2025 Kentucky Derby Betting

Each year, the Kentucky Derby takes the center stage as the world’s most promising thoroughbreds compete for a place in horse racing history. Fans can watch the action live and bet on the 2025 Kentucky Derby online, in-person at Churchill Downs, or at OTBs nationwide.

For those who won’t be in attendance and don’t have an OTB nearby, licensed Kentucky Derby betting sites will offer all the same wagers plus live broadcasts and various promotions to celebrate the day.

The 151^st edition runs on Saturday, May 3^rd, 2025, and the following guide has everything fans need to know to bet on the Kentucky Derby online. Read on for an explanation of where it’s legal to bet online, the latest Kentucky Derby odds, and much more.

Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites

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Betting On The 2025 Kentucky Derby

• When: Saturday, May 3^rd, 2025
• Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
• Watch It Live: NBC & USA Network from 2:30 to 7:30 PM ET
• Watch the Kentucky Derby Online: TwinSpires.com, NBCSports.com, and Peacock
• Kentucky Derby Post Time: 6:57 PM ET (Race 12)
• Kentucky Derby Post Draw: Saturday, April 26^th, 2025

Horse racing fans can take one of three avenues to bet on the 2025 Kentucky Derby:

• Online via licensed ADW betting sites and mobile apps (recommended)
• In-person at off-track betting facilities (OTBs)
• In-person at Churchill Downs

Betting online is the most convenient option of the three, provided bettors stick with licensed operators. In most states, horse racing fans can choose from multiple horse racing betting apps and ADW websites that are legal, licensed, and safe. Additionally, fans can watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby live from across the country as they bet. NBC holds broadcasting rights and will be showing the Kentucky Derby undercard and main event starting at 2:30 PM ET.

In some states, customers can also visit off-track betting facilities (OTBs) to place wagers in person. Betting with an OTB works much like betting in-person at Churchill Downs, aside from where the bet is placed.

The quality of the experience varies by facility; some OTBs will host extravagant Kentucky Derby watch parties this year, while others will provide little more than a wagering menu and some TVs. Readers can view BettingUSA’s state-by-state pages to read more about horse racing betting options where they live.

For the most authentic and memorable experience, fans can visit Churchill Downs in Louisville to place their Kentucky Derby wagers in person at the track. Race day is quickly approaching, but Churchill Downs is still selling Kentucky Derby tickets for reserved seating and general attendance.

Where To Bet on the Kentucky Derby Online

Online betting is the most convenient method to bet on the Kentucky Derby. Licensed horse racing betting apps and online racebooks operate in most states, and they provide safe, legal, pari-mutuel wagering with full track payouts.

Below is a list of BettingUSA’s recommended Kentucky Derby betting sites. Readers can visit the following racebooks to sign up for accounts, download the official betting app, or place wagers from any desktop computer.

Not all legal online racebooks offer Kentucky Derby betting because every racing betting site must reach a contractual agreement with Churchill Downs to offer wagers on its races. Of the online racebooks that accept Kentucky Derby wagers, BettingUSA recommends one in particular:

TwinSpires: The Official Betting Site of the Kentucky Derby

Note: BettingUSA only recommends online racebooks and horse betting apps that are legal and licensed in the United States. TwinSpires is headquartered in the US and conforms to all federal and state laws.

Licensed operators pool all wagers placed online with bets placed at the track, meaning customers receive the same odds and payouts as if they were placing their wagers trackside at Churchill Downs.

The legality of online horse racing betting varies by state. Blue states on the following map permit betting on the Kentucky Derby online, while red states do not. Click or tap any state below for more information and recommended Kentucky Derby betting sites and apps.

Can I Bet On The Kentucky Derby In My State?

Horse racing fans in most states can bet on the Kentucky Derby one way or another. Online betting is the most convenient method (see map above), but off-track betting facilities (OTBs) offer a more personal, in-person experience in many states.

Note: See a complete list of OTBs by state here.

Kentucky Derby States

States in the YES columns allow Kentucky Derby betting, either in-person at OTBs or online via licensed advance-deposit wagering operators (ADWs). States in the NO column do not allow horse racing betting at all.

Kentucky Derby Betting Bonuses And Promotions

Kentucky Derby week is the best time of the year for horse racing betting promotions. Below is BettingUSA’s roundup of the best Kentucky Derby betting promotions from TwinSpires (the official racebook of the Kentucky Derby) and FanDuel Racing.

Kentucky Derby Odds And Contenders

Many horses will compete for spots at the starting gate during the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but only twenty will be there on race day. Two additional horses will be there on standby as “also eligibles” in case one of the starters scratches before the Kentucky Derby opens for wagering.

When race day approaches, BettingUSA will post the official Kentucky Derby morning line odds, latest odds, trainers, and jockeys below. Typically, US horse racing betting sites begin accepting wagers on the Kentucky Derby about 24 hours in advance of the race.

However, the 2025 Kentucky Derby field is basically set aside from any late withdrawals. Twenty-three American horses, one from the European-Middle East region, and one from Japan have qualified for the Derby. The field will include the top twenty horses, with three alternates ready to fill in should any of the qualifiers drop out.

2025 Kentucky Derby Field: Road to the Derby Rankings and Points

Morning line odds to be announced

Five 2025 Kentucky Derby Contenders to Watch

Journalism: Journalism firmly established himself as a leading Derby prospect with his decisive victory in the Santa Anita Derby. This Grade 1 triumph was not an isolated event, as Journalism entered the Santa Anita Derby on a three-race win streak, which includes victories over other highly regarded Kentucky Derby contenders in both the Santa Anita Derby and the earlier San Felipe Stakes.

Sandman: Sandman is a formidable contender, primarily due to his victory in the Arkansas Derby. This Grade 1 win was achieved with a perfectly executed closing run, demonstrating his stamina and ability to finish strongly in longer races. Given the often fast early pace of the Kentucky Derby, Sandman’s running style as a closer could prove to be a significant advantage.

Sovereignty: Trained by Kentucky Derby winner Bill Mott, Sovereignty consistently demonstrated high-level performance throughout the Kentucky Derby prep season. His solid second-place finish in the Florida Derby to Tappan Street and victory in the Fountain of Youth highlights his class and staying power.

Tappan Street: Tappan Street solidified his contender status with a decisive victory in the Florida Derby over tough competition, including fellow Derby contenders Sovereignty and Neoequos.

Rodriguez: Rodriguez is another legitimate contender, primarily due to his impressive gate-to-wire victory in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. This performance demonstrated his speed and ability to control a race from the front, a running style that differs from most of the other top contenders. Bob Baffert’s legendary status at the Kentucky Derby (where he aims for a record-setting seventh win) automatically make any of his trainees a significant threat.

2025 Kentucky Derby Expert Picks

Each year, BettingUSA compiles Kentucky Derby expert picks from around the industry. As the biggest horse race of the year approaches, there is no shortage of experts and longtime industry insiders to turn to for quality analysis and predictions.

Brad Free Kentucky Derby Picks

DRF’s Brad Free and David Aragona have identified Journalism as their top Derby horse. After his 108 Beyer Speed Figure romp in the San Felipe, “Journalism rockets to favoritism” on their Derby Watch rankings, indicating they see him as the horse to beat in 2025.

Read more at DRF.

Mike Curvy Kentucky Derby Picks

Mike Curvy from America’s Best Racing also puts Journalism at number one. Curvy notes that Journalism added the Santa Anita Derby to his résumé and, even though his Beyer dipped slightly in that race, his strong finishing kick cemented him as “the fastest horse in the Kentucky Derby.”

In short, Curvy’s latest rankings place Journalism as the likeliest Derby winner based on his speed and consistency.

Read more at America’s Best Racing.

Horse Racing Nation Kentucky Derby Rankings

While not providing explicit expert picks, Horse Racing Nation’s contender list, updated daily, ranks horses based on ratings and next starts, with many pointing to the Kentucky Derby. Their top-ranked horses include:

1. Journalism (rating 7.87)
2. Sovereignty (7.53)
3. Burnham Square (7.48)
4. Coal Battle (7.45)
5. Final Gambit (7.39)
6. Tappan Street (7.34)

Although these rankings lack detailed discussions, fans should check the list occasionally during the run-up to the Kentucky Derby to identify potential picks based on these horses’ performance metrics.

In the Money Media Kentucky Derby Picks

In the Money Media’s 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Tracker provides a detailed top-ten list and additional “In the Derby Gate” horses featuring insights into connections, replays, and speed figures.

They highlight Journalism, Sovereignty, Tappan Street, and Sandman as top contenders, noting Luxor Cafe as a credible international threat. Their rankings emphasize recent Grade 1 wins and points.

Read more at In The Money Podcast.

Past Kentucky Derby Results

The Kentucky Derby concluded with 16-1 underdog Mystik Dan claiming victory by nose, just ahead of Sierra Leone and Forever Young.

How To Bet On The Kentucky Derby

The vast majority of wagers placed on major races such as the Kentucky Derby are simple enough that anyone can get started with a bit of guidance. Ultimately, the goal with every wager is to pick a horse that will finish either in first place or very close to first.

The following wagers are the most common types that most casual race fans can pick up and run with in no time.

Basic Kentucky Derby Bets

• Win: This is the most straightforward horse racing wager of them all. Bettors pick a horse and place a wager of $2 or more. The bet wins if the selected horse wins the race outright. Any result other than a first-place finish results in a loss for the wager.
• Place: A place bet wins if the selection finishes in either 1st or 2nd place. This one gives bettors a little more leeway but comes at the cost of a lower total payout.
• Show: A show bet wins if the horse finishes anywhere in the top three. Bettors get even more leeway with this wager, but it pays even less than a place bet.

Exotic Kentucky Derby Bets

• Exacta: With an exacta wager, the bettor picks two horses to finish in 1st and 2nd place. The exacta bet only wins if the two horses finish in the exact order specified. This one is more difficult than a basic win wager, so the payouts are higher.
• Trifecta: A trifecta involves picking three horses to finish in 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place in that order. The chosen horses must finish in that exact order for this wager to win. The payouts for trifectas are even higher than any other wager described so far. More on Kentucky Derby trifectas below.
• Superfecta: Moving up one more step in both difficulty and payout is the superfecta bet. In this one, the bettor chooses four horses to finish in 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place in that exact order. Superfectas are difficult to win but pay very well. See more about Kentucky Derby superfectas below.

Horse racing fans can learn more about these wagers and others at the BettingUSA horse racing betting guide. There, fans can read about all the bets described above plus other options such as boxing and keying horses.

Minimum Kentucky Derby Bets

Churchill Downs offers standard, two-dollar minimums on straight bets, but it imposes special minimums on other wagers on Derby Day:

• Win/Place Show minimum: $2
• Exacta minimum: $2 straight bet; $1.00 box/wheel
• Superfecta minimum: $1
• Daily Double and Super High-5 minimum: $1
• Trifecta, Pick-3, Pick-4, Pick-5 minimum: $0.50
• Derby Day Pick-6 minimum: $1.00
• Derby City-6 minimum: $0.20

Kentucky Derby Trifectas

The Kentucky Derby trifecta bet is one of the race’s most recognized wagers for one reason: the potential for large payouts. Most years, some of the biggest payouts to bettors are the result of successful trifecta picks.

Choosing three horses to win the Kentucky Derby in that exact order is harder than it sounds, but it’s still within the realm of possibility for casual bettors. Kentucky Derby trifecta payouts vary every year based on which horses place.

When public favorites dominate the top three finishing positions, trifecta payouts can be a few hundred dollars on a $2 bet. On the other hand, when long shots finish in the top three, trifecta payouts can balloon well into five-figure territory. The average Kentucky Derby trifecta payout on a $2 wager going back to 2010 stands at nearly $7,000.

Kentucky Derby Superfectas

As impressive as trifectas are, Kentucky Derby superfectas put them to shame. Anyone skilled or lucky enough to pick the four winning horses in the correct order stands to win a sizable payout, sometimes worth more than half a million dollars.

Past Kentucky Derby superfecta payouts have ranged from just over $1,000 to nearly $650,000 since 2010, with an average of just over $101,000 over that time.

How Kentucky Derby Odds Work

The payout odds on each horse are calculated based on current betting action. As money comes in before the race, the odds refresh in real-time (or as close as possible to real-time). The odds posted publicly are subject to change dramatically as more wagers come in but generally provide an accurate representation of which horses are favorites and long shots.

Tracks take all the money that comes in, collect a fee off the top and then distribute the remainder to the winners. Long-shot horses pay the most in this system because fewer people bet on long shots, so fewer people split the pool. Horses perceived as strong pay less because more people bet on the favorites, which results in more winners splitting the pool when that horse wins.

The actual process of calculating the odds is quite complex because there are so many different types and sizes of wagers that will need to be paid off at the end of the race. But generally speaking, it all comes down to how much action bettors put on each horse.

Read more:

• Horse racing betting odds
• Pari-mutuel betting explained

Depositing at Kentucky Derby Betting Sites

Placing any of the above wagers begins with choosing a betting site (see our recommendations above) and making a real money deposit.

Horse racing betting sites provide several methods customers may use to fund Kentucky Derby betting accounts. In most cases, users may fund their accounts via credit card, debit card, electronic bank transfer, and even cash via prepaid betting vouchers. Read more about the various deposit methods here:

• Online betting deposit methods

Note: You may want to consider making a deposit sooner rather than later. Some deposit methods take a few days to get everything set up before your first deposit. Plus, it’s wise to get it out of the way now in case you have any problems depositing.

2025 Kentucky Derby Futures

Kentucky Derby futures allow horse racing fans to place wagers well in advance of the race, even before the eventual runners have secured their post positions.

Futures are usually the domain of traditional sports betting in which fans bet against the house. However, Churchill Downs offers pari-mutuel Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pools each year that allow fans to get their bets in on the winners very early.

Kentucky Derby futures are fraught with uncertainty being so far out from race day but offer payouts that are potentially much larger. Horse racing fans should be aware that futures are not refundable. Once they place a future bet, there is no taking it back, even if the selected horse withdraws.

Each year, Churchill Downs hosts four futures Kentucky Derby future pools. The first begins at the end of the previous year, while the next three occur in intervals over the run-up to race day.

Each Kentucky Derby future pool offers 24 individual selections: 23 for horses expected to race and one for “all others” that covers any other potential candidates not yet on the radar.

How The Road To The Kentucky Derby Works

Kentucky Derby prospects get exactly one chance in their lives to take a crack at the Kentucky Derby due to it being open to three-year-olds only. A total of twenty slots are available, so competition to even earn an appearance at the starting gate is fierce.

Most horses vie for one of the twenty slots through a series of 35 prep races called the Road to the Kentucky Derby, beginning in the fall of the year preceding the race. The top four finishers in each prep race earn points for their performances and move up the leaderboard to determine who gets to run in the Kentucky Derby.

Note: FanDuel TV is currently the only network broadcasting all Kentucky Derby prep races.

Churchill Downs also runs the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and the European Road to the Kentucky Derby to invite one horse from each region.

The number of points up for grabs in each race varies as some races along the way are worth more than others. Early prep races, for example, may award 10 points for a first-place finish, 4 points for a second-place finish, 2 points for a third-place finish, and 1 point for a fourth-place finish.

Some higher-profile races award significantly more points and are therefore highly anticipated as key races to watch for potential Kentucky Derby standouts. For example, the Belmont Stakes issues 150-60-30-15 points for the first four finishers.

After the final race in the series, the top 18 horses with the most points and the winners of the Japan and European roads receive invitations to run in the Kentucky Derby. Fans can track point totals and look for potential contenders each year here.

Kentucky Derby Betting FAQ

More Information and Resources

The Kentucky Derby is a 1.25-mile race hosted on the first Saturday each May in Louisville, Kentucky. This race is open to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds only. If a horse qualifies to run the derby, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for that horse. Out of all the racing events in the world, the Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious.

The first Kentucky Derby was hosted in 1875 and has run every year since. This year will be the 150^th running of the event. Today, the Kentucky Derby is open to exactly 20 horses. To qualify, horses must run the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of 35 races hosted around the world. Each race awards points for first through fourth-place finishes. The 20 horses with the most points at the end of the Road earn a spot at the starting gate.

Useful and Interesting Resources

• Official Website of the Kentucky Derby
• Expert Picks