The Kentucky Derby is arguably the most popular horse race in the United States each year. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown, and potentially the launching point for any Triple Crown winning campaign. Here, we take a look at the odds to win this year’s Kentucky Derby, along with some information that is worth keeping in mind before you place any wagers on the run for the roses.
Latest Kentucky Derby Odds
Bettors should always keep an eye on the Kentucky Derby odds to get an idea of who might come out on top of this prestigious race. Keep in mind that horse racing wagering is a little different than traditional sports betting, in that lines move right up to the start of the race. Here are the most recent Kentucky Derby betting odds, including the favorites to come out on top of this race.
Odds as of April 30, 2024
- Fierceness 7/2
- Forever Young 4/1
- Sierra Leone 9/2
- Catalytic 7/1
- Track Phantom 9/1
- Catching Freedom 13/1
- Just a Touch 15/1
- Just Steel 22/1
- Domestic Product 22/1
- West Saratoga 22/1
- Mugatu 33/1
- Stronghold 34/1
- Mystik Dan 39/1
- Honor Marie 50/1
- Encino 99/1
- Resilience 99/1
- T O Password 99/1
- Endlessly 99/1
- Epic Ride 99/1
- Society Man 99/1
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to make sure that you are tracking the odds for the Kentucky Derby throughout the time leading up to the race. The odds can shift dramatically from day to day and knowing when and why those odds are changing can help you make the smartest possible bets for the run for the roses.
Where Can I Bet On the Kentucky Derby?
There are plenty of places to place wagers on the Kentucky Derby, but we recommend FanDuel for wagering on horse racing. With FanDuel, players in most states where FanDuel Sportsbook is legal can place wagers right from their sportsbook app. In other states, bettors will need to download the separate FanDuel Racing app. But in either case, deposits made to FanDuel Sportsbook can be used to place racing wagers, which is incredibly convenient.
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Kentucky Derby Track Info
The Kentucky Derby is the second-longest race of the Triple Crown season, coming in at 1.25 miles. This is a quarter of a mile shorter than the Belmont Stakes and 1/16 of a mile longer than the Preakness. It is important to look at how each horse has performed at or around this specific distance when handicapping this race to get an idea of how they should perform on this particular stage.
It is also important to factor the anticipated weather into the expected outcome of this race. Ideal weather conditions could favor some horses, while bad weather could favor others, given that this race is run on dirt. Bettors have to be ready for all possibilities from a weather perspective and plan ahead for each of them.
Past Kentucky Derby Winners and Odds
The Kentucky Derby has been a launching point for many Triple Crown campaigns, as well as simply a crowning achievement for many horses that did not go onto win the crown. Below is a list of Kentucky Derby winners from 2000 on, some of which were true shocks at the time.
| Year | Kentucky Derby Winner | Final Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mage | 14/1 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | 80/1 |
| 2021 | Medina Spirit | 12/1 |
| 2020 | Authentic | 8/1 |
| 2019 | Country House | 65/1 |
| 2018 | Justify | 5/2 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | 9/2 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | 2/1 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 5/2 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | 5/2 |
| 2013 | Orb | 5/1 |
| 2012 | I’ll Have Another | 15/1 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | 20/1 |
| 2010 | Super Saver | 8/1 |
| 2009 | Mine That Bird | 50/1 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | 7/2 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | 9/2 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | 6/1 |
| 2005 | Giacomo | 50/1 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | 4/1 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | 13/1 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | 41/2 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | 21/2 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | 9/5 |
Kentucky Derby Betting Strategy
The most important piece of Kentucky Derby betting strategy is to avoid flying blind when betting on this event. With this being the first leg of the Triple Crown, many more inexperienced horse racing bettors likely don’t know all that much about the horses competing in this race. Bettors should do everything they can to arm themselves with knowledge about all of the horses, even if it is appealing to just place some bets without any knowledge of the competition.
Bettors should also look at where each horse ends up starting from in this race to help inform their decisions. A horse that is favored to win this race could see their chances evaporate if they are in a bad position starting out, as they may not be able to create a path to get into space down the stretch. At least being aware of possibilities like that one will help bettors maximize their chances of winning when betting on this event.
