The Kentucky Derby is finally back on schedule after an abnormal 2020 race.
The pandemic pushed the derby all the way back to September last year.
Everything is back on track this time around for the 147th edition of the Run for the Roses.
Triple Crown season is officially here once the Kentucky Derby gets underway on May 1.
You can catch the greatest two minutes in sports at around 6:30 p.m. on NBC.
Kentucky Derby odds
Horse race betting is a fun way to mix up the typical viewing experience.
The Kentucky Derby is a great betting option regardless of whether you’re new to the horse racing world or a seasoned veteran.
There will be plenty of high quality three-year-old thoroughbreds in the action, but only one can win.
Right now, TVG has Essential Quality as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Here’s a look at the odds for the race, in order of post positions:
- Known Agenda: 6-1
- Like the King: 50-1
- Brooklyn Strong: 50-1
- Keepmeinmind: 50-1
- Sainthood: 50-1
- O Besos: 20-1
- Mandaloun: 15-1
- Medina Spirit: 15-1
- Hot Rod Charlie: 8-1
- Midnight Bourbon: 20-1
- Dynamic One: 20-1
- Helium: 50-1
- Hidden Stash: 50-1
- Essential Quality: 2-1
- Rock Your World: 5-1
- King Fury: 20-1
- Highly Motivated: 10-1
- Super Stock: 30-1
- Soup and Sandwich: 30-1
- Bourbonic: 30-1
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby
TVG Racebook
Betting on the Kentucky Derby is easy in Indiana.
The state has a lot of solid options to make the process simple.
The best way to bet on horse racing in the Hoosier State is with TVG.
TVG’s online racebook lets you place bets on horse races from the comfort of your home.
The company has become the authority on horse race betting since it opened up shop back in 1993.
You can use TVG to bet on horse races and watch the races live from within the same app.
The brand also upgraded its wagering app just in time for the race.
Its mobile app now comes with enhanced betting features and TVG Insights. This includes information on the horses in the race, summaries of past performances, starting price, runner comments, and more.
TVG has also improved the “Bets” section of its app. It recently created a re-bet feature for users. Now, customers can utilize their selections in multi-race wagers or use picks in a new bet if they are eliminated in an early leg.
Stephen Kennelly, vice president of racing product for TVG, said the following about the improvements,
“A lot of hard work has gone into these improvements over the past year by the team. We’ve focused on two key themes with our app, ease of use and presenting the right info at the right time. Customer research and feedback has been great on both the handicapping info and Bets improvements and we are looking forward to even further improvements later this year.”
TwinSpires Racebook
Another Kentucky Derby betting option is TwinSpires, which is a new name for Hoosier horse racing fans.
However, if you’ve ever used BetAmerica before, you’re no stranger to the racebook’s parent company.
Churchill Downs owns TwinSpires, which is really just a rebranding of BetAmerica. The brand made its Indiana debut just last week.
Churchill Downs also owns the racetrack in Louisville where the Kentucky Derby takes place.
Similarly to TVG, TwinSpires will let you bet on the Triple Crown and watch races from its website or app.
Off-track horse race betting in Indiana
Want to make a day out of the Kentucky Derby events? Then feel free to gather up some friends to watch the action at an off-track betting location.
The Winner’s Circle locations are some of the best options in Indiana for watching horse racing.
Caesars owns and operates Winner’s Ciricle racebooks in Indianapolis, New Haven and Clarksville. That gives fans a lot of different options to catch the big race.
If you’ve ever gathered at a sportsbook to watch the NFL Playoffs or another big sporting event, then you can expect a similar experience when you visit a Winner’s Circle location.
The venues have plenty of TVs around so that no one misses out on the events.
You can also order food or alcohol if you plan on staying put for awhile.
On the plus side, each location also has its own in-house racebook, so you can place your bets on a race right there without having to sign up for anything.
There will be 11 races taking place before the actual Derby on Saturday, so it could be worth making a trip to a retail location.
Kentucky Derby promotions
Promotions are a great way to find some extra value in gambling.
There are some special deals out there just for the Kentucky Derby this week.
TVG waives fees and offers cash back deal
TVG has a pair of special promotions on the board for the derby.
The first of those deals will waive your deposit fees throughout derby week. It won’t cost you anything to deposit $50 or more into your TVG racebook account.
The company’s second derby deal is offering cash back on all sorts of horse races this week. That includes half of the races on May 1, such as the Kentucky Derby itself.
If you bet on a horse that doesn’t win, TVG will refund your bet up to $10 if your horse finishes in second or third.
All you have to do to qualify for both deals is to sign up for TVG.
Once you do, just head over to the “Promotions” section of the site to opt-in to whichever deal you’d like to use.
TwinSpires $50,000 Derby Jackpot
TwinSpires has its own special deal out there for the Kentucky Derby.
There’s $50,000 total up for grabs, and horse race gamblers can claim their own piece of the pie.
First, you’ll have to place at least five winning bets on races at Churchill Downs to win a share of $10,000. Any race on April 30 or May 1 is eligible, but your winning wagers will have to all be worth at least $5.
There is a different $10,000 pot available for both Friday and Saturday.
Make eight winning wagers on Churchill races and you’ll win a share of a $15,000 daily jackpot.
If no player wins the April 30 jackpot, then TwinSpires will roll that $15,000 over into the derby day’s pool.
Everyone who manages to make their eight winning picks will split the prize money.
However, that will be easier said than done.
Since it’s difficult to pick the winning horse in a race, picking eight in a two day period won’t exactly be a walk in the park.
If you want to get in on the deal, just opt-in to the promo on the TwinSpires website or app.
