A pre-race tradition is the walkover, when the horses are led from the stables to the paddock where they are saddled for the race. Some are cool and calm, others get fractious and sweaty. They walk on the track along the rail with fans yelling all the way. The riders emerge from the jockeys’ room and walk to the paddock to meet their mounts.

Saturday’s field was set through the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a collection of races that paid points toward qualifying. Neoequos and Render Judgment are in the field because horses ahead of them were injured, including Florida Derby winner Tappan Street, or passed on the opportunity.

Bob Baffert is back at the Kentucky Derby for the first time in four years, having served his punishment for Medina Spirit’s failed drug test and coming to the place where he’s won a record-tying six times. He’s settled in at his old Barn 33, the signs boasting of his Churchill Downs triumphs again hanging on the outside wall.