A total of 19 horses ran in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Originally, there were 21 qualifying horses, but after two scratches (Rodriguez and Grande), the final field was 19 starters
. The Kentucky Derby field is typically limited to 20 starters, a rule in place since 1975, with up to four also-eligible horses in case of late withdrawals
. However, for 2025, the actual number of runners was 19 due to last-minute scratches
