DERBY FAST FACTS

It’s time once again for pricey mint juleps and off-key singing of “My Old Kentucky Home.”

The Kentucky Derby will be run today at Churchill Downs racetrack.

Veteran Kentucky Derby watchers say there does not appear to be a standout horse in this year’s field, but someone must win, and many people will make money on it.

Here’s what we know about this year’s Derby: Post time: Today, 6:34 p.m. TV: NBC, beginning at 2:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network coverage runs from noon to 2:30 p.m. Coverage will also be streamed on NBC Sports Live. Crowd: 150,000-plus. Last year’s announced figure of 167,227 was the second-most for race. Purse: $2,395,800, of which $1,635,800 will go to the winner.

FAVORITE

Classic Empire was last year’s 2-year-old champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner. Although he started this year with a loss, he won the Arkansas Derby last month to show he still seems to have it at age 3. Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia made him the 4-1 morning line favorite.

OTHER CONTENDERS

On the morning line, Always Dreaming and McCraken are cosecond favorites at 5-1. Always Dreaming won the Florida Derby comfortably in perhaps the outstanding race of the spring. McCraken was upset in the Blue Grass Stakes but had good form before that. The fourth favorite, Irish War Cry, a New Jersey-bred horse, won the Wood Memorial in a fast time.

LONG SHOTS

Gunnevera was third in the Florida Derby as the favorite. Thunder Snow has looked impressive racing in Dubai. Irap was the winner of the Blue Grass at 31-1. Gormley is the best of the California horses, who appear to be weaker than usual this year.

FORGET ABOUT IT

Sonneteer has raced 10 times in his career and still has not won.

DRAW

A field of 20 was drawn for the race Wednesday morning. Classic Empire drew post 14. Lookin at Lee drew the dreaded No. 1 post, just as his sire Lookin at Lucky did in 2010. Lookin at Lucky got pinned to the rail and finished sixth that day.

JOCKEYS

Javier Castellano, the champion jockey four times running, rides Gunnevera. Victor Espinoza, who won the Triple Crown aboard American Pharoah, rides Gormley.

TRAINERS

Last year’s winner with Nyquist, Doug O’Neill, trains Irap. The champion trainer Chad C. Brown trains a long shot, Practical Joke.

CELEBRITY CONNECTION

Former Olympic skier Bode Miller is a part owner of the long shot Fast and Accurate.

EQUINE INTEREST STORY

Patch, a lightly raced long shot entrant breaking from Post 20, has one eye. A few other oneeyed horses have run in the race over the years, including Pollard’s Vision in 2004 and Cassaleria in 1982.