Betting Guide
2024 Kentucky Derby Odds, Horses and Latest News
By TVG Staff
Updated April 24, 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 2024 Kentucky Derby prep race season ended April 13 with the Lexington at Keeneland. This means all the points have been given out. The field is not final, since some horses may be routed off the Kentucky Derby trail between the final prep and draw day due to injuries or other reasons. However, there is a clear picture of which horses are expected to be in the field.
These are the horses still under Kentucky Derby consideration, along with their odds in Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that was run between April 4 and 6. This spot will be updated with morning-line odds when we have them, and those may shift considerably since the last Future Wager pool closed just before the last few 100-point preps.
| Rank | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | Tyler Gaffalione | 7-1 |
| 2 | Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | John Velazque | 5-2 |
| 3 | Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | Flavien Prat | 12-1 |
| 4 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | Antonio Fresu | 30-1 |
| 5 | Resilience | Bill Mott | TBA | 76-1 |
| 6 | Forever Young | Yoshito Yahagi | Ryusei Sakai | 8-1 |
| 7 | Endlessly | Michael McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli | 37-1 |
| 8 | Dornoch | Danny Gargan | Luis Saez | 12-1 |
| 9 | Just a Touch | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 22-1 |
| 10 | Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario | 53-1 |
| 11 | West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | Jesus Castanon | 12-1 |
| 12 | Just Steel | D. Wayne Lukas | Keith Asmussen | 30-1 |
| 13 | Honor Marie | Whit Beckman | Ben Curtis | 26-1 |
| 14 | Domestic Product | Chad Brown | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 40-1 |
| 15 | Catalytic | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Julien Leparoux | 99-1 |
| 16 | Society Man | Danny Gargan | Luis Rivera, Jr. | 793-1 |
| 17 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | 35-1 |
| 18 | Encino | Brad Cox | TBA | 63-1 |
| 19 | Grand Mo the First | Victor Barboza, Jr. | TBA | 179-1 |
| 20 | T O Password | Daisuke Takayanagi | Kazushi Kimura | 135-1 |
| 21 | Epic Ride | John Ennis | TBA | 156-1 |
| 22 | Uncle Heavy | Butch Reid | TBA | 72-1 |
| 23 | Seize the Grey | D. Wayne Lukas | TBA | 42-1 |
2024 Kentucky Derby Contender Profiles
The Kentucky Derby is still over two weeks away, but with all of the prep races done, it is time to start thinking about which horses have the best chances to take the blanket of roses at Churchill Downs. These four horses belong at the top of your list of Kentucky Derby considerations.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has been well-regarded since last year, but has continued to improve as the distances get longer. He won the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds—a race that has graded out well, since third-place Catching Freedom came back to win the Louisiana Derby (G2), and Sierra Leone himself followed up with a dazzling score in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. With a lively pace expected in the run for the roses, a sustained run like Sierra Leone found in the Blue Grass could win the Kentucky Derby, too.
Catching Freedom
Horses from the Louisiana Derby have been taking a more and more prominent role in the Kentucky Derby in recent years, and Catching Freedom should continue that trend. He is a late-running type, but he does not necessarily have to drop back as far as he did in the Louisiana Derby to be effective. Jockey Flavien Prat is also a major positive: he has hit the board in five of the six editions of the Kentucky Derby in which he has ridden.
Encino
He had not even tried dirt until the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland in April, but he proved he could handle it just as well as the Tapeta when he held Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward at bay. He has the versatility to be a good Derby horse, with wins both on the front end and from a few lengths off the pace. And, his pedigree could not be more appealing for the Classic distance: he is by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, who is herself by Preakness winner Bernardini.
Honor Marie
Though Honor Marie has tables to turn on Catching Freedom, as he was a length behind that foe in the Louisiana Derby, he has further upside third off the lay. After all, he found his best in the third start of his form cycle last year, as well, when he won the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). That race happened at Churchill Downs, proving that he should be able to handle the footing in the Kentucky Derby as well.
You’ll also be able to visit derby contenders here at TVG for a full rundown of 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 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.
| Date | Race | Track | Points | Winner | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 17 | Risen Star Stakes (G2) | Fair Grounds | 50-25-15-10-5 | Sierra Leone | TBA |
| February 24 | Rebel Stakes (G2) | Oaklawn Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Timberlake | TBA |
| March 2 | Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) | Gulfstream Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Dornoch | TBA |
| March 2 | Gotham Stakes (G3) | Aqueduct | 50-25-15-10-5 | Deterministic | TBA |
| March 2 | San Felipe Stakes (G3) | Santa Anita Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Imagination | TBA |
| March 9 | Tampa Bay Derby (G3) | Tampa Bay Downs | 50-20-15-10-5 | Domestic Product | TBA |
| March 23 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Endlessly | TBA |
| March 23 | Louisiana Derby (G2) | Fair Grounds | 100-50-25-15-10 | Catching Freedom | TBA |
| March 30 | Florida Derby (G1) | Gulfstream Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Fiercness | TBA |
| March 30 | UAE Derby (G2) | Meydan Racecourse | 100-50-25-15-10 | Forever Young | TBA |
| March 30 | Arkansas Derby (G1) | Oaklawn Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Muth | TBA |
| April 6 | Wood Memorial (G2) | Aqueduct | 100-50-25-15-10 | Resilience | TBA |
| April 6 | Blue Grass Stakes (G1) | Keeneland | 100-50-25-15-10 | Sierra Leone | TBA |
| April 6 | Santa Anita Derby (G1) | Santa Anita Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Stronghold | TBA |
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 betFeatured TVG Promotions
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If you don't win your first single-horse win betBy TVG Staff
Updated April 24, 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 2024 Kentucky Derby prep race season ended April 13 with the Lexington at Keeneland. This means all the points have been given out. The field is not final, since some horses may be routed off the Kentucky Derby trail between the final prep and draw day due to injuries or other reasons. However, there is a clear picture of which horses are expected to be in the field.
These are the horses still under Kentucky Derby consideration, along with their odds in Pool 6 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that was run between April 4 and 6. This spot will be updated with morning-line odds when we have them, and those may shift considerably since the last Future Wager pool closed just before the last few 100-point preps.
| Rank | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | Tyler Gaffalione | 7-1 |
| 2 | Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | John Velazque | 5-2 |
| 3 | Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | Flavien Prat | 12-1 |
| 4 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | Antonio Fresu | 30-1 |
| 5 | Resilience | Bill Mott | TBA | 76-1 |
| 6 | Forever Young | Yoshito Yahagi | Ryusei Sakai | 8-1 |
| 7 | Endlessly | Michael McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli | 37-1 |
| 8 | Dornoch | Danny Gargan | Luis Saez | 12-1 |
| 9 | Just a Touch | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux | 22-1 |
| 10 | Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario | 53-1 |
| 11 | West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | Jesus Castanon | 12-1 |
| 12 | Just Steel | D. Wayne Lukas | Keith Asmussen | 30-1 |
| 13 | Honor Marie | Whit Beckman | Ben Curtis | 26-1 |
| 14 | Domestic Product | Chad Brown | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 40-1 |
| 15 | Catalytic | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Julien Leparoux | 99-1 |
| 16 | Society Man | Danny Gargan | Luis Rivera, Jr. | 793-1 |
| 17 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | 35-1 |
| 18 | Encino | Brad Cox | TBA | 63-1 |
| 19 | Grand Mo the First | Victor Barboza, Jr. | TBA | 179-1 |
| 20 | T O Password | Daisuke Takayanagi | Kazushi Kimura | 135-1 |
| 21 | Epic Ride | John Ennis | TBA | 156-1 |
| 22 | Uncle Heavy | Butch Reid | TBA | 72-1 |
| 23 | Seize the Grey | D. Wayne Lukas | TBA | 42-1 |
2024 Kentucky Derby Contender Profiles
The Kentucky Derby is still over two weeks away, but with all of the prep races done, it is time to start thinking about which horses have the best chances to take the blanket of roses at Churchill Downs. These four horses belong at the top of your list of Kentucky Derby considerations.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has been well-regarded since last year, but has continued to improve as the distances get longer. He won the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds—a race that has graded out well, since third-place Catching Freedom came back to win the Louisiana Derby (G2), and Sierra Leone himself followed up with a dazzling score in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. With a lively pace expected in the run for the roses, a sustained run like Sierra Leone found in the Blue Grass could win the Kentucky Derby, too.
Catching Freedom
Horses from the Louisiana Derby have been taking a more and more prominent role in the Kentucky Derby in recent years, and Catching Freedom should continue that trend. He is a late-running type, but he does not necessarily have to drop back as far as he did in the Louisiana Derby to be effective. Jockey Flavien Prat is also a major positive: he has hit the board in five of the six editions of the Kentucky Derby in which he has ridden.
Encino
He had not even tried dirt until the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland in April, but he proved he could handle it just as well as the Tapeta when he held Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward at bay. He has the versatility to be a good Derby horse, with wins both on the front end and from a few lengths off the pace. And, his pedigree could not be more appealing for the Classic distance: he is by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, who is herself by Preakness winner Bernardini.
Honor Marie
Though Honor Marie has tables to turn on Catching Freedom, as he was a length behind that foe in the Louisiana Derby, he has further upside third off the lay. After all, he found his best in the third start of his form cycle last year, as well, when he won the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). That race happened at Churchill Downs, proving that he should be able to handle the footing in the Kentucky Derby as well.
You’ll also be able to visit derby contenders here at TVG for a full rundown of 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 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.
| Date | Race | Track | Points | Winner | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 17 | Risen Star Stakes (G2) | Fair Grounds | 50-25-15-10-5 | Sierra Leone | TBA |
| February 24 | Rebel Stakes (G2) | Oaklawn Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Timberlake | TBA |
| March 2 | Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) | Gulfstream Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Dornoch | TBA |
| March 2 | Gotham Stakes (G3) | Aqueduct | 50-25-15-10-5 | Deterministic | TBA |
| March 2 | San Felipe Stakes (G3) | Santa Anita Park | 50-25-15-10-5 | Imagination | TBA |
| March 9 | Tampa Bay Derby (G3) | Tampa Bay Downs | 50-20-15-10-5 | Domestic Product | TBA |
| March 23 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Endlessly | TBA |
| March 23 | Louisiana Derby (G2) | Fair Grounds | 100-50-25-15-10 | Catching Freedom | TBA |
| March 30 | Florida Derby (G1) | Gulfstream Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Fiercness | TBA |
| March 30 | UAE Derby (G2) | Meydan Racecourse | 100-50-25-15-10 | Forever Young | TBA |
| March 30 | Arkansas Derby (G1) | Oaklawn Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Muth | TBA |
| April 6 | Wood Memorial (G2) | Aqueduct | 100-50-25-15-10 | Resilience | TBA |
| April 6 | Blue Grass Stakes (G1) | Keeneland | 100-50-25-15-10 | Sierra Leone | TBA |
| April 6 | Santa Anita Derby (G1) | Santa Anita Park | 100-50-25-15-10 | Stronghold | TBA |
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.