How to watch the Kentucky Derby overseas
David
David has been watching TV outside of his home country for over 12 years. In addition to his streaming expertise, he has a wealth of experience in watching sports and documentaries, having spent many years following these genres. He is an avid fan of The Detectorists and Blue Planet, and also has a keen interest in English football.
It’s the biggest event in American horse-racing and it is nearly upon us again. Yes, the Kentucky Derby will take place in May and in this article, we are going to tell you exactly how to watch the ‘Run for the Roses’ no matter where in the world you are using a VPN.
Although the Kentucky Derby is a big deal in the US, it is not such a big deal elsewhere in the world and finding it on TV outside the USA can be a problem. But thanks to the wonders of the internet, and VPNs too, it is still possible to stream live and official coverage of the whole race from anywhere on the planet. Here’s how to do it:
How to watch the Kentucky Derby overseas
Are you desperate to watch the Kentucky Derby but kicking yourself that it clashes with that long-booked holiday or an unavoidable business trip? Don’t worry! You can still watch all of the race as well as the build-up no matter where you are going to be.
The Kentucky Derby is being broadcast in the USA on NBC, who hold exclusive rights to the coverage. They also hold the rights to some overseas broadcasts too, although they do share this with partner broadcasters in some countries.
But outside the USA, you are likely to need to have access to a cable TV service, which is not only expensive but also impractical if you are just in the country for a short time.
But fortunately, NBC also has a streaming service, NBC Sports Live Extra, which will be showing the whole race live on the internet. There is just one problem. For rights reasons, this service is only available in the USA and if you try to log in overseas, you will just get an error message.
Watch the Kentucky Derby Step-by-Step
This is where a VPN comes in. By connecting to a VPN, you can fool NBC into thinking you are in the USA even when you aren’t and so watch the Kentucky Derby as usual. It easy too. All you have to do is follow these simple instructions:
- Visit a VPN provider website such as ExpressVPN by clicking here and sign-up for their service by following the simple onscreen instructions. For NBC, we recommend ExpressVPN as the best VPN to choose.
- Go to the Products area of the ExpressVPN website and download the correct app for your device. They offer dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Android and Apple.
- Follow the simple onscreen instructions to download and install the app. Then open it and log in using the account details you created.
- Press Choose Location (1.), then select the United States (2.) and click the Connect (3.) button.
- Visit the NBC Sports Live Extra website or open the app on your smartphone or tablet and login to your NBC account.
- Now, you can find the Kentucky Derby stream and you are ready to watch the race.
Watch the Derby with ExpressVPN.
When is the Kentucky Derby on?
The Kentucky Derby takes place this year in May. It will begin at precisely 6.34pm Eastern Daylight Time.
Depending on where you are in the world, you will need to synchronize watches to ensure you don’t miss the race. It only lasts for two minutes, so make sure you are connected and prepared in advance because one slip could mean missing the whole race.
To help you work out your time difference, you should note that Eastern Daylight Time is GMT -4.
What’s the Kentucky Derby all about?
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest and most famous horse race on the US racing calendar. It is also commonly known as the “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” or “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” in reference to the length of time it usually lasts.
Another name commonly given to the race is “The Run for the Roses”, as the winner is always draped with a blanket of roses.
It has been run continuously every year since 1875 and is the first leg of America’s ‘triple crown’. To win the triple crown, a horse must taste victory here as well as at the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby is the final event in two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival, which takes place at Churchill Down’s racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
It is a Grade One, one and a quarter mile (2km) long race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. This year, the favourites include Justify (5/2), Magnum Moon (5/1), Good Magic (7/1), Mendelssohn (7/1), Bolt d’Oro (8/1) and Audible (8/1).
All stakes are accurate at the time of writing but liable to change. And don’t forget, stakes count for little in this huge horse racing event and every horse on the start line has a chance of glory.
Recap: How to watch the Kentucky Derby overseas
If this has whet your appetite for the big race, but you are going to be outside the USA, don’t worry. It’s easy to watch the Kentucky Derby from anywhere in the world thanks to a VPN.
Just sign up with a VPN provider (we recommend ExpressVPN) and then log into your Cable provider NBC account and you will be able to stream the whole race live from anywhere in the world.
