Kentucky Derby Odds
How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby
Futures
As arguably the most famous horse race in the United States, betting sites open up futures markets well ahead of the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby betting odds markets can open up minutes after the previous iteration of the race has finished, although a clearer picture of the runners and riders will only become in the weeks before the next race.
Futures or ante-post betting markets offer the chance for bettors to gain better value on their Kentucky Derby odds due to the uncertainty over the runners in the race.
Non-runner no bet (NRNB) offers are useful for bettors placing futures bets. This promotion voids your bet if your horse does not run in the Kentucky Derby.
Check out the promotions at the best horse racing betting site before placing your futures bets on the Kentucky Derby.
Win
Bettors choose the horse they think will win the Kentucky Derby. If the selection wins the race, successful wagers will be paid out.
Any other outcome results in a losing bet.
Place
A place bet allows bettors to wager on whether their horse will finish first, second or third in the Kentucky Derby. For big races like the Kentucky Derby, check whether your sportsbook is offering to cover extra places, which they sometimes do for significant races.
Each-Way
An each-way bet splits a wager into two. The first bet is placed on the outright win market and the second for the horse to place.
If your selected horse wins the Kentucky Derby, horse racing betting sites pay out on both the win and place wagers. If it only places, your payout is based on a fraction of the outright odds (often 1/4 or 1/5, depending on the betting site).
Each-way bets are a good way of covering your selections in case they fail to win the Kentucky Derby.
How to read the Kentucky Derby Odds
Kentucky Derby betting odds are presented in three main formats depending on your region and betting sites allow you to choose between the formats in your account settings:
In the UK and Ireland, odds are commonly presented as fractions. The odds are represented as a fractional number, such as 3/1.
The number on the left of the line highlights your potential profit from the amount staked, which is the number on the right.
So, if a horse had Kentucky Derby betting odds of 3/1, bettors would make £30 profit for every £10 they wagered if the horse won won the race.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is arguably the most famous horse race in the United States. The Run for the Roses is competed over one mile and a quarter miles for horses aged three-years-old only.
Kentucky Derby Facts
- First staged in 1875.
- Trainers Bob Baffert and Ben Jones tied for most victories (6).
- Secretariat holds record for fastest time 1:59.4s
- Part of the US Triple Crown alongside the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
- Held annually in May
Kentucky Derby Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | William L Mott |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | Brian Hernandez Jr | Kenneth G McPeek |
| 2023 | Mage | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric Reed |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | Florent Geloux | Brad Cox |
Comparing Kentucky Derby Odds
At Gambling.com, we provide the latest, up-to-the-minute Kentucky Derby betting odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
The odds are updated in real time, giving bettors the best value on win and each-way bets for the race.
The lines from online bookmakers regularly change, and we track and reflect each alteration via our custom odds comparison tool.
By regularly checking the Kentucky Derby odds on Gambling.com and reading our expert horse racing betting tips, bettors have a great chance of backing a winner at the best odds available.
