The 153rd Kentucky Derby runs on Saturday, May 1st, 2027, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Horse racing fans across most of the country can bet on the Kentucky Derby online through licensed advance-deposit wagering apps (ADWs), in person at off-track betting facilities, or on-site at Churchill Downs.
Licensed Kentucky Derby betting sites contribute to the same pari-mutuel pools as the track, stream the race live in most cases, and typically run Derby Day promotions for new and existing customers.
Continue below for the latest Kentucky Derby betting odds, where it’s legal to bet online, how the major types of wagers work, and more.
Best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Betting On The 2027 Kentucky Derby
- When: Saturday, May 1st, 2027
- Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
- Watch It Live: NBC & Peacock
- Watch the Kentucky Derby Online: TwinSpires.com, NBCSports.com, and Peacock
- Kentucky Derby Post Time: ~7:00 PM ET
Horse racing fans can take one of three avenues to bet on the 2027 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 2027 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.
Readers can view BettingUSA’s state-by-state pages to read more about horse racing betting options where they live.
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
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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.
Horse Racing
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.
| YES | YES | NO |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Nebraska | Alaska |
| Arizona | Nevada (at select sportsbooks) | Georgia |
| Arkansas | New Hampshire | Hawaii |
| Illinois | Oregon | |
| Indiana | Pennsylvania | |
| Iowa | Rhode Island | |
| Kansas | South Dakota | |
| Kentucky | Tennessee | |
| Louisiana | Texas (simulcasting at race tracks) | |
| Maine | Vermont | |
| Maryland | Virginia | |
| Massachusetts | Washington | |
| Michigan | West Virginia | |
| Minnesota | Wisconsin | |
| Mississippi | Wyoming | |
| Montana | ||
| California | New Jersey | Missouri |
| Colorado | New Mexico | North Carolina |
| Connecticut | New York | South Carolina |
| Delaware | North Dakota | Utah |
| Florida | Ohio | Washington DC (visit Laurel Park in MD to bet in-person) |
| Idaho | Oklahoma |
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.
TwinSpires Kentucky Derby Betting Promotions
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
TwinSpires Kentucky Derby Bonus For New Customers: $200 Sign-Up Bonus
TwinSpires welcomes new customers with up to $200 in bonus cash. New users have 30 days to earn one of two different bonuses:
- Wager $400 in your first 30 days: Receive $100 in bonus cash
- Wager $800 in your first 30 days: Receive $200 in bonus cash
Use the TwinSpires Kentucky Derby offer code BET200 to claim this promo.
TwinSpires will announce additional Kentucky Derby promotions for new and existing customers shortly. Check back on the morning of Race Day for the latest offers.
Kentucky Derby Odds And Contenders
Churchill Downs will hold the 2027 Kentucky Derby post draw on April 24th to set the field, starting positions, and morning line odds. The post-position draw will select 20 official starters and four “also eligibles” (often denoted as “AE” in racing materials) to be on standby should any of the starters withdraw/scratch.
After the post draw, we will post the official 2027 Kentucky Derby morning line odds, starting positions, trainers, and jockeys here.
Note: Typically, US horse racing betting sites begin accepting wagers on the Kentucky Derby about 24 hours in advance of the race.
2027 Kentucky Derby Contenders to Watch
As the Road to the Kentucky Derby shapes the 2027 Kentucky Derby betting outlook, we will update this section with the most promising contenders. The 2027 Road to the Kentucky Derby runs from Fall 2026 through Spring 2027, with several key races that consistently produce Kentucky Derby winners and serious contenders:
- Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)
- Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)
- Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita)
- Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland)
- Wood Memorial (Aqueduct)
- UAE Derby (Meydan)
2027 Kentucky Derby Expert Picks
We’ll publish a roundup of expert handicapper picks as the 2027 Kentucky Derby draws nearer. In the meantime, you can review last year’s picks to see how the experts fared:
Brian Zipse Picks (Horse Racing Nation)
In the days leading up to the post draw, Brian Zipse of Horse Racing Nation projected a morning line for every probable runner, labeling them Top Pick, Win Contender, Live Longshot, or Toss.
Zipse identified five win contenders ranging from 7-2 to 18-1 in his projected line, plus one live longshot (Fulleffort at 20-1) and several tosses.
For his overall top pick, Zipse landed on Further Ado, citing his 11-length Blue Grass Stakes win and second-place finish at the Tampa Bay Derby.
J. Keeler Johnson Pace Analysis (BloodHorse.com)
If you found the week’s torrent of Kentucky Derby betting picks and opinions overwhelming, you might have found J. Keeler Johnson’s pace-based analysis helpful for cutting through the noise and looking at the race from a different angle.
In short, Johnson approached the 2026 race through a pace-scenario lens rather than picking horses head-to-head. He projected a fast early pace driven by UAE Derby runner-up Six Speed, who set fast fractions in his last two starts.
He argued that this setup would favor deep closers and work against tactical-speed types like Further Ado, So Happy, Potente, and a blinkered Chief Wallabee. Johnson pointed to the previous three Derbies as precedent: in 2023, 2024, and 2025, where horses sitting toward the back rallied to fill out the top finishing positions once the early fractions turned hot.
KentuckyDerby.com Picks
The above picks were detailed, rationally explained, and text-heavy. If you wanted to go the opposite direction and just see who the expert handicappers were picking, KentuckyDerby.com’s official picks page provided an alternative path, offering ten Kentucky Derby picks, ranked 1 through 10, from each of seven industry analysts and handicappers.
The 2026 board leaned heavily toward Commandment, Renegade, The Puma, and Chief Wallabee:
- Commandment: #1 on three experts’ lists
- Renegade: #1 on two experts’ lists; 2nd on two lists
- The Puma: #1 on one expert’s list; two others rank him 2nd or 3rd
- Chief Wallabee: #1 on one expert’s list; two others rank him 2nd or 3rd
Past Kentucky Derby Results
The 2026 Kentucky Derby concluded with Golden Tempo finishing first, followed by Renegade and Ocelli. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Golden Tempo gave the Kentucky Derby its first-ever winner trained by a woman.
| (Place) Horse | ML Odds | Post Position |
|---|---|---|
| (1st) Golden Tempo | 30-1 | 19 |
| (2nd) Renegade | 4-1 | 1 |
| (3rd) Ocelli | 50-1 | 22 |
| (4th) Chief Wallabee | 8-1 | 12 |
| (5th) Danon Bourbon | 20-1 | 7 |
| (6th) Incredibolt | 20-1 | 11 |
| (7th) Commandment | 6-1 | 6 |
| (8th) Wonder Dean | 30-1 | 10 |
| (9th) So Happy | 15-1 | 8 |
| (10th) Emerging Market | 15-1 | 15 |
| (11th) Further Ado | 6-1 | 18 |
| (12th) Potente | 20-1 | 14 |
| (13th) Six Speed | 50-1 | 17 |
| (14th) Robusta | 50-1 | 23 |
| (15th) Albus | 30-1 | 2 |
| (16th) Intrepido | 50-1 | 3 |
| (17th) Litmus Test | 30-1 | 4 |
| (18th) Pavlovian | 30-1 | 16 |
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 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 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 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in that exact order. Superfectas are difficult to win but pay very well. See more about Kentucky Derby superfectas below.
Read more about these wagers and others in our complete horse racing betting guide.
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.
| Year | Winner | $2 Trifecta Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Super Saver | $2,337.40 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | $3,952.40 |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | $3,065.60 |
| 2013 | Orb | $6,925.60 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | $3,424.60 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | $202.00 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | $173.40 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | $16,594.40 |
| 2018 | Justify | $282.80 |
| 2019 | Country House | $22,950.60 |
| 2020 | Authentic | $2,623.60 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | $3,393.80 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | $29,741.40 |
| 2023 | Mage | $1,964.72 |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | $2,227.68 |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | $462.24 |
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | $22,501.56 |
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.
| Year | Winner | $2 Superfecta Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Super Saver | $202,569.20 |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom | $48,126.00 |
| 2012 | I'll Have Another | $96,092.80 |
| 2013 | Orb | $57,084.00 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | $15,383.80 |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | $1,268.20 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | $1,084.20 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | $151,949.00 |
| 2018 | Justify | $39,236.40 |
| 2019 | Country House | $102,800.20 |
| 2020 | Authentic | $15,851.60 |
| 2021 | Mandaloun | $18,912.80 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | $643,000.20 |
| 2023 | Mage | $31,287.3 |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan | $16,508.14 |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | $3,364.54 |
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | $188,979.9 |
Minimum Kentucky Derby Bets
During Kentucky Derby week, Churchill Downs imposes the following minimum wager limits:
| Bet Type | Minimum Wager |
| Win / Place / Show | $2.00 |
| Exacta | $2.00 (max $1 boxes and wheels) |
| Trifecta | $0.50 |
| Superfecta | $0.10 ($1.00 on Oaks and Derby days) |
| Daily Double | $1.00 |
| Pick-3, Pick-4, and Pick-5 | $0.50 |
| Super High-5 | $1.00 |
| Derby City-6 | $0.20 |
| Late Pick-3 | $3.00 |
| Two-Day Pick-6 | $1.00 |
| Odd / Even | $2.00 |
| Match-Ups | $2.00 |
| Jackpot 8 | $1.00 |
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:
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:
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.
2027 Kentucky Derby Futures
Kentucky Derby futures allow fans to place pari-mutuel wagers well before the race, before Churchill Downs finalizes the field and morning line odds. Churchill Downs conducts the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) in six separate pools between Fall and early April.
Each pool includes up to 39 individually named horses plus a 40th “All Other 3-Year-Olds” option. Early pools often draw heavy action on “All Others” because many eventual Derby starters have not yet separated themselves from the prep-race picture. As the season progresses and contenders prove themselves, individual horses tend to attract more betting interest and their odds can shorten.
Futures carry significant risk because bettors place them before the post draw and final entries. Under Churchill Downs rules, all wagers become final once placed. You will not receive a refund if your horse fails to make the cut, withdraws, or scratches.
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 earn their way in through the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of prep races beginning in the fall of the year before the Derby. The top five finishers in each prep race earn points, and the horses with the most points at the end of the series receives invitations.
Some Kentucky Derby prep races award more points than others. Early prep races may award 10-4-3-2-1 points for the top five finishers, while championship-series races like the Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, and Arkansas Derby award 100-50-25-15-10 for the top five.
Most horses earn Kentucky Derby invitations through the US prep races (the American Road), but the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and the European / Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby also provide one potential invitation apiece.
After the final prep race, the top points earners on the American Road plus the international qualifiers fill the twenty starting spots.
Note: FanDuel TV is currently the only network that broadcasts all Kentucky Derby prep races.
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.
Out of all the racing events in the world, the Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious. Winning the Kentucky Derby also opens the path to an even more prestigious reward: the Triple Crown of horse racing.
The Triple Crown is the sport’s rarest and greatest achievement. To win it, a horse must win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Further, a horse has to win all three races within five weeks because each is restricted to three-year-olds only. Each race has a different distance, different track, and different challenges.
Just 13 horses in history have done it. That’s why the Triple Crown is the ultimate test of talent, training, and toughness in horse racing.
The first Kentucky Derby was hosted in 1875 and has run every year since. This year will be the 152nd 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
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.