Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites in 2021
The first leg of the Triple Crown, also known as “The Run for the Roses,” is the most prestigious thoroughbred race of the year. Every US horse racing betting site will offer exclusive deals and promotions for the Kentucky Derby. At USHorceRacing.com, we list only the best bookmakers for you to enjoy!
| Sportsbook | Features | Bonus | Promo & Code |
|---|---|---|---|
1.
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$300 Deposit Match |
Play Now |
2021 Kentucky Derby odds: Essential Quality is our Favorite! 🏆
| Horse | Odds |
| Essential Quality | 5-2 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | 6-1 |
| Medina Spirit | 8-1 |
| Rock Your World | 8-1 |
| Known Agenda | 12-1 |
| Highly Motivated | 15-1 |
| Mandaloun | 15-1 |
| Midnight Bourbon | 15-1 |
| Super Stock | 20-1 |
| Bourbonic | 30-1 |
| Caddo River | 30-1 |
| Dynamic One | 30-1 |
| Soup and Sandwich | 30-1 |
| Helium | 50-1 |
| Hidden Stash | 50-1 |
| Like the King | 50-1 |
| Sainthood | 50-1 |
For owners, jockeys, and trainers, winning the Kentucky Derby is the highest honor. And the same goes for fans who are betting on the Kentucky Derby, cheering on the horse or horses they have wagered on.
Best Sites to Bet on the Kentucky Derby 🏇
All of the US horse racing sites on our page are legal to use in most states in the US. By choosing one of these betting sites, you can be sure all of your personal and legal information will be safe.
Before signing up, check out the welcome offer that the site provides. US horse racing sites have new customer promotions, in addition to any other bonuses related to the Kentucky Derby.
You can decide which US horse racing site works best for you by going through our reviews. Here are some of the primary categories that we examine when conducting a review.
- Usability
- Live Streaming
- Betting Features
- Expert Analysis
- Payment Methods
- Customer Service
History of the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby has a deep and historic past, with the first edition of the race happening in 1875. The Louisville Jockey Club raised money to build a permanent racetrack, which was named “Churchill Downs” in 1883.
Now, the Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 100,000 spectators pack in the venue to watch the most exciting two minutes in all of sports! Fans wear their nicest hats, suits, and drink Mint Julips while watching and betting on the world’s top thoroughbreds.
The Kentucky Derby has created many famous horses, but none more so than Secretariat. He still has the fastest finishing time for any Kentucky Derby, finishing the 10-furlong race (1 ÂĽ mile) in just under two minutes.
The field of the Kentucky Derby has been limited to 20 horses, making it the largest of the three Triple Crown races. The winner receives a garland of roses and is usually one of the betting favorites for the Preakness Stakes.
Triple Crown đź‘‘
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a series of three races that occur every year, with the Kentucky Derby being the first leg. It is followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
The Preakness Stakes is held on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. At 9.5-furlongs (1 3/16 mile), it is the shortest of the three races.
If a horse wins the first two legs of the Triple Crown, all eyes are on the Belmont Stakes, which occurs at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is the longest race at 12 furlongs (1 ½ mile).
The horses that have won the Triple Crown, along with their jockey and trainer, go down in the history books of horse racing. Only thirteen horses have accomplished the feat.
Road to the Kentucky Derby
It’s not all that simple to get a horse into the Kentucky Derby. For the most part, these horses are the offspring of previous successful horses, even former Kentucky Derby winners.
The horses must compete in Derby Prep Races, which is known as the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The horses will receive points based on their finishing position, earning them a chance to compete at Churchill Downs in May.
Some of the most popular Derby Prep Races include the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Jeff Ruby Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, and Wood Memorial. These races will begin in the Fall and continue into the Spring of the Kentucky Derby.
How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby
To bet on the Kentucky Derby, use one of the legal US horse betting sites on our page. Then, do your research on the horses that will be competing.
You can learn how to read a horse racing program to know all of the vital information going into the race. Some of the information you will learn in the program include:
- Breeder Information
- Morning Line Odds
- Record
- Workout Times
- Jockey Information
There are multiple bets you can place for the Kentucky Derby.
- Win – Betting on a horse to finish 1st
- Place – Betting on a horse to finish at least 2nd
- Show – Betting on a horse to finish at least 3rd
- Across the Board – Placing all of the above bets at the same time
- Exacta – Picking the horses that will finish in 1st and 2nd
- Trifecta – Picking the horses that will finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- Superfecta – Picking the horses that will finish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
If you place a straight bet for exacta, trifecta, or superfecta, you must predict the horses to finish in the correct order. However, you can box any of these beats, meaning they can finish in any order.
How Do Horse Racing Odds Work?
The odds of a horse winning a race is shown in a way that is easy to understand. For example, if a horse has 7-2 odds to win, you will win $7 for every $2 bet, for a total return of $9.
However, it becomes a little more complicated when you are placing exotic wagers. These are longer odds, but it produces larger payouts.
Pro Tips for Betting on the Kentucky Derby
There are several keys to keep in mind when betting on the Kentucky Derby.
Create an account prior to the Kentucky Derby
Everyone rushes to create an account before the start of the Kentucky Derby. Customer service of US horse racing sites will become very busy. It’s best to create an account and be ready days before the Derby.
Take a look at the potential bonuses and promotions. Be ready to take advantage of those when the race comes around.
The favorite usually wins
Include the favorite in some exotic bets. The favorite is likely to win, and the previous editions of the Kentucky Derby back that up. However, with 20 horses in the field, there are still chances to win some money.
Favorites have won 35% of the time in the Derby.
Look at trainers and jockeys
Horses aren’t the only ones that become famous after the Kentucky Derby. There are many trainers and jockeys that have had tons of success at Churchill Downs.
For example, Bob Baffert has 12 wins in Triple Crown races as a trainer. He is likely to have one of the favorites coming into the Kentucky Derby. For jockeys, Calvin Borel became a fan favorite after his success in multiple Kentucky Derby, gaining three wins over the course of four years.
Look at expert picks
Some of the US horse racing sites on our page will include expert analysis and handicapping. It’s advantageous to see what those who are paying attention to horse racing year-round have to say about the horses competing in the Derby.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby FAQs
The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the Triple Crown, which is a series of the top thoroughbred races in the US.
There are several US horse racing betting sites on our page that we recommend for betting on the Kentucky Derby.
There will be different Kentucky Derby betting bonuses leading up to the race. The offers will vary depending on the operator that you choose.
