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Kentucky Derby Betting

The 148th Kentucky Derby is way off at present, it is set to run on Saturday, May 7th 2022.

It’s no wonder that Kentucky Derby betting online is already causing lots of commotion. At the same time, only very early ante-post odds are available and these are subject to plenty of change over the coming months.

Take a look at our detailed Kentucky Derby betting guide. It features info on Kentucky Derby betting sites, Kentucky Derby bets explained, and lots more. If you are looking for more information about horse racing betting, read our page dedicated to horse racing betting (World’s famous horse racing events to bet on).

Kentucky Derby Betting 2022

Kentucky Derby, popularly known as the Run for the Roses, is the first race in the horse racing season in the USA. It constitutes the Triple Crown together with Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

The below table shows the few who are in contention at the moment, along with their best current ante-post odds. As the race gets nearer, we will get a much clearer picture of which horses are set to run and who the favourite will be on the big day.

HorseBreederTrainerOdds
Essential QualityGodolphinBrad CoxTBA
Jackie’s WarriorJ & J StablesSteve AsmussenTBA
KeepmeinmindSouthern Equine StablesRobertino DiodoroTBA
Reinvestment RiskAschinger Bloodstock & St. Elias Stables LlcChad BrownTBA
Hot Rod CharlieEdward A. Cox Jr.Doug O’NeillTBA
Sittin On GoWynnstayDale RomansTBA
ClassierMary A. SullivanBob BaffertTBA
Highly MotivatedKlaravich StablesChad BrownTBA

*all odds subject to change.

You should have in mind that the odds can change before the event. Make sure to check them regularly in order to make an informed decision when you want to place your bet.

There are a few more reasons why this race is so popular. First, there are many eager spectators who want to witness the race in person.

Secondly, it is a popular race for online betting.

If you want to place a bet on Kentucky Derby online, our guide will surely come in handy. We aim to feature lots of useful info on Kentucky Derby wagering, best Kentucky Derby betting sites, etc.

Lots of predictions are already circulating, so making an informed decision before placing a bet is advisable. The same goes for knowing the types of bets you can place. Therefore, make sure to read more about Kentucky Derby bets explained below.

Kentucky Derby 2014. Photo Credit: Bill Brine / Flickr. CC BY 2.0

Kentucky Derby Bets

If you want to place bet on Kentucky Derby, you should know which bets are at your disposal. All Kentucky Derby online betting sites offer the same type of bets more or less.

Currently, you can find futures odds, but as this event approaches there’ll be lots of other bet types available. Some of the most common ones are win-place-show bets, exacta bets and trifecta bets.

Kentucky Derby Odds

Given that the Kentucky Derby 2022 is months away, you can currently only find ante-post odds on Kentucky Derby online betting sites. Take a look at the table below. In it, you will find for current odds assigned to some of the potential KY Derby runners by some bookmakers.

You should have in mind that these odds and the horses are all subject to changes in the following months.

As this race approaches, we’ll have a much clearer picture as to which horses will appear in the race and who the biggest favourites are going to be.

This will also be reflected in online Derby betting, as the odds are going to change dramatically, as well. We’ll make sure to update our article as soon as any changes take place.

*Both horses and their assigned odds are subject to change in the months leading up to the Derby.

Kentucky Derby Tips and Picks

If you’re not a professional bettor, any hints and tips regarding who to bet on in the Kentucky Derby will prove useful.

Now that the Kentucky Derby is back in its rightful place as the first leg of the Triple Crown, we will not have the benefit of form from the Preakness or the Belmont to look at. The beauty of that, of course, is that all those taking part still harbour dreams of landing this incredibly tough series of races.

Before trainer Bob Baffert hit the scene, there had been no Triple Crown winner since 1978 but now the California-based handler has achieved the feat twice; American Pharoah winning it in 2015 and Justify in 2018. With that in mind, any runner trainer by Baffert should be given at least a second glance.

Another thing to keep in mind is the form of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The winner of that race so often goes on to compete in the Kentucky Derby, making Essential Quality the rightful early favourite.

The last thing is to consider waiting until the major prep races are run on the so-called Road to the Kentucky Derby. Major trial races include the Santa Anita Derby, Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, UAE Derby and the Florida Derby with any winners of these races going right to the top of the list.

There is also one more thing to consider related to Kentucky Derby wagering. As many as 20 horses participate in this race, which is the most in a race taking place in the USA. All of them will take part in major races leading up to the Derby, so taking a look at their past performance surely helps.

Those that already have a few wins on the same surface (dirt) are well worth considering, so you should take this into account before you start searching for Kentucky Derby bets to place.

Kentucky Derby Horses

Knowing what this great race is all about is just half the battle. As a race for the top three-year-olds only, the runners change every year and so it is always wise to spend time getting to know who they are.

To even get a place in the final 20 going to post, potential Kentucky Derby runners must achieve points in major prep races, known collectively as the Road to the Kentucky Derby, achieving points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th at various levels depending on the importance of the race.

At the end of the series in April, the best 20 will be able to run at Churchill Downs assuming they are fit and well.

Kentucky Derby Favourites

It is way too early at this stage to know who will take part, let alone be favourite for the 148th Kentucky Derby on May 7th, 2022. After the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile result in November however, these three show up well:

Essential Quality

Trainer: Brad Cox

Following in the footsteps of fellow Godolphin runner Maxfield, Essential Quality won the Breeders’ Futurity (Grade 1) at Keeneland in October.
Unlike Maxfield, Essential Quality remained fit enough to tackle the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the same track and duly won the race in an impressive fashion.

Jackie’s Warrior

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Favourite for the Breeders’ Cup, Jackie’s Warrior finished a disappointing fourth but that was still a strong run after a busy season during which he took down two top-level races in New York.

Keepmeinmind

Trainer: Robertino Diodoro

Edging ever closer to Essential Quality, this is a colt who could be a tad underestimated given that he seems to be improving all the time. With a good winter behind him, he could be a very live contender.

Kentucky Derby Live

Kentucky Derby betting online goes hand in hand with watching this event. If you can’t be at Churchill Downs and watch the Race for the Roses in person, lucky for you there are many alternatives. All best Kentucky Derby betting sites have live streaming services enabled.

This means that in addition to having the option to place a bet on Kentucky Derby online, you can also watch the race live from the comfort of your own home. All operators, though, have certain terms and conditions that you need to meet to enable this feature.

For example, you need to have a positive balance in your account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Additionally, having a Kentucky Derby betting app is also more than handy, so you can look into those, as well.

Live Betting Disclaimer: Please note: due to the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia, any form of live betting cannot be conducted online. Play betting can only be conducted via telephone.

About Kentucky Derby

We’ll finish our Kentucky Derby betting guide by sharing some interesting facts about this race.

And if you take a look at the vast number of Kentucky Derby betting apps and Kentucky Derby betting sites, you can see that not only is this race popular among eager spectators wanting to see the action live, but eager punters, as well.

KY Derby has a long history that spans three centuries. 20 three-year-old Thoroughbreds race on the 2,012-meter dirt track at Churchill Downs, Louisville. The first race was held in 1875 with Aristides taking the title.

Secretariat, the 1973 winner, still holds the track record with 1:59:40 and is to this day one of only two horses who have managed to complete the race in under two minutes. The other member of this elite club was Monarchos in 2001, with the time of 1:59:97.

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