The 150th Kentucky Derby is just around the corner. Arguably one of the most renowned sporting events in history makes its return to Churchill Downs this Saturday, and with it comes a flurry of sports bettors looking to get in on the fastest two minutes in sports.
The Run for the Roses is known for the sports betting culture that surrounds it. While heavy favorites and frontrunners often dominate the field in this historic event, the last two years have seen massive underdogs claim victory between Rich Strike (2022) and Mage (2023). The payout that comes with an underdog taking the win can entice some bettors into putting money on a similar result this year. However, it’s often smarter to bet on the favorites. Prior to 2022, the previous eight winners had all been favorites or near-favorites.
You also don’t have to bet on just one horse though. If you’d like to hedge your bets, betting on multiples horses can give you a little more leeway at a slightly higher payout. Of course, that is often a luxury most people cannot afford. So, whether you are a returning Derby bettor or a first timer looking for some excitement this weekend. Here is how to bet on the 150th Run for the Roses.
2024 Kentucky Derby: Post positions are set. Here’s where each horse landed
Where to bet on the 2024 Kentucky Derby
A few sportsbooks will allow some form of betting on the esteemed race. The one that dominates the scene every year is FanDuel, which has options for bettors through its sportsbook and Racing App in 29 states.
Strategies for Kentucky Derby betting
Betting on just one horse in a field of 20 is often not the best bet. Other strategies you could employ include vertical and/or horizontal wagers.
A vertical wager involves trying to predict the correct order in which certain horses finish. There are several different versions of this wager, including a Super High Five, where you must predict the correct order of the top five horses in the race. These are obviously very difficult to pull off, but have massive payouts if you’re looking for a home run.
Horizontal wagers involve betting on multiple races. If you’re looking to make a whole day out of betting on the races at Churchill Downs, then perhaps a horizontal wager would be the way to go.
Who are the favorites in the Kentucky Derby this year?
Per CBS Sports, the favorite in this year’s race is Fierceness at 5-2 odds. Nipping at Fierceness’ heels is Sierra Leone at 3-1. On some sites, Leone has the better odds than Fierceness, but the latter appears to be the consensus favorite.
Following those two, it’s a steep drop to Catching Freedom at 8-1. Only two other horses – Forever Young and Just a Touch – even have 10-1 odds of winning.
Full Odds:
Odds via CBS Sports, as of Tuesday, April 30.
- Fierceness (5-2)
- Sierra Leone (3-1)
- Catching Freedom (8-1)
- Forever Young (10-1)
- Just a Touch (10-1)
- Dornoch (20-1)
- Mystik Dan (20-1)
- Just Steel (20-1)
- Honor Marie (20-1)
- Track Phanton (20-1)
- Stronghold (20-1)
- Resilience (20-1)
- Catalytic (30-1)
- T O Password (30-1)
- Endlessly (30-1)
- Domestic Product (30-1)
- Epic Ride (30-1)
- Grand Mo the First (50-1)
- Society Man (50-1)
- West Saratoga (50-1)
How to watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby:
When: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
Time: 6:57 p.m. ET; 3:57 p.m. PT
Coverage starts: 2:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC; USA TV Network
Stream: NBC Sports app; Peacock
Watch the race: Stream the 2024 Kentucky Derby with a Peacock subscription
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