While Saturday isn’t the Super Bowl, for many gamblers, it comes pretty close.
The first Saturday of May has rolled around, which means the Kentucky Derby is upon us. Twenty horses are set to chase a piece of history as potential Triple Crown champions.
According to one expert, “There are plenty of significant days for horse players, but this one is the biggest. It attracts more media attention than any other race and is surrounded by a unique hype.”
For the general public, this event is easily the most popular horse race, and everyone seems eager to get in on the action.
Many casual bettors, as noted by Avello, are on the lookout for that rare chance to “catch lightning in a bottle.” He observes, “This isn’t one of those races where the favorites usually take the most money. Bettors often seek out horses that offer better value.”
People might turn to different types of wagers—like Exactas, Trifectas, or Superfectas. Some Superfectas have even paid out in six figures! Even if you end up winning or placing, there’s a good chance your bet will pay off to some extent.
It’s not easy to strike it rich with just small bets, so sometimes, a more creative approach is necessary. “You probably won’t get wealthy from the Derby unless you hit a wild Superfecta. But everyone wants to find some value in the race and, boy, when you strike gold, the thrill is unmatched,” Avello commented.
DraftKings is joining in on the fun as well. New users can place a $5 bet on a winner, and if their pick comes through, they’ll share in a million-dollar prize pool on that same wager.
Currently, Journalism is the favorite at 3-1 odds, followed by Sovereignty at 9-2, and Sandman at 5-1.
Betting odds from kentuckyderby.com (7:02 PM)
No. 1: Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia) 13-1
No. 2: Neoequos (Flavieen Prat) 47-1
No. 3: Final Gambit (Luan Machado) 15-1
No. 4: Rodriguez – Scratch
No. 5: American Promise (Nik Juarez) 12-1
No. 6: Praise Daytona (Christophe Lemaire) 41-1
No. 7: Luxor Cafe (Joao Moreira) 11-1
No. 8: Journalism (Umberto Rispoli) 7-2
No. 9: Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr.) 16-1
No. 10: Grande – Scratch
No. 11: Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos) 31-1
No. 12: East Avenue (Manny Franco) 37-1
No. 13: Publisher (Irad Ortiz Jr.) 29-1
No. 14: Tiztastic (Joel Rosario) 18-1
No. 15: Render Judgment (Julien Reparoo) 14-1
No. 16: Coal War (Juan Vargas) 25-1
No. 17: Sandman (Jose Ortiz) 9-2
No. 18: Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado) 9-1
No. 19: Jareth Loveberry 28-1
No. 20: Owen Almighty (Javier Castellano) 39-1
No. 21: Baeza (Flavieen Prat) 18-1
How to watch it?
- Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
- Date: May 3, 2024
- Projected Start Time: 7:02 PM EST
- TV: NBC
- Prize Purse: $5 million
