The iconic Kentucky Derby and its storied home at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky. are stepping into the limelight as the backdrop for Hallmark Channel’s upcoming original film “Kentucky Roses,” premiering Saturday, May 2 — the same day the 2026 Kentucky Derby thunders down the track.
The collaboration marries Louisville’s most celebrated landmark and event with a network that has spent 25 years cultivating a devoted audience for its feel-good films. For both brands, it’s a natural match — real word excitement meets storytelling, and the result is a win worth betting on.
“At Churchill Downs, we cherish the tradition and enduring spirit that make the Kentucky Derby unlike any celebration in sports,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “Partnering with Hallmark Media on ‘Kentucky Roses’ gives us a unique way to share that story with a wider audience. This collaboration brings to life the magic of Derby Day through storytelling that connects with fans of all ages.”
And in true Hallmark fashion, the film doesn’t shy away from romance. “Kentucky Roses” weaves a love story through a frantic race to repair the iconic twin spires after a damaging thunderstorm — all while a shortage of red roses threatens the creation of the famed Garland of Roses, the blanket of red blooms draped over the Kentucky Derby champion.
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Sadie, played with easy charm by Odette Annable, is a florist working in the track’s historic greenhouse with a dream of crafting the Garland of Roses. Andrew Walker, who plays Ash, the son of the Churchill Downs CEO, is thrust into a last‑minute scramble to repair the twin spires with the Kentucky Derby just days away. While each character is consumed with their own high-stakes challenge, sparks inevitably fly.
And yes, it’s Hallmark, so viewers can guess where the heartstrings lead.
“Hallmark is joy, it’s happiness, it’s escape and it’s family,” Walker, who has appeared in more than 30 Hallmark films, said during press briefing in mid-April. “It’s something we all appreciate and and a form of escapism for people that need it in their lives.”
‘Kentucky Roses” which was filmed in Louisville for the Hallmark Channel stars Andrew Walker and Odette Annable.
Filming for “Kentucky Roses” took place in fall 2025, during the racetrack’s quiet season, giving the production rare access to some of Churchill Downs‘ most historic spaces.
“We were able to explore all of Churchill Downs in its glory,” Annable said. “It felt iconic and special to be in the Winner’s Circle, in Millionaires Row, on the backside with the horses — and having it all to ourselves was magic.”
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Prior to the production of “Kentucky Roses,” Walker attended the 2025 Kentucky Derby and witnessed firsthand the sheer scale of the crowds that pack Churchill Downs on race day, which surpassed 147,000 that year. Returning to Louisville when filming took place in October 2025, he feels he was better able to appreciate the rare access the cast was granted while filming “Kentucky Roses.”
“That’s one of the perks of being an actor — you get to step into places you’d never experience otherwise,” he said.
The film blends its fictional story line with real footage from past Kentucky Derbys, including race moments and crowd scenes. Production unfolded across several locations within Churchill Downs — from the Winner’s Circle to the greenhouse, as well as a handful of spots around Louisville, including a local nursery, two private homes, and a speakeasy.
As Hallmark’s newest original film, “Kentucky Roses” marks a notable evolution in the network’s strategy of pairing fictional romance with real‑world cultural touchstones. Hallmark has partnered with major brands before like the NFL and more recently, Disney, but this project pushes further. Rather than simply borrowing the Derby’s mystique, the film embeds its story directly within the pageantry of one of America’s most iconic sporting traditions. The production’s authenticity runs so deep that Churchill Downs president Mike Anderson, and several staff members, even step into the frame as extras.
Plus, Kentucky native and rising actress, Ally Ledford, also appears in the film as Gloria Green, a greenhouse worker.
Art and life will collide again on Derby Day, when Annable and Walker will attend the illustrious Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala on Friday, May 1 before appearing at the 2026 race on May 2, the same day “Kentucky Roses” debuts at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel. Streaming on Hallmark+ begins the next day.
Walker, ever the Hallmark veteran, couldn’t resist adding with a laugh, “Anyone who says they don’t like Hallmark movies is kidding themselves.”
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Hallmark movie ‘Kentucky Roses’ filmed at Churchill Downs
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