While the odds are pretty straightforward for the Kentucky Derby, there is a myriad of betting options for the race besides just picking the winner. Sportsbooks, especially internet ones, have several proposition wagers that gamblers can make on Saturday’s Run for the Roses.
Horse racing has so many built in side bets, such as exactas, and the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook is only offering one prop. They are setting a line for whether there will be a Triple Crown winner. The yes is +425 and the no is -600.
There have been 12 horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. The last was American Pharoah in 2015, the first to accomplish that feat since Affirmed in 1978.
Usual Prop Bets
The internet sportsbooks, such as USRacing and Bovada have several interesting side bets that gamblers may want to look at. The over/under on the time of the race is one such bet. The line at BetUS is set at 2:02.7 with both the over and under at -115. US Racing has it at 2:02.5 and the over is -110 and the under -130.
Betting on the fractions is another popular line. The over/under for the time of the first quarter mile is set at 22.8 seconds. The over is -120 and the under is -110. The line for the time of the first half-mile is 46.8 seconds, with the over at -110 and the under at -120.
Of course betting on a horse breaking Secretariat’s record time of 1:59.4 is available. The yes is at +1000, while no odds on not breaking the mark are available at US Racing. Bovada has the no listed at 1/50. The closest horse to ever get to the Hall of Fame horse’s stunning time was Monarchos in 2001 at 1:59.97.
Exotic Side Wagers Available
Bovada and SportsBettingDime have the more unusual prop bets for Saturday’s race. Bovada is offering a bet on whether the attendance of 158,070 in 2017 will be broken this year. The yes is at 2/5, while the no is 37/20.
Betting on the post position of the winning horse is an option. Slots 1 through 10 are the 7/5 underdog, while 11 through 20 is at 5/9. Justify, the race favorite at 3/1, is in the No. 7 position.
SportsBettingDime is getting even more extravagant with its side wagers. One is what celebrities will attend and be shown on the telecast. The favorite is figure skating commentators Tara Lapinski and Johhny Weir. They are both at 3/1, and seeing they work for the same network that is broadcasting the race it is a good bet they’ll be shown on television. Kid Rock is a 5/1 choice he’ll attend.
Audible Fans Rooting Hard
One contest that gamblers can make that won’t win them any money, but is free to do is on Audible. The horse is sponsored by Amazon’s subsidiary of the same name, and if it wins those that are signed up to the company’s Twitter page will receive a prize.
The company told its 223,000 followers that, “If Audible the racehorse wins the #KentuckyDerby at @ChurchillDowns on May 5th, we’ll give away free ‘American Pharoah’ audiobooks to everyone in the U.S.”
