- FILE - In this May 2, 2015, file photo, a man places a bet before the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky. Picking a horse to win the Kentucky Derby is easy. Hoping that choice wins and pays off with a profit is the challenge.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Meanwhile, if you have an Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) account you can bet on the Kentucky Derby and almost any other U.S. Thoroughbred race without going to a track. Scheduled post for the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) at 1 1/8 miles for fillies is 5:45 p.m. Eastern on Friday. Scheduled post for the Kentucky. Be the perfect host by offering your guests a $10 Free Bet on TwinSpires, the Official Betting Site of the Kentucky Derby. Every time one of your guests signs up with your invitation code and places their first bet, you will receive a $10 FREE Bet and so will your guest! A Fun Group Bet for the Derby. Use the promo code ABR25. Other trusted wagering sites include TVG and TwinSpires (the Official Betting Site of the Kentucky Derby), and you can find a complete listing of ADWs here. Derby Betting Tools and Hacks. If this is your very first experience with horse betting, we’d encourage you to check out our Betting on Horse Racing, Explained. There you’ll find quick and easy explanations on all the different bets that you can make on the Kentucky Derby.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Picking a horse to win the Kentucky Derby is easy.
Placing a bet is as close as a cellphone, tablet, computer or even a smart TV with internet access. But for the novice or inexperienced bettor, making a wager that pays off with a profit can be a challenge: Beginners need to know how to place a bet, who to bet on and where to place the bet.
Off-track simulcasting in more than two dozen states offers a convenient alternative to going to the track. Of course, there’s always the actual experience of walking up to the betting window at the track.
That’s a good option if you can’t get to Churchill Downs, where 150,000 spectators are expected for Saturday’s 145th Derby and hoping to get some action on Game Winner, the 9-2 new morning line favorite after 4-1 previous favorite Omaha Beach was scratched Wednesday evening with a breathing problem.
Minimum bets vary from state to state, but here are some things to consider when placing a wager:
Where Can You Place A Bet On The Kentucky Derby
THE BASICS
The obvious wager is betting on a horse to win. Just pick one. But after that, it can get a little trickier.
Bets can be made on a horse to win, place (finish first or second) or show (finish first, second or third) — or all three with an across-the-board wager. An exacta involves correctly picking the first two horses in order, or in any order with a combination known as a box bet (1-2 or 2-1, for example).
Superfecta bets (picking the first four horses) are also available, as are exotic wagers such as Pick 3 and Pick 6 that requires choosing the winning horses in multiple races. A Pick 3 and a Pick 6 are the hardest to predict, leading to rollover jackpots that can be very lucrative. But they probably are best left to more seasoned bettors.
How To Place A Bet On The Kentucky Derby
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Determining who to bet on can start with a daily racing program that lists entrants for each race and information including odds, jockey, trainer, silks, saddle towel color and past performances. They can be purchased at the track, simulcast venue or a track’s website.
It will initially seem like a lot of numbers and statistics, but tracks and web sites offer instructions on how to read and understand a program. One benefit to being at the track is seeing how the horse looks in the paddock or during the pre-race parade. Appearance and temperament are important, so keep an eye on horse’s ears to see how engaged the horse is with the atmosphere.
And there’s nothing wrong with playing a hunch, since after all, it’s just a gamble.
ONLINE BETTING
After learning what to bet and who to bet on, the next step is placing the bet.
Numerous websites such as TwinSpires.com — Churchill Downs’ online service — Equibase.com and TVG.com offer betting at racetracks worldwide. Wagering is free, but it will require setting up a subscription and require banking information to place bets and deposit winnings. Those services even provide live streaming and replays.
Various online sites offer betting tips along with news and updates. It’s the most convenient way to bet on marquee races such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as the Triple Crown season unfolds. It’s also a good option for other marquee races during the year such as the Travers Stakes and season-ending Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
PARI-MUTUEL BETTING-SPORTS BETTING
When wagering, the longer the odds the bigger the payoff.
In horse racing, the odds are not finalized until the race begins. That is known as pari-mutuel betting. That’s different than sports betting in which bettors get the odds that are available at the time they make their bet.
New Jersey tracks also offer exchange wagering for horse races, which differs from pari-mutuel betting. Exchange wagering matches and locks in the odds at the time a bet is placed and also allows betting during the race.
And while sports betting expanded in several states last year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports gambling, it does not include horse racing. Even in most states that have legalized sports betting, placing a bet on horse racing is limited to the tracks as the sport examines how to compete and benefit from new legislation.
America’s biggest race, the Kentucky Derby, typically draws an enormous amount of fans to Louisville and Churchill Downs with more than 150,000 in attendance on Derby Day. But there are millions of other race fans who bet on the Kentucky Derby across the country, and many don’t even realize that they can do it from their mobile device or web browser in 33 states.
Fans looking to wager on the race can turn to TVG, TwinSpires and BetAmerica for free and legal US horse race betting. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to sign up for these sites and receive free money to place your bets on the race.
Best legal horse betting sites and apps for the Kentucky Derby
| App / Site | iOS | Android | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| TVG | Yes | Yes | $300 Risk-Free Bet |
| Twinspires | Yes | Yes | 100% up to $100 |
| BetAmerica | Yes | Yes | $100 bonus on $500 wager |
When betting the Kentucky Derby, the casual fan doesn’t want a race dissertation on pace and breakdown or all details and past performances of horses. Most fans and recreational bettors want to know a select few horses that they can bet on to win the race and add to their exotic picks and bets.
One of the premier places to watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby and other live races is TVG, a digital, cable and television network owned by the FanDuel Group. TVG offers a one-stop shop for all horse racing fans with online wagering, a betting app and live streaming and race results. No waiting in lines, delays or errors by race tellers.
BetAmerica is another top choice for horse racing. Owned by Churchill Downs, BetAmerica is also fully licensed, regulated and U.S. based website with options to bet on races from more than 400 tracks online or a mobile device. BetAmerica has free live horse race video streaming and handicapping information and tools along with contests and rewards programs not available when betting at a casino or race and sportsbook.
How to watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby
Betting on the Kentucky Derby online is easy once you’ve set up an account. When you bet on a horse to win, simply locate the track listing at Churchill Downs and the race number of the Kentucky Derby and select the horse number. Add it to your bet slip and confirm the amount of the win wager. The odds can change right up to post time of the Kentucky Derby. For added or multiple bets like exacta and trifecta, add all the selections to your betting slip and confirm the amount you want to wager and all combinations.
For more details on the different types of Kentucky Derby bets, check out our complete betting guide.
How to sign up and create an account
Signing up for a wagering account to bet the Kentucky Derby is easy. You must be 18 years of age or older, 21 in the state of Washington and TVG users in Arizona, Indiana, Iowa and North Dakota must also be at least 21 years old.
- Create an account: In just a few minutes you’ll be set up after providing your name, address, email, phone number, date of birth, last four of your social security number and creating a user name and password for your account.
- Deposit funds and get free money: Use the links on this page for each site to take advantage of the free money bonuses. Deposit options vary but may include credit or debit card, PayPal, PayNearMe, MoneyGram, EZMoney, MoneyPack, Neteller, TeleCheck or prepaid card. Withdrawing funds is easy and efficient and each site has selected options similar to deposit. Once your deposit clears, bonus money will appear in your account within minutes.
States where you can bet the Kentucky Derby online
All three online sites at TVG, TwinSpires and BetAmerica allow online horse betting in these states:
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Maryland
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
In addition, TVG offers online horse betting in these states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Virginia and Washington.
TwinSpires offers online horse betting in Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
BetAmerica offers online horse betting in Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota and New Mexico.