The Kentucky Derby is a world-famous annual thoroughbred contest which is held in Louisville, Kentucky. It is traditionally held at the beginning of May, and is watched by millions of sports fans around the country. 

The race is the first leg of the ‘American Triple Crown’. The ultimate goal of any US-based thoroughbred is to clinch the Triple Crown, which also consists of the Preakness Stakes (end of May) and the Belmont Stakes (June).

It is a Grade 1 Stakes event which is open to three-year olds and is held over a mile and a quarter. It is often called the “the fastest two minutes in sport”, which alludes to the speed at the which the contest is competed. The current distance has been in place since 1896, when it was decreased from a mile and a half.

Qualification for the race is based on a points system. There are 20 positions available in the race, and points are accumulated through a number of graded races. One place is always offered to the winner of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, and since 2018, another place will be offered to a European horse.

The Kentucky Derby is also called the “The Race for the Roses”. This owes to the prize which consists of 554 red roses and it is a tradition which has been in place since 1883.

It is the most-attended thoroughbred in the USA, with the crowd-size eclipsing both the Preakness and the Belmont. In 2017, there was an attendance of 158,070, which was the seventh biggest crowd in the history of the track.

It is one of the most wagered-on events on the US racing calendar, and attracts bets from punters all over the world. The track have recently reported an increase in wagering totals over the last couple of years.

Secretariat holds the record for the fastest run in the race back in 1973 which Ben A Jones is the most successful trainer in the contest – his last victory came in 1952. More recently, Justify became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby since 1882 without having raced as a two-year old. Justify and American Pharoah are two recent winners of the US Triple Crown.

The event is usually shown on UK racing channels, and can also be streamed via bookmakers websites.

Why is the Kentucky Derby so Popular?

The Kentucky Derby has attracted some of the standout thoroughbred horses in the USA, and there are always plenty of big names lining up in Louisville. Similar to the Breeders Cup, it is one of the must-watch racing events on the calendar.

Like the Cheltenham or Aintree Festival, it attracts many passive horse racing fans who always tune in and have a wager on the biggest contests on the calendar, but wouldn’t watch it on a regular basis.

For attendees, it is a great day out. The weather is usually fairly pleasant, and there is plenty going on around the course.

With the addition of a Japanese and European horse, there is an extra incentive for viewers around the world to tune into the race.

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

There are copious betting opportunities available on the race itself. Ante-post markets are available throughout the majority of the year, and once the final field has been declared, the full market will be available with bookmakers.

It is also possible to wager on a horse to win the US Triple Crown.

All of the usual betting options such as forecast, tricast and each-way betting are also permitted on this iconic race.

Key Betting Markets

Race Winner – This is the simplest way of betting on the race. Punters are simply asked to predict which horse will pass the post first. Your chosen horse must be clear of the chasing pack, although some bookmakers will pay out in the event of a dead heat.

Each-Way – The Kentucky Derby is always a hugely competitive event, and with a 20-strong field, there are plenty of each-way betting opportunities. This is ideal for those who fancy a horse to run strongly at a bigger price. Most bookmakers will pay out at 1/5 of the odds. The majority of firms will also pay the first four places in the race, although if you shop around, five or six places can occasionally be unearthed.

Forecast – This is slightly trickier, but punters will be rewarded if they can predict the first two horses home in the contest. Straight forecasts will require bettors to correct predict the first two horses home (in THAT order), whilst reverse forcasts will allow some degree of flexibility. The latter allows the two chosen horses to finish in any order.

Tricast – Same as above, but with three horses. Huge payouts are available for anyone who correctly predicts the first three horses to finish the race.

Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks Double – Some bookmakers offer enhanced doubles from across both of the major races in Louisville. Punters must correctly predict the winner of each contest.

To Win by … – This is particularly popular if there is a relatively short-priced favourite in the market. Punters can predict the market-leader to win by …X amounts of lengths in order to extract some value.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Kentucky Derby

Fast Finishers Tend to Fare Well – There have been a number of stagings of the race in which the eventual winner has been towards the back of the pack with just four furlings left to run. In 2009, 50-1 Mine that Bird was a particularly memorable winner, trailing the field by some distance until a late surge down the centre of the course clinched a famous upset. The commentator has barely mentioned this horse prior to it’s late show. If there is plenty of early pace in the contest, it is advised to look for horse who will finish strongly late, and a jockey who is savvy enough to conserve energy. The race is always run to a strong pace, and that does play into the hands of latecomers. Even if your chosen doesn’t win, it may pay to pick an each-way selection who does its best work late on.

Favourites Do Have a Good Record Here – Although we’ve seen a number of outsiders win over the years, the record of favourites in this race is fairly strong. Most market principles tend to run strongly, and they tend to be from big-name stables. If you can’t find any each-way value or simply can’t look past the horse at the top of the betting – don’t be afraid to back the favourite.

Two Year Old Form Shouldn’t be Dismissed – Many horses have been aimed at this race for a number of months, and they will have plenty of prep runs under their belt. However, things just don’t always play out as owners/trainers would want. If a horse has shown plenty of talent and desire as a two-year old, but struggled since turning three, they shouldn’t be completely dismissed. Some horses simply don’t enjoy particular tracks, whilst others were just drawn in the wrong stall. Pay attention to the two-year old form.

Look for Jockeys Who have Form in the Bigger Races – The last two winners of the Kentucky Derby were ridden by John Velazquez and Mike E Smith. Both riders are considered to be elite jockeys, and they have history in the bigger contests. Kent Desormeaux and Victor Espinoza are also recent winners in the big race. Always look for horses that are accompanied by jockeys who have form in these types of events. Even giving the horse an extra 1% can be enough to help guide it to victory.

Where Can I Watch the Kentucky Derby in the UK?

The Kentucky Derby is broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing and it is also available via many bookmaker’s websites. Most bookies will show the race in full for any punters who places a bet on the contest.