Alfred, Lord Tennyson once observed that “In the Spring, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love.” With all due respect to Lord Al, most men we know are thinking about the Kentucky Derby at this time of year.
Bettors will find plenty to love when the "greatest two minutes in sports" returns to historic Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6. For some, the all-day event offers a chance to make a fortune off the fastest three-year-old Thoroughbreds in the world, while for others it's simply an opportunity to rock a seersucker suit and get tipsy on mint juleps. Regardless of your approach, there really is no wrong way to derby.
Looking for even more adrenalin-fueled sports action? You're in luck! The beloved "Run for the Roses" is just one of dozens of must-see events from an action-packed month. Sports fans can also look forward to UFC 288 in Newark, the PGA Championship in Rochester, and the tip-off of a brand new WNBA season.
Stay on top of all upcoming games and tournaments with our freshly updated May sports calendar below.
NBA Conference Semifinals begin
May 1-2
Venues TBD
PGA Wells Fargo Championship
May 4-7
Quail Hollow Club (Charlotte, NC)
WNBA preseason begins
May 5
Various venues
Kentucky Derby
May 6
Churchill Downs (Louisville, KY)
UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo
May 6
Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)
Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder super middleweight title fight
May 6
Akron Stadium (Guadalajara, Mexico)
USFL Week 4
May 6-7
Ford Field (Detroit, MI) and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, OH)
NASCAR AdventHealth 400
May 7
Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, KS)
F1 Miami Grand Prix
May 7
Miami International Autodrome (Miami, FL)
PGA AT&T Byron Nelson
May 11-14)
TPC Craig Ranch (McKinney, TX)
LIV Golf Tulsa
May 12-14
Cedar Ridge Country Club (Broken Arrow, OK)
UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida
May 13
Spectrum Center (Charlotte, NC)
XFL Championship Game
May 13
Alamodome (San Antonio, TX)
USFL Week 5
May 13-14
Ford Field (Detroit, MI) and Protective Stadium (Birmingham, AL)
NASCAR Goodyear 400
May 14
Darlington Raceway (Darlington, SC)
NBA Conference Finals begin
May 16-17
Venues TBD
PGA Championship
May 18-21
Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester, NY)
WNBA season begins
May 19
Various venues
Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko lightweight title fight
May 20
MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
Junto Nakatani vs. Andrew Moloney WBO junior bantamweight title fight
May 20
MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor junior welterweight title fight
May 20
3Arena (Dublin, Ireland)
USFL Week 6
May 20-21
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, TN) and Ford Field (Detroit, MI)
NASCAR All-Star Race
May 21
North Wilkesboro Speedway (North Wilkesboro, NC)
F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
May 21
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola, Italy)
PGA Charles Schwab Challenge
May 25-28
Colonial Country Club (Fort Worth, TX)
LIV Golf DC
May 26-28
Trump National Golf Club (Washington, DC)
USFL Week 7
May 27-28
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, AL), Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, TN), and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, OH)
Indianapolis 500
May 28
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis, IN)
F1 Monaco Grand Prix
May 28
Circuit de Monaco (Monte Carlo, Monaco)
NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
May 28
Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord, NC)
French Open
May 28-June 11
Roland Garros (Paris, France)
