By Dave Schwab
Even people that do not follow horse racing know that the Kentucky Derby is the biggest event of the year in this sport. You could also go as far to say that even people that do not bet on sports may be looking to get in on some betting action for this race.
Fortunately for anyone in that later group, today’s top online sportsbooks have made it easier than ever to place some bets on what has become known as “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”. The basics of betting the Kentucky Derby start with straight bets on the Win-Place-Show option. Some of the more advanced betting options include a two-horse exacta bet, a three-horse trifecta bet and a four-horse superfecta. If you are still looking to expand your horizons past these types of betting options, rest assured that the top online books have an expanded betting board with even more ways to bet the Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs is the host track for the annual “Run for the Roses” and in conjunction with the first Saturday in May’s main event, this fabled track has a full day’s race card jammed pack with a number of big money major graded stakes events. This could open the door to a Daily Double bet where you have to pick the winner in two designated races. Some books will expand this betting option to a Pick 3 for three races and a Pick 4 for picking winners in four designated races.
One of the best ways to bet any major graded stakes race is through the moneyline odds posted for head-to-head matchups. This pits one horse against the horse and all the one that you bet on has to do is finish ahead of the horse they were matched up against. This type of bet can be far easier to cash in as opposed to trying to pick the outright winner.
Where the online sportsbooks taking action on the Kentucky Derby really set themselves apart from a basic off track horse racing betting outlet is through a wide selection of prop bets odds that are designed to add even more betting excitement to this race. Some of the most popular Kentucky Derby props to bet include the “over/under” on the winning time. You can also bet on the margin of victory by the winning horse. Once the post positions are set and each Derby contender is assigned a starting number, you will have the option of betting on whether or not the winning horse has an odd or even saddlecloth.
The list of Kentucky Derby props is extensive and in many cases offers some excellent value in the numbers if you know where and how to look. Every year the list appears to get longer and longer so you are bound to find something that piques your interest surrounding the big race.
If you do not currently have a sports betting account at an online sportsbook, getting set up to bet the Kentucky Derby is as easy as making an initial deposit with a book of your choice. From this account you will have the ability to bet on anything that sportsbook has to offer on their board so you will not need a separate account for their sportsbook and their racebook for horses. Best of all, most of the top online books are offering any number of bonus incentives and promotions to help stretch your overall betting bankroll.
This year’s Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, so now is the time to start formulating your betting strategy for the big day. With the help of your favorite online book, you can make this the best Derby Day ever.
