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2025 Kentucky Derby Betting Guide
Every year in early May, the iconic Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs.
In this reference page, we will explore the history of horse betting options in New York, the journey leading up to the Derby, as well as the various factors to consider when handicapping the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.
Dating back to 1875, the Kentucky Derby brings together 20 of the finest 3-year-old thoroughbred horses in the nation. This renowned race is also known as “The Run for the Roses,” a name that pays tribute to the victor by adorning them with a garland of 554 beautiful red roses.
The first jewel in racing’s Triple Crown is awarded to this event, which is then followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Despite some Breeders’ Cup races in the fall surpassing its $3 million purse, the Derby remains the epitome of thoroughbred racing. It has successfully attracted a diverse and affluent audience from both national and international backgrounds, further enhancing the sport’s popularity.
Meanwhile, the Derby remains in the spotlight due to the growing popularity of mobile betting and continuous media coverage.
Best Kentucky Derby betting app in New York
Betting on the Kentucky Derby via FanDuel Racing
FanDuel, known for its popular daily fantasy sports service and being the leading sportsbook in New York, also operates FanDuel Racing. Serving as a leading online platform for horse betting in New York, FanDuel Racing offers a wide range of local and national races.
FanDuel Racing is designed to be user-friendly and easily accessible for both experienced racing fans and beginners. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or new to the sport, the platform offers a variety of races to bet on, not just in New York but nationwide. Additionally, for those new to betting, FanDuel Racing provides helpful resources like the “Racing 101” guide. This guide offers valuable insights such as betting tools and tips, understanding odds, and explanations of different types of bets available.
In addition, FanDuel Racing presents a variety of promotional deals. Upon joining FanDuel Racing, new users have the opportunity to receive a $20 No Sweat Bet if their initial single-horse bet results in a loss. Moreover, for users who choose to participate in eligible races, FanDuel offers “Win Bet Insurance,” enabling bettors to receive a bonus bet of up to $5 if the horse they wagered on to win finishes in second or third place.
When you access FanDuel Racing, you’ll be presented with a selection of the day’s popular races and upcoming events. Each event will have a countdown indicating the remaining time to participate. Additionally, you can explore a dropdown menu listing the top racetracks across the country, where you can find available races.
FanDuel Racing has created a product that appeals to both experienced horse betting enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport, thanks to its simplicity and user-friendly platform. What sets FanDuel Racing apart is its affiliation with the trusted Flutter Entertainment company and the well-established and highly respected FanDuel Sportsbook families.
2025 Kentucky Derby odds and betting favorites
Here is the revised sentence: After five scratches, three of which were filled by also-eligibles, the following list presents the 18 horses in their respective positions.
| No. | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hit Show | 26-1 | Manny Franco | Brad Cox |
| 2 | Verifying | 16-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Brad Cox |
| 3 | Two Phil’s | 8-1 | Jareth Loveberry | Larry Rivelli |
| 4 | Confidence Game | 17-1 | James Graham | Keith Desormeaux |
| 5 | Tapit Trice | 9-2 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher |
| 6 | Kingsbarns | 10-1 | Jose Ortiz | Todd Pletcher |
| 7 | Reincarnate | 13-1 | John Velazquez | Tim Yakteen |
| 8 | Mage | 18-1 | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado |
| 11 | Disarm | 25-1 | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
| 12 | Jace’s Road | 32-1 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
| 13 | Sun Thunder | 30-1 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenny McPeek |
| 14 | Angel of Empire | 9-2 | Flavien Prat | Brad Cox |
| 16 | Raise Cain | 30-1 | Gerardo Corrales | Ben Colebrook |
| 17 | Derma Sotogake | 7-1 | Christophe Lemaire | Hidetaka Otonashi |
| 18 | Rocket Can | 27-1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 21 | Cyclone Mischief | 30-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Dale Romans |
| 22 | Mandarin Hero | 21-1 | Kazushi Kimura | Terunobu Fujita |
| 23 | King Russell | 31-1 | Rafael Bejarano | Ron Moquett |
What are the Derby preps?
In order to determine the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby, a system of qualifying races with points is implemented. The events listed below hold utmost significance, awarding 100 qualifying points to the winners and 40 points to the second-place finishers.
| Race | Date | Track | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Derby | March 26 | Fair Grounds Race Course | $1 million |
| UAE Derby | March 26 | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | $2.5 million |
| Florida Derby | April 2 | Gulfstream Park | $1 million |
| The Arkansas Derby | April 2 | Oaklawn | $1 million |
| The Blue Grass | April 9 | Keeneland | $1 million |
| The Santa Anita Derby | April 9 | Santa Anita Park | $750,000 |
| The Wood Memorial | April 9 | Aqueduct | $750,000 |
After closely observing the prep races, these events have proven to be a valuable resource for evaluating the Kentucky Derby field. Once you have selected a horse for the Derby, what betting choices are available?
Common Kentucky Derby bet types
When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, there are several popular bets that people commonly make.
- To win, simply choose the horse that is expected to perform the best. The odds for each potential winner in this race are generally fair, considering the strong competition. The minimum amount you can bet is typically $2.
- Selection: Pick a horse to finish in second place or better. Although the payout will be lower than a win bet, this option covers both the first and second positions.
- Exhibition: Place a bet for your horse to secure a position of third or higher. Although the payout is lower compared to winning or placing, it guarantees a payout if your horse finishes in the top three positions.
- Exactas involve selecting the top two finishers in the correct order. It is advisable to box the horses to avoid the frustration of having the correct horses but in the wrong order, especially in the Derby where there are 20 horses competing.
- A trifecta is a type of bet where you select the first three finishers in the correct order. When placing a straight bet, you can choose to either box three or more horses together or use a partial wheel.
- The Box: For a cost of $6, a $1 trifecta box allows you to select three horses. If any combination of these three horses finishes in the top three positions, it results in a winning ticket.
- The Trifecta Strategy: By betting $6, bettors have the option to select one horse for the first position, followed by three different horses for the second and third positions. For instance, placing a $1 trifecta key with the “1” on top and the “2-3-4” underneath means that the 1 horse must win, and any combination of the 2-3-4 horses in the next two positions will result in a winning ticket. Alternatively, for $12, one can choose to have the 1 horse in both the first and second positions, along with the other three horses.
- The Superfecta wager requires selecting the top four horses in the exact order. It allows using the same combinations as trifectas. While the superfecta can be highly rewarding, it is also incredibly challenging to win. For instance, in the previous year, the $1 Derby superfecta paid an impressive $7,925.80.
Additional betting options include Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6. In these bets, participants are required to choose the winning horse in three, four, five, or six consecutive races, respectively. By making a single selection for each race, it is possible to enter these bets for relatively small amounts, such as $0.50 or $2.
Experienced players aim to broaden their ticket by entering multiple selections in the majority of races. The crucial aspect of this strategy lies in identifying at least one race where they choose only a single selection.
How to handicap the Derby
The combination of the race structure’s recent history and modern technology has led to a trend where favorites often emerge victorious or perform exceptionally well in the Derby.
In the past years, racing officials made the decision to no longer consider sprint races in the qualifying rounds. Consequently, Derby horses are now required to demonstrate their abilities over a longer distance.
The format for the Derby has changed to prevent the “speed” horses from setting an extremely fast pace early on and enticing other horses into a competitive race. This used to disadvantage the frontrunners and create an opportunity for underdogs to come from behind and win in the final stretch. However, this is no longer the case.
In recent times, it has become a trend for the eventual winner of the race to be in close proximity to the lead right from the beginning, resulting in slower overall times compared to previous years. Additionally, the favorites have been performing admirably in the Derby. Notable winners in recent years, along with their respective odds prior to the race, are as follows:
- 2014: California Chrome (5-2)
- 2015: American Pharoah (5-2)
- 2016: Nyquist (2-1)
- 2017: Always Dreaming (9-2)
- 2018: Justify (5-2)
- In 2019, Maximum Security, with odds of 9-2, initially won the race, but the victory was later given to Country House, who had odds of 65-1.
- In an exhilarating stretch showdown, Tiz the Law (3-5) narrowly lost to Authentic (8-1) in the year 2020.
- In 2021, Mandaloun emerged as a strong contender with a record of 12-1. Initially, the winner was declared as Medina Spirit with odds of 15-1. However, following an extensive investigation into doping, Medina Spirit was subsequently disqualified.
Handicapping tips
To begin with, it is important to acknowledge the significance of recent history. The winners of the Florida Derby have consistently displayed impressive performances. A potential reason for this could be attributed to the five-week gap between races, which appears to suit certain horses exceptionally well. Regardless, this factor holds considerable value when evaluating handicapping outcomes.
Next, make sure to observe the prep races, which can be done by watching replays on YouTube. It is crucial to assess the running style of the victorious horse. Take note of whether they were positioned near the front from the start or if they made a late move. Additionally, consider whether they had a smooth journey around the track or encountered obstacles when maneuvering through a crowded field of horses. Keep in mind that there is no prep race that perfectly mirrors the 1¼-mile Kentucky Derby. Therefore, it may be unrealistic to expect a horse that struggled towards the end of a 1 1/8-mile race to suddenly excel at a longer distance.
Afterward, acquire a daily racing form, typically accessible on the internet, which provides comprehensive information about a horse’s complete past performance and potential confrontations with other contenders in the Derby.
You might also benefit from observing the early races on Derby day. What is the performance of Churchill Downs like that day? Do the frontrunners tend to win or do the winners typically come from behind? Is there a favorability towards the inside, middle, or outside of the track?
Be cautious of the weather conditions as they can greatly impact the handicapping angles. In the event of a sudden downpour or persistent rain throughout the day, all previous considerations may become irrelevant. It is advisable to stay updated on the weather forecast throughout the week.
Lastly, it is advisable not to solely rely on one horse. The Derby is renowned for instances where horses become stuck in congested situations and are unable to find a clear path to race. It would be wise to have a backup ticket prepared in case your preferred horse experiences what professionals refer to as a “bad trip.”
Where to bet in NY
| Facility | Address | City |
|---|---|---|
| Aqueduct | 11000 Rockaway Blvd | Ozone Park |
| Belmont Park | 2150 Hempstead Turnpike | Elmont |
| Buffalo Raceway | 5600 McKinley Parkway | Hamburg |
| Finger Lakes | 5857 NY-96 | Farmington |
| Monticello Raceway | 204 NY 17 B | Monticello |
| Saratoga Race Course | 267 Union Ave | Saratoga Springs |
| Tioga Downs | 2834 W. River Rd | Nichols |
| Vernon Downs | 4229 Stuhlman Rd | Vernon |
| Yonkers Raceway | 810 Yonkers Ave | Yonkers |
Kentucky Derby highlights
In 1973, the remarkable Secretariat achieved a legendary feat by setting a Derby record with an impressive time of 1:59.40. This iconic horse went on to dominate the Triple Crown, leaving an indelible mark on the racing world. Secretariat’s astounding performance not only set records in the Derby, but also in the Preakness, clocking in at 1:53, and the Belmont Stakes, completing the race in 2:24. These remarkable records, established almost half a century ago, still remain unbroken today.
In 1913, Donerail achieved the most remarkable Kentucky Derby upset, astonishingly rewarding bettors with a payout of 91-1 odds.
In 2015, a record-breaking number of 170,513 individuals attended, marking the highest recorded attendance to date.
A total of thirteen horses have successfully transitioned from the Kentucky Derby to claim victory in the prestigious Triple Crown. These exceptional equines are:
| Horse (Year) |
|---|
| Sir Barton (1919) |
| Gallant Fox (1930) |
| Omaha (1935) |
| War Admiral (1937) |
| Whirlaway (1941) |
| Count Fleet (1943) |
| Assault (1946) |
| Citation (1948) |
| Secretariat (1973) |
| Seattle Slew (1977) |
| Affirmed (1978) |
| American Pharoah (2015) |
| Justify (2018) |
Bob Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer, has been at the helm of the last two Triple Crown champions. With six Derby wins, he is currently tied with Ben Jones for the most victories in this prestigious race. It is highly probable that Baffert will have horses competing in the Derby once again this year.
Kentucky Derby FAQ
Certainly! The TVG horse betting app offers New York bettors the opportunity to place wagers on the Derby, and there are also various other horse betting apps available for selection.
The Kentucky Derby finds its broadcast home in NBC. NBC brings you the main race as well as other races, while NBCSN adds its coverage of the preliminaries. To stream the event, NBC Sports offers online coverage through its app.
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In 2005, an astonishing amount of nearly $1 million was won through the era of superfecta payouts, which rewarded the top four finishing spots, combined with an unforgettable race featuring a longshot winner. Giacomo, with odds of 50-1, emerged victorious, closely followed by Closing Argument at 71-1 and Afleet Alex at 9-2. As the race concluded, Don’t Get Mad secured the fourth spot in the superfecta with odds of 29-1. This incredible combination resulted in an unimaginable payout of $864,000 for a mere $2 superfecta ticket, making it the largest Derby payout ever recorded.
Unless there are any last-minute alterations, the victorious participants will receive $1.86 million, which accounts for 62% of the overall purse amounting to $3 million. The second-place holder will be awarded $600,000, while the third-place finisher will receive $300,000.