At Churchill Downs on May 1, the 147th running of the historic Kentucky Derby will take place.
Kentucky Derby betting tips. By the time the Derby rolls around, there will be a couple of.
This is your Kentucky Derby reference page, examining the history, New York horse betting options, the road to the Derby and handicapping variables for the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.
Make sure you bet on the Kentucky Derby. That's because betting on the Kentucky Derby is a great way to get a good return on investment. Here, are the best online horse racing betting sites, based on research: Bovada Intertops BetOnline MyBookie SportsBetting.ag So how do you place bets online? Sign up, or log into your favorite site; Select the race you wish to bet on; Place your bet. 2021 Kentucky Derby Odds at BetUS Racebook Get the best odds to win the Kentucky Derby. Bet Kentucky Derby Futures & Prop Bets.
The Kentucky Derby, dating back to 1875, assembles 20 of the nation’s top 3-year-old thoroughbreds. It’s also called The Run for the Roses as a nod to the garland of 554 red roses draped over the winner.
This event is the first jewel in racing’s Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes (May 15) and the Belmont Stakes (June 5).
The Derby is thoroughbred racing’s signature showcase, although its $3 million purse has been eclipsed by some Breeders’ Cup races in the fall. This event has brought the sport a rich national and international audience.
Pre-COVID-19, the Derby routinely packed more than 150,000 fans into Churchill Downs. The all-time record was more than 170,000 in 2015. Those days will return at some point.
In the meantime, the proliferation of mobile betting and media attention keeps the Derby in the limelight.
Best Kentucky Derby betting app in New York
On Deposit
Use Promo Code LSRTVG
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby in NY
COVID-19 regulations will determine whether New York tracks will allow spectators. If they do, residents can wager at those facilities on Derby Day. They include:
Facility | Address | City |
---|---|---|
Aqueduct | 11000 Rockaway Blvd | Ozone Park |
Belmont Park | 2150 Hempstead Turnpike | Elmont |
Buffalo Raceway | 5600 McKinley Parkway | Hamburg |
Finger Lakes | 5857 NY-96 | Farmington |
Monticello Raceway | 204 NY 17 B | Monticello |
Saratoga Race Course | 267 Union Ave | Saratoga Springs |
Tioga Downs | 2834 W. River Rd | Nichols |
Vernon Downs | 4229 Stuhlman Rd | Vernon |
Yonkers Raceway | 810 Yonkers Ave | Yonkers |
There’s also the border consideration for New Yorkers living close to New Jersey. Many bettors cross state lines, wager in the Garden State and return home. Some have made the trip on bicycles.
Another option is the TVG horse betting app.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby via TVG
The TVG app offers several features.
Tap “Live” and you can stream both the TVG Networks in HD, handicap and bet all on the same screen. Tap the track and race number to navigate upcoming races on the applicable network.
Other aspects include a complete redesign to put upcoming races and results in one spot. You can now filter by breed or region. Plus, get to the race you want faster with the “Up Next” slider and improved favorite tracks prominence.
On a race page, use the arrows to toggle between races or tap the drop-down, which gives you race condition info. In My Bets, tap the track to go back to the track that wager is on.
A highly functioning app enriches the tracks by enticing players and helps gamblers avoid the frustration of long betting lines that result in the occasional shutout at a live facility.
In many ways, TVG has earned the right to call itself the home of horse racing in the US. Active since 1999 and now the leading online horse betting site in the country, TVG is as regal as the sport of kings itself. Part of the FanDuel Group, which, in turn, is part of the mighty Flutter Entertainment, TVG is reputable and safe.
2021 Kentucky Derby odds and betting favorites
Derby prep races in March and April provide excellent betting insight.
They will determine whether early contenders like Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie pan out. Essential Quality won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year, while Hot Rod Charlie was a strong second.
Highly Motivated, Life is Good and Brooklyn Strong also attracted interest during the winter season.
Will they be there on Derby Day? Or will others emerge? The prep races will reveal that.
What are the Derby preps?
The Kentucky Derby has several tiers of qualifying races, with points, to determine the 20-horse field. The following events have the most value, with 100 qualifying points to the winners and 40 points for second place.
Race | Date | Track | Purse |
---|---|---|---|
Louisiana Derby | March 20 | Fair Grounds Race Course | $1 million |
Florida Derby | March 27 | Gulfstream Park | $1 million |
UAE Derby | March 27 | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | $2.5 million |
The Blue Grass | April 1 | Keeneland | $1 million |
The Santa Anita Derby | April 3 | Santa Anita Park | $750,000 |
The Wood Memorial | April 3 | Aqueduct | $750,000 |
The Arkansas Derby | April 10 | Oaklawn | $1 million |
Of the last 10 Kentucky Derby winners, nine have finished first or second in one of the prep races. These events have become an excellent reference for sizing up the Kentucky Derby field.
After observing the prep races and picking a Derby horse, what are the betting options?
Common Kentucky Derby bet types
There are a number of common bets when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.
- Win: As it sounds, select the top horse. Odds are reasonable for any winner in this race, given the top competition. The minimum bet is usually $2.
- Place: Choose a horse to finish second or higher. This will pay less than the win bet, but it provides a payout in the first and second slots.
- Show: Bet on a horse to finish third or higher. This pays lower than win or place, but it pays out if your horse finishes first, second or third.
- Exactas: Select the order of the top two finishers. It’s always good to box them. You’d hate to have the right two horses in the wrong order, especially in the Derby, with a 20-horse field.
- Trifectas: Pick the top three finishers in order. Wagered via straight bet, this type of bet is a box of three or more horses, or a partial wheel.
- The Box: A $1 trifecta box with three horses costs $6. Any combination of these three horses in the top three positions becomes a winning ticket.
- The Key: For the same $6, bettors can place a horse in the first spot, followed by three others in the second and third slots. For example, a $1 trifecta key with the “1” over the “2-3-4” means the 1 horse must win and any combo of the 2-3-4 in the next two slots is a winning ticket. For $12, you can take that 1 horse in the first AND second position with the other three horses.
- Superfecta: Pick the top four horses in the correct order. Same combinations as can be used for trifectas. The superfecta is often lucrative, but extremely hard to hit. The $1 Derby superfecta last year paid $7,925.80.
Other bets include Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6. These involve bettors picking the winner in three, four, five and six straight races, respectively. If you make only one selection for each race, these bets can be entered for small amounts, such as $0.50 or $2.
Seasoned players will try to expand the ticket, taking multiple entries in most of the races. The key to this strategy is finding at least one race to have a “single.” That means you make just one selection in that race.
How to handicap the Derby
Combine the recent history of the race structure and modern technology. This has resulted in favorites usually winning the Derby or running very well.
A few years back, racing officials began disregarding sprint races in the qualifiers. That means Derby horses have to prove themselves at a distance.
For the Derby, this format eliminates the “speed” horses who set a blistering early pace and occasionally drew other horses into what’s known as a “speed duel.” This weakened the frontrunners and set up other horses, usually longshots, to rally from far back and win down the stretch. No more.
Now, the eventual race winner is usually close to the lead early on, and times are slower than in the past. Favorites now run well in the Derby. Recent winners (and pre-race odds) include:
- 2014: California Chrome (5-2)
- 2015: American Pharoah (5-2)
- 2016: Nyquist (2-1)
- 2017: Always Dreaming (9-2)
- 2018: Justify (5-2)
- 2019: Maximum Security (9-2); Country House (65-1) was later awarded the victory
- 2020: Tiz the Law (3-5) was nipped in a thrilling stretch duel with Authentic (8-1)
Handicapping tips
First off, respect recent history. The Florida Derby has been on a roll regarding Kentucky Derby winners. Consider that three of the last five Florida Derby champions went on to capture the Derby.
There is no acknowledged reason for Florida Derby horses converting so well to Kentucky Derby form. One possible explanation, however, is the five-week time between races, which may be ideal for some horses. In any case, this is a worthy handicapping variable.
Second, watch the prep races. You don’t even have to do this live. Simply watch a replay on YouTube. You want to evaluate the running style of the winning horse. Was he near the lead early or did he move late? Did he have an easy trip around the track or did he have to weave through a wall of horses to get top position? There is no prep race that exactly matches the 1¼-mile Kentucky Derby. It may be asking a lot from a horse that was fading at the end of a 1 1/8-mile race to improve at a longer distance.
Next, obtain a daily racing form, usually available online. This details a horse’s full history and may reveal matchups against other Derby participants.
Watching the early races on Derby day could also pay dividends. How is Churchill Downs playing that day? Are the frontrunners winning or are the winners coming from off the pace? Is there an edge on the inside, the middle or the outside of the track?
Beware the conditions. If there is a sudden downpour or rain throughout the day, all handicapping angles may become moot. Check the weather throughout the week.
Kentucky Derby Betting Board
![Kentucky derby betting online Kentucky derby betting online](/uploads/1/3/7/8/137835245/256617898.jpg)
Lastly, don’t put everything on one horse. The Derby is famous for horses being trapped in logjams and never finding racing room. Have a backup ticket in case your favorite horse gets what’s known in the industry as a “bad trip.”
Kentucky Derby highlights
Legendary Secretariat set the Derby record in 1973 with a time of 1:59.40. Secretariat had the all-time Triple Crown run in 1973, establishing records in the Derby, the Preakness (1:53) and Belmont Stakes (2:24) that still stand nearly 50 years later.
The biggest Kentucky Derby longshot win came in 1913, when Donerail paid out at 91-1 odds.
The highest attendance ever was in 2015, with 170,513 people.
Thirteen horses have gone on from the Kentucky Derby to win the Triple Crown. They are:
Horse (Year) |
---|
Sir Barton (1919) |
Gallant Fox (1930) |
Omaha (1935) |
War Admiral (1937) |
Whirlaway (1941) |
Count Fleet (1943) |
Assault (1946) |
Citation (1948) |
Secretariat (1973) |
Seattle Slew (1977) |
Affirmed (1978) |
American Pharoah (2015) |
Justify (2018) |
The last two Triple Crown champions have been led by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He is tied with Ben Jones for most Derby wins (six) and will likely have horses entered again this year.
The 146th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be unlike any that came before it. Why? Because it will be held during a global pandemic. With that being said, the world’s most famous horse race is set for Saturday, September 5, 2020.
You may be an annual Kentucky Derby bettor or just someone who likes Mint Juleps. But if you’re planning on watching “The Run for the Roses,” or throwing a party, PlayUSA has some ideas to help make it memorable, safe, and perhaps, even profitable during COVID-19.
The Kentucky Derby has run consecutively each year since 1875 at the world-famous Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville,Kentucky. Like the Masters golf tournament, it is an event heavily steeped in the traditions of a largely bygone era.
Derby parties–thrown at homes (à la the Oscars), restaurants and bars–are a common staple of the annual event. Signature Derby dress, food, and beverages are preordained through decades of repetition and reverence.
The 2020 Kentucky Derby field
The Kentucky Derby is, above all things, a horse race. But as mentioned, this year’s race will be different. Millions of people will be betting on the race, but zero will be in attendance.
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, Churchill Downs has decided to run the race without fans.
CDI issued the following statement:
“The health and safety of our team, fans, and participants is our highest concern. Churchill Downs has worked diligently over the last several months to plan a safe Derby with a limited number of spectators in attendance. We were confident in that plan, but dedicated to remaining flexible using the best and most reliable information available. With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our planning. We have made the difficult decision to hold this year’s Kentucky Derby on September 5 without fans.”
Guide To Betting Kentucky Derby Betting
You can view the full statement here.
The decision was met with support from Gov. Andy Besher who said he applauds Churchill Downs for continuing to monitor the virus and for making the right and responsible decision.
“I am asking all Kentuckians to take action to stop the spread of the virus so we can get back to the many traditions we enjoy, like the Kentucky Derby,” Besher said.
Last year’s race ended in controversy when Maximum Security (10:1) was disqualified for interference, the first on-track disqualification in history.
Eventual winner, Country House (65-1), was not even on the radar.
The Run for the Roses may lack the fan experience of all previous years, but it will not diminish the achievements for all involved. Tiz the law comes it at the favorite but it’s been a couple of years since the favorite walked away as the winner.
Based on the name alone, Art Collector sounds like a great name for a winning thoroughbred.
Here are the top nine horses in terms of odds right now:
- Tiz the law 4:5
- Art Collector 6:1
- Honor A.P. 7:1
- Authentic 8:1
- Thousand Words 20:1
- King Guillermo 25:1
- NY Traffic 25:1
- Caracaro 28:1
- Dr. Post 30:1
The rest of the field is set at odds 25:1 or longer. The horse with the longest odds is Necker Island (200:1).
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby
There are several different ways to put a bet on the Kentucky Derby. First of all, residents in 32 states have the ability to place horse racing wagers through their mobile devices.
Companies that serve these states can vary. However, if possible, you should try to stick to one of these three sites to bet:
- BetAmerica
- Twin Spires
Both TVG and BetAmerica appear to be legal in all 32 states and are some of the best horse racing sites out there. Twin Spires (where available) maybe the most appropriate to bet the Derby since it is the online arm of Churchill Downs itself.
Kentucky Derby Betting Online
If you happen to reside in a state without online betting, or you prefer a live experience, it is possible to bet the Kentucky Derby from many horse tracks around the country. Many locations are simulcast facilities, and their tellers are perfectly capable of accepting wagers on the Run for the Roses.
Off-track betting facilities can also assist anyone who would like to bet on the Derby. The availability of these facilities varies on a state-by-state basis.
On Deposit
Use Promo Code LSRTVG
How to throw a Kentucky Derby Party during a pandemic
Invitations
In a traditional year, Kentucky Derby party invitations would be of high-quality stock, and, preferably not electronic if you want to stick with the nostalgic motif. While you can still take this route, invitations during a pandemic could easily be sent electronically.
You can still set a time for the party that will allow for plenty of pre-race celebration. Early afternoon is ideal. In keeping with tradition, just because the party is virtual doesn’t mean you have to skip dressing up.
Dress code
People dress for the Kentucky Derby as a sort of throwback to a more genteel time in the cultural South. So, proper attire requires a mixture of both formality and gaudiness.
The crown jewel, literally, of Kentucky Derby wear is the hat. A Kentucky Derby hat tends to be a wide-brimmed affair with some sort of over-the-top accessory adorning the band. Straw hats with bows or ribbon or fascinators work well.
Women typically wear these hats along with colorful patterned, ruffled or gingham dresses, or other floral garments. Men will usually wear suits, but some degree of gauche, preppy design is usually desirable (think seersucker, bowties, pastels, linen, bowler hats.) It’s definitely a time to be loud, bold, and over-the-top. In other words, foul fashion-wearing poker player John Hesp would feel right at home at the Derby.
Guide To Betting Kentucky Derby Odds
Social distancing party or virtual party
If you’re playing it safe and opting to host your Kentucky Derby party online, you can do so via the many video conference apps out there.
- Zoom
- Skype
- FaceTime
Should you opt to have a few people in attendance be sure to follow they are either in your usual “pod” or stay at the recommended 6-foot social distancing guidelines courtesy of the CDC. To add another layer of virus protection, wear a mask for your event and have guests wear masks too. If you all want to give a nod to the Derby’s famed over-the-top style, wear a mask — but make it fashion.
Food and beverage
Guide To Betting Kentucky Derby Horse Racing
The Kentucky Derby may be the only sporting event with a well-known official beverage. The Mint Julep has been a staple at the race for decades, so having a Derby party without serving them/or drinking one, would be a cardinal sin.
For those who don’t know, a mint julep is a unique concoction of bourbon, mint, water, and sugar. Woodford Reserve bourbon is the official whiskey of the Derby, but any good bourbon will do. For that matter, bourbon is pretty good as-is. The recipe is also easy to make, and if you want to get extra fancy, serve them in official silver Julep cups.
For food, you can’t go wrong with the authentic Kentucky dish called hot brown. Basically, a hot brown is an open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich covered in Mornay sauce or cheese. It was invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, hence the name.
For dessert, naturally, serve derby pie. Derby pie is a chocolate and walnut tart that is so famous, people go to court over its naming rights.
Failing all of the above, you can use dishes served on the grounds of Churchill Downs. The racetrack itself publishes the recipes for all different types of food cooked for guests there.
Guide To Betting Kentucky Derby Entries
Above all else, the Derby is a time to have fun, even during a global pandemic. Dress up, get loud, and yell for your favorite horse. If you have guests over, be smart, be safe. If you opt to go the virtual route, that’s okay too. If you’re having trouble getting into the spirit, a couple of Julep’s should help.