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Betting Guide

2024 Kentucky Derby Odds, Horses and Latest News

By TVG Staff

Updated March 27, 2024

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. As one of the most significant and exhilarating betting events of the year, the race features a formidable field of 19 horses vying for a chance to win the $5 million purse, up from $3 million in previous years. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds to stay ahead of the betting action and make informed decisions about which horses provide the best value.

Last year was a tumultuous race. Hopefully, 2024 will be a less dramatic affair, but only time will tell; in 2023, there were major changes in the field on the Thursday before the race, impacting the odds. Trainer Tim Yakteen announced that Practical Move came down with an elevated temperature after training. As a result, he is scratching from the Kentucky Derby. Practical Move had been one of the leading contenders after a win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), a traditionally live prep. Cyclone Mischief, first on the also-eligible list when the race drew on Monday, will now compete in the Kentucky Derby.

Hours later, stewards ordered all horses in the barn of Saffie Joseph, Jr. out of races at Churchill Downs, ruling Lord Miles out of the Kentucky Derby. This gets Mandarin Hero into the field. King Russell, third on the also-eligible list, got into the starting gate Thursday night after Continuar was scratched; trainer Yoshito Yahagi did not believe Continuar was training well enough into the race.

Friday morning featured another scratch in the race, further impacting the odds, as Skinner had an elevated temperature. This brings the field of the race to 19, as there were no more on the also-eligible list.

Though the odds will not be final until the horses break from the gate, betting opened for the race on Friday morning and early action can give clues about which horses might be sneakily live, and which others bettors are shying away from.

We also have more information on the Kentucky Oaks available at TVG.

Live Derby Week Coverage on FanDuel TV+

Tune in to FanDuel TV+ for Derby Week coverage featuring live racing and analysis. You can watch the live coverage of Kentucky Derby on NBC. FanDuel TV will also be on-site at Churchill Downs providing comprehensive coverage, including the latest news, analysis, and handicapping insights in the days leading up to the Derby.

Latest 2024 Kentucky Derby Odds Updates

The horses racing in the 2024 edition of the Run for the Roses are still making their way through the bevy of prep races. The field will take shape over the next several weeks as the 100-point Kentucky Derby prep races finish, and once the field is set, we will keep this updated with the field and the odds updates.

Though official morning line odds are not issued until Kentucky Derby week, one way to get an early look at what the odds may be is to look at Kentucky Derby future bets. Churchill Downs offers six pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The most recent one that has happened is Pool 5, which closed on March 17. Risen Star (G2) winner Sierra Leone closed as the favorite in that pool, with horses like Fierceness, Timberlake, Dornoch, and Forever Young also taking heavy action. If those horses run well in 100-point preps, expect them to be among the favorites in America’s most famous horse race.

Churchill Downs will host one final Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, open from April 4 through April 6. That is also the final week of 100-point preps, so this pool will be the closest reflection of what odds may look like Derby week.


Make sure to keep an eye on these five contenders in the Kentucky Derby field, as they look among the strongest in the field.

2024 Kentucky Derby Contender Profiles

Similarly, we’re still waiting for the field to take shape before we can point to any potential contenders. Once that happens, check back here for a list of our top derby contenders!

You’ll also be able to visit derby contenders here at TVG for even more information about the contenders!


What Kentucky Derby Odds Mean

Morning line odds are essentially a wagering forecast and can show us who is expected to run well in the Kentucky Derby. These odds help us wager and to decide whether or not a horse is a good value for money, given that you may really like a runner who is expected to go off at big odds.

Those with short odds are the horses with a bigger perceived chance of winning the race. The bigger the odds on a horse, the less chance it has of winning the Kentucky Derby according to the stats—though we should always remember horses aren’t machines and longshots do win!

A horse going off at 2-1 essentially has twice the chance of a horse at 4-1 according to the odds. Good value can be claimed when believing a chosen animal will win, even if it is not favored in the betting pools. When you have a good reason for your opinion, it can pay off to stick to your analysis!

Another option is going with the analysis of horse betting experts. Stick with TVG to keep up to date on all of our expert picks and visit our picks page.

While the odds alone (especially the morning line odds) cannot tell us who the most likely winner of the Kentucky Derby will be, they can be used as a helpful guide to tell us where the class is in the field and which horses may be more reliable to wager on.

2024 Kentucky Derby Odds Trends

On Saturday, May 4, we will witness the 150th Kentucky Derby, which is the first jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing. It takes place in the scintillating arena that is Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Often the top Kentucky Derby horses with the shortest odds win major prep races like the Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby, and Santa Anita Derby. The horses who perform best in the Kentucky Derby in recent years typically win or finish second in their final prep races, suggesting that they are in good form coming into the race and they are already able to prove themselves against top-level company, hence their odds.company.

Since the Road to the Kentucky Derby was established leading into the 2013 race, the Run for the Roses saw six winning favorites in a row. Then, Country House, with his 65-1 longshot odds, got his famous and controversial win in 2019 via disqualification. But, with non-favored horses winning in 2020, 2021, and 2022 as well, it proves that the points system did not automatically make the Kentucky Derby a race for favorites and those with the shortest odds.

Return here during Kentucky Derby week for the official morning line odds of the Run for the Roses!

Kentucky Derby Horses

Kentucky Derby Prep Race Winners

This is where the Road to the Kentucky Derby comes into its own with points awarded for first, second, third, and fourth in major prep races going back to last year’s juvenile events.

In all, 48 races are usually taken into consideration, mostly in the US but also in Japan, Europe, and the UAE. Heading toward the Kentucky Derby, it can be enlightening to look at the odds at which prep race winners won their points races. Well-bet horses who win preps are likely to be well-bet if they make it along to the Kentucky Derby. For longshots who win their preps, think critically about whether that win seemed like a fluke, or if you are willing to perhaps take shorter odds on Derby Day.

These are the most significant races on the road to the 150th Kentucky Derby. Here are the 2023 horses who won each of the races, and the odds at which they won.

DateRaceTrackPointsWinnerOdds
February 17Risen Star Stakes (G2)Fair Grounds50-25-15-10-5Sierra LeoneTBA
February 24Rebel Stakes (G2)Oaklawn Park50-25-15-10-5TimberlakeTBA
March 2Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2)Gulfstream Park50-25-15-10-5DornochTBA
March 2Gotham Stakes (G3)Aqueduct50-25-15-10-5DeterministicTBA
March 2San Felipe Stakes (G3)Santa Anita Park50-25-15-10-5ImaginationTBA
March 9Tampa Bay Derby (G3)Tampa Bay Downs50-20-15-10-5Domestic ProductTBA
March 23Jeff Ruby SteaksTurfway Park100-50-25-15-10EndlesslyTBA
March 23Louisiana Derby (G2)Fair Grounds100-50-25-15-10Catching FreedomTBA
March 30Florida Derby (G1)Gulfstream Park100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
March 30UAE Derby (G2)Meydan Racecourse100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
March 30Arkansas Derby (G1)Oaklawn Park100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
April 6Wood Memorial (G2)Aqueduct100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
April 6Blue Grass Stakes (G1)Keeneland100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
April 6Santa Anita Derby (G1)Santa Anita Park100-50-25-15-10TBATBA

* This horse won a major prep, but is no longer on the Kentucky Derby trail.

** No betting is allowed on track at Meydan. These are the odds from the American pari-mutuel betting pool on the UAE Derby.

How Kentucky Derby Odds are Formulated

In futures wagering and even in the morning line, anticipated Kentucky Derby odds are formulated using a mix of juvenile form, prep race form, and even breeding and reputation of the horses. The morning line is a forecast for how the betting odds will look on race day

Once wagering opens on the day before the Kentucky Derby, odds are determined by the pari-mutuel system. The final wagering odds are determined by the amount of cash in the pool overall from bettors around the country, divided by the number of wagers placed on each horse.

To put it another way, there may be millions in the pool with very few people betting your horse meaning potentially huge odds, but on the other hand, if the majority of people are going for your horse their final starting odds could be very small for the win.

Millions of dollars are wagered on the Kentucky Derby, both in the win/place/show pools and in exotic pools. The odds will fluctuate plenty on the pari-mutuel system during the build-up to the race, especially in the final few moments before post time so be prepared not to know what betting odds you will get on your horse using this method until go time.

Live Odds & Betting Favorites

On Kentucky Derby weekend, you will be able to follow live odds on the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, and other major races at Churchill Downs. With that information, expert picks, and up-to-the-minute information, you will be ready to place your Kentucky Derby bets with confidence.

Betting on the 2024 Kentucky Derby with TVG

Our team is always on hand to offer in-depth Kentucky Derby racing analysis and expert picks as we head towards post time at the Kentucky Derby, if you are new to horse racing and betting, review our Kentucky Derby betting guide.

Stay up-to-date on racing odds on the Kentucky Derby with TVG racing; your trusted one-stop destination for expert analysis, news and legal online betting!

We also recommend checking out the FanDuel Kentucky Derby website. This site offers additional valuable information on odds and exclusive betting promotions with America's #1 Sportsbook.

Live Derby Week Coverage on FanDuel TV+

Watch FanDuel Racing’s live, commercial-free, racing coverage of Derby Week on FanDuel TV+ beginning Saturday, 4/29 – Thursday 5/4. FanDuel TV will also be on-site at Churchill Downs providing comprehensive coverage, including the latest news, analysis, and handicapping insights in the days leading up to the Derby.

Get up to $200 Back

If you don't win your first single-horse win bet

By TVG Staff

Updated March 27, 2024

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. As one of the most significant and exhilarating betting events of the year, the race features a formidable field of 19 horses vying for a chance to win the $5 million purse, up from $3 million in previous years. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds to stay ahead of the betting action and make informed decisions about which horses provide the best value.

Last year was a tumultuous race. Hopefully, 2024 will be a less dramatic affair, but only time will tell; in 2023, there were major changes in the field on the Thursday before the race, impacting the odds. Trainer Tim Yakteen announced that Practical Move came down with an elevated temperature after training. As a result, he is scratching from the Kentucky Derby. Practical Move had been one of the leading contenders after a win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), a traditionally live prep. Cyclone Mischief, first on the also-eligible list when the race drew on Monday, will now compete in the Kentucky Derby.

Hours later, stewards ordered all horses in the barn of Saffie Joseph, Jr. out of races at Churchill Downs, ruling Lord Miles out of the Kentucky Derby. This gets Mandarin Hero into the field. King Russell, third on the also-eligible list, got into the starting gate Thursday night after Continuar was scratched; trainer Yoshito Yahagi did not believe Continuar was training well enough into the race.

Friday morning featured another scratch in the race, further impacting the odds, as Skinner had an elevated temperature. This brings the field of the race to 19, as there were no more on the also-eligible list.

Though the odds will not be final until the horses break from the gate, betting opened for the race on Friday morning and early action can give clues about which horses might be sneakily live, and which others bettors are shying away from.

We also have more information on the Kentucky Oaks available at TVG.

Live Derby Week Coverage on FanDuel TV+

Tune in to FanDuel TV+ for Derby Week coverage featuring live racing and analysis. You can watch the live coverage of Kentucky Derby on NBC. FanDuel TV will also be on-site at Churchill Downs providing comprehensive coverage, including the latest news, analysis, and handicapping insights in the days leading up to the Derby.

Latest 2024 Kentucky Derby Odds Updates

The horses racing in the 2024 edition of the Run for the Roses are still making their way through the bevy of prep races. The field will take shape over the next several weeks as the 100-point Kentucky Derby prep races finish, and once the field is set, we will keep this updated with the field and the odds updates.

Though official morning line odds are not issued until Kentucky Derby week, one way to get an early look at what the odds may be is to look at Kentucky Derby future bets. Churchill Downs offers six pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The most recent one that has happened is Pool 5, which closed on March 17. Risen Star (G2) winner Sierra Leone closed as the favorite in that pool, with horses like Fierceness, Timberlake, Dornoch, and Forever Young also taking heavy action. If those horses run well in 100-point preps, expect them to be among the favorites in America’s most famous horse race.

Churchill Downs will host one final Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, open from April 4 through April 6. That is also the final week of 100-point preps, so this pool will be the closest reflection of what odds may look like Derby week.


Make sure to keep an eye on these five contenders in the Kentucky Derby field, as they look among the strongest in the field.

2024 Kentucky Derby Contender Profiles

Similarly, we’re still waiting for the field to take shape before we can point to any potential contenders. Once that happens, check back here for a list of our top derby contenders!

You’ll also be able to visit derby contenders here at TVG for even more information about the contenders!


What Kentucky Derby Odds Mean

Morning line odds are essentially a wagering forecast and can show us who is expected to run well in the Kentucky Derby. These odds help us wager and to decide whether or not a horse is a good value for money, given that you may really like a runner who is expected to go off at big odds.

Those with short odds are the horses with a bigger perceived chance of winning the race. The bigger the odds on a horse, the less chance it has of winning the Kentucky Derby according to the stats—though we should always remember horses aren’t machines and longshots do win!

A horse going off at 2-1 essentially has twice the chance of a horse at 4-1 according to the odds. Good value can be claimed when believing a chosen animal will win, even if it is not favored in the betting pools. When you have a good reason for your opinion, it can pay off to stick to your analysis!

Another option is going with the analysis of horse betting experts. Stick with TVG to keep up to date on all of our expert picks and visit our picks page.

While the odds alone (especially the morning line odds) cannot tell us who the most likely winner of the Kentucky Derby will be, they can be used as a helpful guide to tell us where the class is in the field and which horses may be more reliable to wager on.

2024 Kentucky Derby Odds Trends

On Saturday, May 4, we will witness the 150th Kentucky Derby, which is the first jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing. It takes place in the scintillating arena that is Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Often the top Kentucky Derby horses with the shortest odds win major prep races like the Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby, and Santa Anita Derby. The horses who perform best in the Kentucky Derby in recent years typically win or finish second in their final prep races, suggesting that they are in good form coming into the race and they are already able to prove themselves against top-level company, hence their odds.company.

Since the Road to the Kentucky Derby was established leading into the 2013 race, the Run for the Roses saw six winning favorites in a row. Then, Country House, with his 65-1 longshot odds, got his famous and controversial win in 2019 via disqualification. But, with non-favored horses winning in 2020, 2021, and 2022 as well, it proves that the points system did not automatically make the Kentucky Derby a race for favorites and those with the shortest odds.

Return here during Kentucky Derby week for the official morning line odds of the Run for the Roses!

Kentucky Derby Horses

Kentucky Derby Prep Race Winners

This is where the Road to the Kentucky Derby comes into its own with points awarded for first, second, third, and fourth in major prep races going back to last year’s juvenile events.

In all, 48 races are usually taken into consideration, mostly in the US but also in Japan, Europe, and the UAE. Heading toward the Kentucky Derby, it can be enlightening to look at the odds at which prep race winners won their points races. Well-bet horses who win preps are likely to be well-bet if they make it along to the Kentucky Derby. For longshots who win their preps, think critically about whether that win seemed like a fluke, or if you are willing to perhaps take shorter odds on Derby Day.

These are the most significant races on the road to the 150th Kentucky Derby. Here are the 2023 horses who won each of the races, and the odds at which they won.

DateRaceTrackPointsWinnerOdds
February 17Risen Star Stakes (G2)Fair Grounds50-25-15-10-5Sierra LeoneTBA
February 24Rebel Stakes (G2)Oaklawn Park50-25-15-10-5TimberlakeTBA
March 2Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2)Gulfstream Park50-25-15-10-5DornochTBA
March 2Gotham Stakes (G3)Aqueduct50-25-15-10-5DeterministicTBA
March 2San Felipe Stakes (G3)Santa Anita Park50-25-15-10-5ImaginationTBA
March 9Tampa Bay Derby (G3)Tampa Bay Downs50-20-15-10-5Domestic ProductTBA
March 23Jeff Ruby SteaksTurfway Park100-50-25-15-10EndlesslyTBA
March 23Louisiana Derby (G2)Fair Grounds100-50-25-15-10Catching FreedomTBA
March 30Florida Derby (G1)Gulfstream Park100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
March 30UAE Derby (G2)Meydan Racecourse100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
March 30Arkansas Derby (G1)Oaklawn Park100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
April 6Wood Memorial (G2)Aqueduct100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
April 6Blue Grass Stakes (G1)Keeneland100-50-25-15-10TBATBA
April 6Santa Anita Derby (G1)Santa Anita Park100-50-25-15-10TBATBA

* This horse won a major prep, but is no longer on the Kentucky Derby trail.

** No betting is allowed on track at Meydan. These are the odds from the American pari-mutuel betting pool on the UAE Derby.

How Kentucky Derby Odds are Formulated

In futures wagering and even in the morning line, anticipated Kentucky Derby odds are formulated using a mix of juvenile form, prep race form, and even breeding and reputation of the horses. The morning line is a forecast for how the betting odds will look on race day

Once wagering opens on the day before the Kentucky Derby, odds are determined by the pari-mutuel system. The final wagering odds are determined by the amount of cash in the pool overall from bettors around the country, divided by the number of wagers placed on each horse.

To put it another way, there may be millions in the pool with very few people betting your horse meaning potentially huge odds, but on the other hand, if the majority of people are going for your horse their final starting odds could be very small for the win.

Millions of dollars are wagered on the Kentucky Derby, both in the win/place/show pools and in exotic pools. The odds will fluctuate plenty on the pari-mutuel system during the build-up to the race, especially in the final few moments before post time so be prepared not to know what betting odds you will get on your horse using this method until go time.

Live Odds & Betting Favorites

On Kentucky Derby weekend, you will be able to follow live odds on the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, and other major races at Churchill Downs. With that information, expert picks, and up-to-the-minute information, you will be ready to place your Kentucky Derby bets with confidence.

Betting on the 2024 Kentucky Derby with TVG

Our team is always on hand to offer in-depth Kentucky Derby racing analysis and expert picks as we head towards post time at the Kentucky Derby, if you are new to horse racing and betting, review our Kentucky Derby betting guide.

Stay up-to-date on racing odds on the Kentucky Derby with TVG racing; your trusted one-stop destination for expert analysis, news and legal online betting!

We also recommend checking out the FanDuel Kentucky Derby website. This site offers additional valuable information on odds and exclusive betting promotions with America's #1 Sportsbook.

Live Derby Week Coverage on FanDuel TV+

Watch FanDuel Racing’s live, commercial-free, racing coverage of Derby Week on FanDuel TV+ beginning Saturday, 4/29 – Thursday 5/4. FanDuel TV will also be on-site at Churchill Downs providing comprehensive coverage, including the latest news, analysis, and handicapping insights in the days leading up to the Derby.