Kentucky Derby betting is big business. Over the years, many people have won large sums from their Kentucky Derby betting. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to bet on Kentucky Derby markets.
Kentucky Derby Betting Offers
We have researched all of the best Kentucky Derby betting promotions on offer at the moment if you sign up for an account. For new players that want to bet on the Kentucky Derby, you can use the bet365 referral code (this Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only) when signing up.
| Kentucky Derby Operators | Bonus & Offers | Claim the Bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|
bet365 | For more info, visit the operator’s site T&Cs Apply | ||
William Hill | Bet €10 Get €30 in free bets 18+. New customers using Promo code TOP30 only, Min £10/€10/$10 stake, min odds 1.5, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15/$15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is settled, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. Play responsibly. Gamblingtherapy.org | ||
Sports Interaction | |||
Bethard | |||
Betway | Get a Free Sports Bet up to $60 New Customers from New Zealand only. Min Deposit: 10 NZD. First deposit matched up to 60 NZD. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card and Debit Card deposits only. T&Cs Apply | ||
888sport |
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Kentucky Derby Betting Odds
Another important aspect of Kentucky Derby betting is getting the best odds for your selected Kentucky Derby horses. This is one of the easiest ways that you can maximize the winnings you get if your bet is successful. For more information about the odds, read the following article about Kentucky Derby odds (tips and odds).
By shopping around to see which operator offers the best odds for betting on Kentucky Derby horses, you will know that you are getting the best deal possible. Here are some of the leading sportsbooks for Kentucky Derby betting:
| Horse & Trainer | Best Odds | Bet on Kentucky Derby |
|---|---|---|
| H: Life is Good T:Â Bob Baffert | Odds available on the site | bet365 Visit bet365 >> |
| H: Essential Quality T:Â Brad H. Cox | 8/1* | William Hill View odds >> |
| H: Greatest Honour T:Â Claude R. McGaughey III | 12/1* | William Hill View odds >> |
| H: Concert Tour T:Â Bob Baffert | Odds available on the site | bet365 Visit bet365 >> |
| H: Caddo River T:Â Brad H. Cox | 14/1* | William Hill View odds >> |
| H: Prevalence T:Â Brendan P. Walsh | 16/1* | William Hill View odds >> |
| H: Risk Taking T:Â Â Chad C. Brown | 20/1* | William Hill View odds >> |
*Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.
Kentucky Derby 2023 Favourites – 3 Horses to Watch
The favourite Kentucky Derby horses tend to do well every year. Therefore, these Kentucky Derby horses are always worth close consideration, as they are the favourites for a reason.
For example, here are the horses that are currently capturing the most attention for those looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby winner markets:
Life is Good
Life is Good is the current Kentucky Derby betting favourite, having a strong run in recent races. His trainer is Bob Baffert, who was the trainer of last year’s winner. Additionally, being the son of Into Mischief, there is great pedigree to add to the speed of Life is Good.
Concerns over the distance and stamina are to be considered by potential bettors. However, he has impressively dealt with all challenges he has faced in his career, remaining unbeaten to date.
Essential Quality
Essential Quality is a horse that has also been garnering a lot of attention among bettors. He managed to win three Grade 1 races in three attempts last year, which included the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile title. He is also the son of a previous Kentucky Derby participant and seems to have the pedigree to compete strongly for the big title.
Greatest Honour
Greatest Honour has risen up the betting odds for Kentucky Derby betting in recent months following a string of strong results. Consequently, he has looked very impressive, seemingly being head and shoulders above the other participants in recent races. He certainly is a horse that possesses the necessary blend of stamina and speed to do well at the derby.
Beginner’s Kentucky Derby Betting Guide
If you are new to Kentucky Derby betting then there are some basics to cover.
First and foremost, there is no guaranteed success strategy when it comes to picking Kentucky Derby horses. It’s important to do your research and to make a case for the horse that you think is going to win.
Usually, there are up to 20 horses running in the Kentucky Derby each year. Each of the participants has earned a place in the field through winning qualification races both in the US and overseas.
Successful bettors in horse racing will likely have a tried and tested system in place for their Kentucky Derby tips.
Firstly, they will start by looking at each horse’s performances in previous races. This includes their speed figures, the strength of the fields in their races, the stats of the trainer and jockey, performances around similar types of tracks, and so on.
The key is to have all of the available information to allow you to make an informed decision. Successful bettors will then often look at the horses that stand out following this research.
There are also trends that pop up over the years at the Kentucky Derby. For example, six of the last eight winners have been the favourite pre-race. One of the favourites that broke this trend was Maximum Security in 2019 when he was actually first past the finish line but was subsequently disqualified.
Furthermore, Bob Baffert is a trainer that has a great track record in this race, so you should consider a bet on Kentucky Derby horses under his tutelage. Finally, the starting positions appear to play a factor in the success of race participants. Gate 1 is the worst starting position, with Gate 3 and Gates 15-20 also usually being best to avoid.
The Event’s History
Kentucky Derby history goes a long way back, particularly for America. It started back in 1875 and it has been taking place ever since. Therefore, there are a lot of traditions that are still associated with the racing festival that revolves around the Kentucky Derby each year. These include, for instance, the attendees singing together “My Old Kentucky Home” and the mint juleps that the crowd drinks.
Additionally, as the longest-running sporting event in the history of the United States, it holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans. The idea for the race began after Meriwether Lewis Clark travelled to Europe and took in many leading horse races in the likes of France and the UK.
Upon his return, he set up the Louisville Jockey Club and they constructed a racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
The first renewal of the Kentucky Derby took place in May 1875 in front of a crowd of about 10,000 people. Over the years, the race distance has been altered a few times. Crowds have also gradually increased as the decades went by, making it a massive economic event for the local area.
The racetrack that hosts the Kentucky Derby was named Churchill Downs for the first time in 1883 and the name stuck. Over the years, there were many heated debates regarding on-track parimutuel betting machines and the max bets on offer.
The winning prize for the Kentucky Derby first bypassed $100,000 in 1954, with the race’s purse reaching $1 million for the first time in 1995. In 2012, a record 165,307 fans packed in to make it the highest-attended Kentucky Derby, as well as having the biggest ever handle for the race at $133.1 million.
Kentucky Derby Betting Types
With Kentucky Derby betting, there is usually a good selection of different types of markets for you to choose from. Although the selection for horse racing isn’t going to be too vast, there is usually something to tickle everyone’s fancy.
Here are some of the popular Kentucky Derby betting markets you will come across:
- Race Winner: This is a self-explanatory market, you are going to bet on whichever horse you think is going to win the race.
- Place: A place bet sees you betting that a given horse will finish in the top two places come the end of the race.
- Show Bet: A show bet sees you betting that a given horse will finish in the top three places come the end of the race.
- Each-Way: An each-way bet is made up of a race winner bet and a show bet. Therefore, if you stake $10 on a horse in the each-way market, this will break down into a $5 race winner bet and a $5 show bet.
- Exacta: An exacta bet sees you trying to predict the top two finishers in the race in the correct order.
- Quinella: A quinella bet sees you trying to predict the top two finishers in the race in any order.
- Trifecta: This type of bet sees you trying to predict the exact finishing order of the fastest three horses.
- Superfecta: This type of bet sees you trying to predict the exact finishing order of the fastest four horses.
- Super High 5: This type of bet sees you trying to predict the exact finishing order of the fastest five horses.
Each of these types of bets will have its own advantages and will be a good fit for a variety of preferences.
Kentucky Derby FAQ
Uncover more interesting facts about the Kentucky Derby below.
The 2021 Kentucky Derby race itself will take place on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1, 2021.
There are always many great candidates to win the Kentucky Derby. Each of the participants has earned a position in the race and they all have a chance of winning on the day.
Having said that, the favourite pre-race has performed very strongly in recent years. While it sounds obvious, it can be hard to look past the horse that is at the top of the odds charts for the big race if you are looking to pick out a winner. Therefore, you should keep an eye out for Kentucky Derby tips from the experts.
Authentic, trained by the legendary Bob Baffert, narrowly clinched the 2020 Kentucky Derby title. After a fierce battle down the stretch with the heavy pre-race favourite Tiz the Law, Authentic was victorious in the end.
Jockey John Velazquez rode Authentic to victory in what was his third Kentucky Derby win as well as his 200th win in a Grade 1 race.
Kentucky Derby Live Streaming
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most-watched sporting events in the United States every year. In fact, even casual sports fans enjoy watching America’s biggest race for what is known as the greatest two minutes in sports.
Usually, NBC Sports has coverage of the race both on televisions and online. Other popular television networks and online outlets also usually offer Kentucky Derby live streaming, including AT&T TV Now, YouTube TV, and Hulu with Live TV. Certain horse racing betting sites also offer Kentucky Derby live streaming if you have placed a bet on the race.
