Latest Betting Tips For Kentucky Derby 2023

The Kentucky Derby is the epitome of a “special event.”

Held every year since 1875, it’s the oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States. It is steeped in tradition but has also adapted enough to survive and thrive in modern times.

Of course, much of that extended popularity can be attributed to the majesty of the Thoroughbred. These horses represent the best of the best of American sport: they are gorgeous, gritty, and driven only by their desire to run and win. What’s not to love?

The other big reason why the Kentucky Derby has survived nearly 150 consecutive years is that participants, rather than simply viewing the event, have the opportunity to easily win some money. Bettors are the lifeblood of the sport, providing not only relevance but revenue. So, it is important to keep up with the Kentucky Derby betting results from previous years.

Here are some tips to consider when making your Kentucky Derby bets.

Future Wagers

If you have a hunch regarding a Kentucky Derby hopeful, there’s no need to wait until race day to place your bet!

The Kentucky Derby Future Wagers are bets that can be placed weeks or months in advance.

There are six opportunities, called pools, in which bettors can lock in odds for thirty-eight individual entries; the remaining two entries in the pool are for “All Other Three-Year-Old Males” and “All Other Three-Year-Old Fillies.” A similar tool exists for hopefuls for the Kentucky Oaks, the Derby equivalent for fillies.

There is an element of risk to these bets. There is no guarantee that horses in the Future Wagers will even enter the race. Those who supported the highly regarded Arabian Knight in Pool 5 found that out the hard way; the pool closed on March 12, and that very morning trainer Tim Yakteen pulled the colt from consideration for the Derby.

On the other hand, there is an opportunity for a high reward as well. Forte was 3-1 at the close of Pool 5, but should he win the upcoming Florida Derby, getting such high odds for the champion will be impossible. Those who supported Forte in earlier pools, when he closed at odds of 8-1 or higher, would stand to make even more.

Exotics

An exotic wager refers to a bet that either involves more than one horse in a race or choosing the winners of two or more preselected races. These bets are more difficult to win, but they return quite a bit of money for those who do well.

Betting an exacta, trifecta, or superfecta involves picking the first two to four finishers in a race.

They can either be straight (meaning that you select the finishers in a precise order) or boxed (meaning that you select the group of finishers, but they can finish in any order). You can also “key” a specific horse to win, while still betting on a group to finish behind him.

Betting a Daily Double or a Pick 3-6 involves selecting the winners of that number of races.

Typically, these races are consecutive races held on the same race card. However, a popular bet on Derby weekend is the Oaks-Derby Double, in which a bettor chooses horses to win the Derby as well as the Oaks, which is held the day before.

Keep As Informed As Possible Of course, it’s important to research the horses’ bloodlines and study their past racing careers.

But as Derby Day approaches, it will be even more important to pay attention to details.

Which horses are working well over the Churchill Downs track? Which horses are struggling when schooling in the gate? Which horses seem especially affected by the media movement surrounding them? Which horses will be helped by their post positions, and which will be hindered?

These are the questions that can make the difference between cashing a winning ticket and

throwing away a worthless one. If you keep your attention focused on the upcoming Derby field, you’ll be far more likely to find success.

Author: Lindsay Griffin

Cover Credits: ESPNofficial