from miles to one mile The El Camino Real Derby was removed from the Early Prep Season For the Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park, the qualification points were decreased from 50-20-15-10-5 to 20-10-6-4-2 and the distance of the event was decreased from to miles

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.

RankHorsePointsEarningsTrainerOwnerRef 1 Sierra Leone 155 $871,250 Chad C. Brown Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant 2 Fierceness 136 $1,646,100 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable 3 Catching Freedom 125 $802,000 Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables 4 Stronghold 125 $742,800 Philip D'Amato Eric M. & Sharon Waller 5 Resilience 110 $416,000 William I. Mott Emily Bushnell & Ric Waldman 6 100 $1,769,919 Yoshito Yahagi Susumu Fujita 7 Endlessly 100 $658,000 Michael McCarthy Amerman Racing bypassing Timberlake 81 $1,132,500 Brad H. Cox WinStar Farm & Siena Farm 8 Dornoch 75 $472,375 Danny Gargan West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing & Pine Racing Stables 9 Just a Touch 75 $247,500 Brad H. Cox Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing & Marc Detampel 10 Track Phantom 70 $300,000 Steven M. Asmussen L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy 11 West Saratoga 67 $363,640 Larry Demeritte Harry L. Veruchi 12 Just Steel 65 $628,295 D. Wayne Lukas BC Stables 13 Honor Marie 65 $448,455 Ribble Farms, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. & Daniel Fishbein 14 Domestic Product 60 $260,500 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 15 Catalytic 50 $186,000 Saffie Joseph Jr. Tami Bobo, Julie Davies & George G. Isaacs bypassing Deterministic 50 $180,000 Christophe Clement St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker & Vicarage Stable 16 Society Man 50 $141,875 Danny Gargan West Racing, Dean & Patti Reeves, Carl & Yurie Pascarella & GMP Stables 17 Mystik Dan 46 $550,050 Kenneth G. McPeek Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing & Daniel Hamby injured No More Time 45 $194,380 Jose D'Angelo Morplay Racing 18–scratched Encino 40 $323,880 Brad H. Cox Godolphin Racing 19 Grand Mo the First 40 $164,250 Victor Barboza Jr. Granpollo Stables bypassing Common Defense 37 $253,450 Kenneth G. McPeek David A. Bernsen, Michael & Tony Holmes & Norevale Farm 20 Japan$120,474Daisuke TakayanagiTomoya Ozasa 21 Epic Ride 35 $198,654 John Ennis Welch Racing bypassing Hades 30 $193,550 Joseph Orseno D. J. Stable & Robert Cotran bypassing Uncle Heavy 30 $167,500 Robert E. Reid Jr. Michael Milam bypassing El Grande O 30 $151,000 Linda Rice Barry K. Schwartz bypassing Seize the Grey 27 $113,163 D. Wayne Lukas MyRacehorse bypassing Le Dom Bro 25 $131,000 Eniel Cordero Vicente Stella Stables not nominated E J Won the Cup 25 $126,000 Doug F. O'Neill Superfecta King Stable bypassing Pandagate 25 $100,206 Christophe Clement Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable & On The Rise bypassing Tuscan Gold 25 $100,000 Chad C. Brown William H. Lawrence, Walmac Farm & Stonestreet Stables bypassing Protective 25 $75,000 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable injured Locked 19 $538,050 Todd A. Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Walmac Farm bypassing Liberal Arts 19 $262,825 Robert Medina Evan & Stephen Ferraro bypassing Curlin's Kaos 19 $64,400 Antonio Garcia Zephyr Racing & Alfred Pais bypassing Mc Vay 19 $48,500 John Shirreffs C R K Stable bypassing Informed Patriot 18 $225,140 Steven M. Asmussen J. Kirk Robison & Judy Robison bypassing Northern Flame 18 $143,800 Kenneth G. McPeek John C. Oxley, Harold Lerner & AWC Stables bypassing Lucky Jeremy 16 $124,200 William Morey Jeremy Ramsland bypassing Scatify 16 $42,000 John W. Sadler West Point Thoroughbreds bypassing The Wine Steward 15 $276,010 Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms & David Staudacher bypassing Mendelssohn Bay 15 $164,366 Bhupat Seemar Suited & Booted Racing Syndicate not nominated Frankie's Empire 15 $163,100 Michael Yates Frank DeLuca bypassing Lonesome Boy 15 $94,314 Hugo Padilla Pat Chinn & Mullan Chinn bypassing Triple Espresso 15 $76,600 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stables bypassing Conquest Warrior 15 $46,500 Courtlandt Farms 22 Mugatu 14 $30,107 Jeff Engler Average Joe Racing Stables & Dan Wells bypassing Nash 13 $164,000 Brad H. Cox Godolphin Racing injured Drum Roll Please 13 $112,500 Brad H. Cox Gold Square bypassing Agate Road 10 $214,750 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stables bypassing Otto the Conqueror 10 $207,500 Steven M. Asmussen Three Chimneys Farm bypassing Alotaluck 10 $180,360 Ty Garrett Eleanor Martin bypassing Dancing Groom 10 $88,902 Antonio Sano Eduardo Soto not nominated Woodcourt 10 $79,275 Cipriano Contreras Contreras Stable bypassing Maximus Meridius 10 $48,000 Robert Reid Jr. LC Racing, Cash is King & Robert Reid Jr. bypassing Navy Seal 10 $42,668 Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor bypassing Tapalo 10 $35,000 John W. Sadler Saratoga Glen Farm bypassing Real Macho 10 $30,000 Rohan Crichton Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters & Dennis Smith bypassing Good Money 10 $30,000 Chad C. Brown Calumet Farm not nominated Risk It 8 $83,838 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm bypassing Moonlight 7 $59,000 Todd A. Pletcher Town and Country Racing & Madaket Stables bypassing Lat Long 6 $36,500 Kenneth G. McPeek Walking L Thoroughbreds bypassing Lightline 6 $31,500 Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables not nominated Dilger (IRE) 6 $29,400 Saffie Joseph Jr. Michael J. Ryan bypassing Blue Eyed George 6 $27,740 Michael McCarthy BG Stables not nominated Glengarry 5 $332,025 Doug Anderson Aaron Kennedy, Toby Joseph & Doug Anderson not nominated General Partner 5 $140,000 Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables bypassing Real Men Violin 5 $82,050 Kenneth G. McPeek Tilted Shamrock Stables bypassing Dimatic 5 $78,750 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds bypassing Awesome Road 5 $60,008 Brad H. Cox Albaugh Family Stables bypassing Khanate 5 $28,000 Todd A. Pletcher Calumet Farm inactive Snead 5 $20,000 Brendan Walsh Imagine Racing & Margaret Fauber bypassing Capital Idea 5 $12,000 Christophe Clement Reeves Thoroughbred Racing bypassing Heartened 5 $10,500 Todd A. Pletcher St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable bypassing Inveigled 4 $72,250 Jane Cibelli Mark B. Grier bypassing Footprint 4 $63,600 Kenneth G. McPeek Greg McDonald bypassing Elysian Meadows 4 $32,500 William I. Mott Team Penney Racing bypassing Secret Chat 4 $27,120 Roderick Rodriguez Gelfenstein Farm bypassing Gettysburg Address 4 $26,200 Brad H. Cox WinStar Farm & Siena Farm bypassing Deposition 4 $22,500 Uriah St. Louis Uriah St. Louis injured Ethan Energy 4 $8,000 Brad H. Cox Stonestreet Stables not nominated Magic Grant 3 $134,250 Eddie Milligan Jr. Willis Horton Racing bypassing Be You 3 $66,500 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable not nominated Generous Tipper 3 $57,750 Kenneth G. McPeek Walking L Thoroughbreds inactive Stretch Ride 3 $39,025 Dale L. Romans West Point Thoroughbreds not nominated Gold Sweep 2 $149,300 Steven M. Asmussen Mike McCarty not nominated Raging Torrent 2 $80,000 Doug F. O'Neill Great Friends Stables & Mark Davis bypassing Fulmineo 2 $61,000 Arnaud Delacour Starlight Racing & Mark B. Grier not nominated Third Street 2 $25,380 Shawn H. Davis Shawn H. Davis & Bill Carnes inactive Regalo 2 $10,000 Brittany Russell Harry Papaleo bypassing Moonlit Sonata 2 $8,000 Tim Yakteen Soma Racing Stable inactive Ode to Balius 2 $6,160 Concepcion Torres Arnaldo Monge bypassing Tizzy Indy 2 $4,000 J. Keith Desormeaux Calumet Farm not nominated Sweet Soddy J 1 $165,250 Raymond Ginter Jr. Built Wright Stables euthanized Where's Chris 1 $110,500 Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Nice Guys Stable inactive Air Cav 1 $33,500 Brad H. Cox Calumet Farm not nominated Rothschild 1 $26,500 Tim Yakteen SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan & Tom Ryan not nominated My Buddy Mel 1 $24,000 Danny Pish Heider Racing Stables, Duffy's Racing Stable & Striking Stables not nominated Ace of Clubs 1 $19,500 Doug F. O'Neill RJ Racing, Fritz Brothers Racing, Pappas Horse Racing & Pablo A. Suarez inactive Edified 1 $16,797 Steven M. Asmussen Courtlandt Farms

Legend:

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)

RaceDistancePurseTrackDate1st2nd3rd4th5thRefIroquois1 mile$300,000Churchill DownsSep 16 2023 West Saratoga Risk It Liberal Arts Seize the GreyEdifiedChampagne1 mile$500,000AqueductOct 7 2023 Timberlake General Partner Dancing Groom Gold Sweep Air Cav American Pharoah miles$301,500Santa AnitaOct 7 2023 Muth Wine Me Up Be You Raging Torrent Rothschild Breeders' Futurity miles $580,750KeenelandOct 7 2023 Locked The Wine Steward Generous Tipper Northern Flame West SaratogaStreet Sense miles$199,000Churchill DownsOct 29 2023 Liberal Arts Moonlight Informed Patriot Gettysburg AddressNorthern FlameBreeders' Cup Juvenile miles$2,000,000Santa AnitaNov 3 2023 Fierceness Muth Locked Timberlake Prince of MonacoKentucky Jockey Club miles$400,000Churchill DownsNov 25 2023 Honor Marie Real Men Violin Stretch Ride Risk It Awesome Road Remsen miles$250,000AqueductDec 2 2023 Dornoch Sierra Leone Drum Roll Please Moonlight Where's ChrisSpringboard Mile1 mile$300,000RemingtonDec 15 2023Otto the ConquerorGlengarry Magic Grant Third Street My Buddy Mel Los Alamitos Futurity miles$200,000Los AlamitosDec 16 2023 Wynstock Stronghold Coach Prime Wine Me Up Ace of Clubs Gun Runner Stakes miles$98,000Fair GroundsDec 23 2023 Track Phantom Snead Nash Footprint Risk ItSmarty Jones1 mile$300,000OaklawnJan 1 2024 Catching Freedom Just Steel Informed Patriot Gettysburg Address Mystik Dan Jerome1 mile$145,500AqueductJan 6 2024 Drum Roll Please El Grande O Khanate Regalo Sweet Soddy J Sham1 mile$100,000Santa AnitaJan 7 2024Race not scheduled

Select prep events Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=10 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points