Among all of the world’s top races, Kentucky Derby odds are among the most sought after. This race is the pinnacle of US horse racing and is the first leg of the coveted Triple Crown.
We’re going through how Derby betting works, as well as what sort of Kentucky Derby odds you can take.
Where can you find the Best Odds for the Kentucky Derby 2024?
Here are some of the best odds for betting on Kentucky Derby at the moment:
| Horse & Trainer | Best Odds | Bet on Kentucky Derby |
|---|---|---|
| H: Locked T: Todd Pletcher | Odds available on the site | |
| H: Prince of Monaco T: Bob Baffert | Odds available on the site | |
| H: The Wine Steward T: Michael Maker | Odds available on the site | |
| H: Heartland T: Bob Baffert | Odds available on the site | |
| H: Muth T: Bob Baffert | Odds available on the site | |
| H: Timberlake T: Brad Cox | Odds available on the site | |
| H: Rhyme Schemes T: Norm Casse | Odds available on the site |
*Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby will next take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Watching out for the latest Kentucky Derby odds is always exciting. Bookmakers may well have strong promo offers in the lead-up to the race. Money-back deals and enhanced odds are just some of the things to watch out for in advance of the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
We always recommend that you shop around for the best Kentucky Derby odds. This race is one of the biggest events of the whole year in the world of horse racing. That means that betting is competitive every time.
We also know however that the live Kentucky Derby odds will keep changing until post time. If you really fancy a lively outsider, it may pay to take the odds as soon as they become available. If you’re on the favourite, see how things pan out on the day.
You might want to have multiple accounts to be able to take advantage of the best odds. It’s quick and easy to sign up to sportsbooks. Our reviews will show you the best ones available.
For more information about betting on this horse race, read our Kentucky Derby betting guide.
Odds Betting: How it Works
You should always keep in mind that in horse racing, around 30% of favourites win. But that stat includes those long odds-on shots. It also means around 70% are beaten, so the Kentucky Derby odds alone can’t predict the finishing order.
Essentially, the Kentucky Derby odds represent what chance the bookmakers believe each horse has. Those odds can then change frequently, as they often do, further reflecting any changes. It may be that lots of bets come in for one horse or that a bad report comes in on another. This can lead to a contraction or a drifting of the odds.
Both favourites and long shots have won the Kentucky Derby over the years. 2019 winner Country House went off at 65/1, while subsequent Triple Crown winner went off 29/10 favourite twelve months earlier.
Kentucky Derby Early Markets
At the time of writing, there are no Kentucky Derby odds at all. The horses are due to finish their juvenile season in 2023, the better ones at the Breeders’ Cup.
Kentucky Derby odds will become available and then more reliable after this. They will remain fluid throughout March and April as the races are run on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. These events hand out points to the first four finishers, ultimately deciding who gets into the Derby on May 4.
Though no odds are available yet, these ten contenders will be worth keeping in mind:
- Timberlake
- Muth
- Prince Of Monaco
- Locked
- Rhyme Schemes
- The Wine Steward
- Heartland
- Last Call London
- Goldweep
- Fierceness
What are the Different Odds? What should you be aware of?
There are two main types of Kentucky Derby odds typically made available. You can bet on Tote odds and fixed odds. Tote bets are a form of pool betting, such as on the TAB or on the parimutuel on track in the States.
Pool bet payouts are dependent on how much money is in the pot and how many people have backed the winner. Fixed odds betting is different. If you take 5/1 about a horse at $10, you will always get back $60 if it wins.
Real-Time Odds: Bet Live
You can bet on the Derby in real time these days. Live betting on horse racing, known as ‘in-running’ betting, is among the most popular form of wagering. With live betting, you can react to what you see when the horses break from the gate.
You may for example not be convinced about a horse. But if they were to break really quickly from the gates and bag the rail on the inside, you know that they have increased their chances of winning in an instant.
Live betting is available with most online bookmakers. It may be a great way to get more value from your Kentucky Derby odds.
Kentucky Derby Odds FAQ
We’ve aimed to answer the top questions about Kentucky Derby odds.
Most online sportsbooks will offer fixed odds on each of the participants in the race. This means that you will decide what horse you want to bet on and find the best odds for that horse among the various bookies.
Then you place the bet at the optimal odds and this will usually lock the odds in until the end of the race.
If your bet is successful, you will get paid out on these odds. For example, if you place a $10 bet on a horse at 4/1 that wins the race, you will make a profit of $40 and get your $10 stake returned to you.
It’s too early just yet for a proper Kentucky Derby market. The odds will be available after the Breeders’ Cup and will change right up to race time. Horses such as Locked, Timberlake and Rhyme Schemes may well feature highly.
The 2023 Kentucky Derby was won by Mage. The winning colt was trained by Gustavo Delgado and was ridden by Javier Catellano. He went off at 15/1. Two Phil’s was in second place for trainer Larry Rivelli and Angel Of Empire was third for Brad Cox and Flavien Prat. Mage won by 1½ lengths, going on to finish third in the Preakness and second in the Haskell Stakes. Up to the end of 2023, he’d earned over $2.5 million in win and place prize money.
