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The iconic Kentucky Derby<\/a> and its storied home at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky.<\/a> are stepping into the limelight as the backdrop for Hallmark Channel<\/a>\u2019s upcoming original film “Kentucky Roses,”<\/a> premiering Saturday, May 2 \u2014 the same day the 2026 Kentucky Derby<\/a> thunders down the track.<\/p>\n The collaboration marries Louisville\u2019s 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\u2019s a natural match \u2014 real word excitement meets storytelling, and the result is a win worth betting on.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Churchill Downs, we cherish the tradition and enduring spirit that make the Kentucky Derby unlike any celebration in sports,\u201d said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. \u201cPartnering 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.\u201d<\/p>\n And in true Hallmark <\/a>fashion, the film doesn’t shy away from romance. “Kentucky Roses”<\/a> weaves a love story through a frantic race to repair the iconic twin spires after a damaging thunderstorm \u2014 all while a shortage of red roses threatens the creation of the famed Garland of Roses<\/a>, the blanket of red blooms draped over the Kentucky Derby champion.<\/p>\n 1<\/span> of 26<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kentucky Derby 152 contender Chief Wallabee during a morning workout at Churchill Downs. The horses enters the Kentucky Derby off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park. He currently ranks 17th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 50. April 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n More movie news: <\/strong>Louisville nursery plays role in Hallmark ‘Kentucky Roses’ movie<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Sadie, played with easy charm by Odette Annable<\/a>, is a florist working in the track’s historic greenhouse with a dream of crafting the Garland of Roses. Andrew Walker<\/a>, who plays Ash, the son of the Churchill Downs CEO, is thrust into a last\u2011minute scramble to repair the twin spires with the Kentucky Derby<\/a> just days away. While each character is consumed with their own high-stakes challenge, sparks inevitably fly.<\/p>\n And yes, it’s Hallmark, so viewers can guess where the heartstrings lead.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n ‘Kentucky Roses” which was filmed in Louisville for the Hallmark Channel stars Andrew Walker and Odette Annable.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Filming for “Kentucky Roses” took place in fall 2025, during the racetrack\u2019s quiet season, giving the production rare access to some of Churchill Downs<\/a>‘ most historic spaces.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were able to explore all of Churchill Downs in its glory,\u201d Annable said. \u201cIt felt iconic and special to be in the Winner’s Circle<\/a>, in Millionaires Row, on the backside with the horses \u2014 and having it all to ourselves was magic.\u201d<\/p>\n You may like: <\/strong>First time at the Kentucky Derby? 5 tips to do Derby like a local<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Prior to the production of “Kentucky Roses,” Walker<\/a> attended the 2025 Kentucky Derby<\/a> and witnessed firsthand the sheer scale of the crowds that pack Churchill Downs<\/a> 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.”<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one of the perks of being an actor \u2014 you get to step into places you\u2019d never experience otherwise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The film blends its fictional story line with real footage from past Kentucky Derbys<\/a>, including race moments and crowd scenes. Production unfolded across several locations within Churchill Downs<\/a> \u2014 from the Winner\u2019s Circle to the greenhouse, as well as a handful of spots around Louisville, including a local nursery, two private homes, and a speakeasy.<\/p>\n As Hallmark\u2019s<\/a> newest original film, \u201cKentucky Roses\u201d<\/a> marks a notable evolution in the network\u2019s strategy of pairing fictional romance with real\u2011world cultural touchstones. Hallmark has partnered with major brands before like the NFL<\/a> and more recently, Disney<\/a>, but this project pushes further. Rather than simply borrowing the Derby\u2019s mystique, the film embeds its story directly within the pageantry of one of America\u2019s most iconic sporting traditions. The production\u2019s authenticity runs so deep that Churchill Downs president Mike Anderson<\/a>, and several staff members, even step into the frame as extras.<\/p>\n Plus, Kentucky native and rising actress, Ally Ledford, also appears in the film as Gloria Green, a greenhouse worker.<\/p>\n Art and life will collide again on Derby Day, when Annable<\/a> and Walker<\/a> will attend the illustrious Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala on Friday, May 1 before appearing at the 2026 race<\/a> on May 2, the same day “Kentucky Roses”<\/a> debuts at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel<\/a>. Streaming on Hallmark+ begins the next day.<\/p>\n Walker, ever the Hallmark veteran, couldn\u2019t resist adding with a laugh, \u201cAnyone who says they don\u2019t like Hallmark movies is kidding themselves.”<\/p>\nA peek at the backside of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week<\/h2>\n