Want To Bet On Kentucky Derby

The 146th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be unlike any that came before it. Why? Because it will be held during a global pandemic. With that being said, the world's most famous horse race is set for Saturday, September 5, 2020.

You may be an annual Kentucky Derby bettor or just someone who likes Mint Juleps. But if you're planning on watching 'The Run for the Roses,' or throwing a party, PlayUSA has some ideas to help make it memorable, safe, and perhaps, even profitable during COVID-19.

The Kentucky Derby has run consecutively each year since 1875 at the world-famous Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville,Kentucky. Like the Masters golf tournament, it is an event heavily steeped in the traditions of a largely bygone era.

Derby parties–thrown at homes (à la the Oscars), restaurants and bars–are a common staple of the annual event. Signature Derby dress, food, and beverages are preordained through decades of repetition and reverence.

The 2020 Kentucky Derby field

$10 Free Bet For You & Your Guests Be the perfect host by offering your guests a $10 Free Bet on TwinSpires, the Official Betting Site of the Kentucky Derby. Every time one of your guests signs up with your invitation code and places their first bet, you will receive a $10 FREE Bet and so will your guest! At Churchill Downs on May 1, the 147th running of the historic Kentucky Derby will take place. This is your Kentucky Derby reference page, examining the history, New York horse betting options, the road to the Derby and handicapping variables for the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports. The Kentucky Derby, dating back to 1875, assembles 20 of the nation's top 3-year-old thoroughbreds.

The Kentucky Derby is, above all things, a horse race. But as mentioned, this year's race will be different. Millions of people will be betting on the race, but zero will be in attendance.

To help slow the spread of COVID-19, Churchill Downs has decided to run the race without fans.

CDI issued the following statement:

'The health and safety of our team, fans, and participants is our highest concern. Churchill Downs has worked diligently over the last several months to plan a safe Derby with a limited number of spectators in attendance. We were confident in that plan, but dedicated to remaining flexible using the best and most reliable information available. With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our planning. We have made the difficult decision to hold this year's Kentucky Derby on September 5 without fans.'

You can view the full statement here.

The decision was met with support from Gov. Andy Besher who said he applauds Churchill Downs for continuing to monitor the virus and for making the right and responsible decision.

'I am asking all Kentuckians to take action to stop the spread of the virus so we can get back to the many traditions we enjoy, like the Kentucky Derby,' Besher said.

Last year's race ended in controversy when Maximum Security (10:1) was disqualified for interference, the first on-track disqualification in history.

Eventual winner, Country House (65-1) All fours strategy meaning. , was not even on the radar.

The Run for the Roses may lack the fan experience of all previous years, but it will not diminish the achievements for all involved. Tiz the law comes it at the favorite but it's been a couple of years since the favorite walked away as the winner.

Based on the name alone, Art Collector sounds like a great name for a winning thoroughbred.

Here are the top nine horses in terms of odds right now:

• Tiz the law 4:5
• Art Collector 6:1
• Honor A.P. 7:1
• Authentic 8:1
• Thousand Words 20:1
• King Guillermo 25:1
• NY Traffic 25:1
• Caracaro 28:1
• Dr. Post 30:1

The rest of the field is set at odds 25:1 or longer. The horse with the longest odds is Necker Island (200:1).

How to bet on the Kentucky Derby

There are several different ways to put a bet on the Kentucky Derby. First of all, residents in 32 states have the ability to place horse racing wagers through their mobile devices.

Companies that serve these states can vary. However, if possible, you should try to stick to one of these three sites to bet:

• BetAmerica
• Twin Spires

Both TVG and BetAmerica appear to be legal in all 32 states and are some of the best horse racing sites out there. Twin Spires Best bookmakers. (where available) maybe the most appropriate to bet the Derby since it is the online arm of Churchill Downs itself.

If you happen to reside in a state without online betting, or you prefer a live experience, it is possible to bet the Kentucky Derby from many horse tracks around the country. Many locations are simulcast facilities, and their tellers are perfectly capable of accepting wagers on the Run for the Roses.

Off-track betting facilities can also assist anyone who would like to bet on the Derby. The availability of these facilities varies on a state-by-state basis.

How to throw a Kentucky Derby Party during a pandemic

Invitations

In a traditional year, Kentucky Derby party invitations would be of high-quality stock, and, preferably not electronic if you want to stick with the nostalgic motif. While you can still take this route, invitations during a pandemic could easily be sent electronically.

You can still set a time for the party that will allow for plenty of pre-race celebration. Early afternoon is ideal. In keeping with tradition, just because the party is virtual doesn't mean you have to skip dressing up.

Dress code

People dress for the Kentucky Derby as a sort of throwback to a more genteel time in the cultural South. So, proper attire requires a mixture of both formality and gaudiness.

The crown jewel, literally, of Kentucky Derby wear is the hat. A Kentucky Derby hat tends to be a wide-brimmed affair with some sort of over-the-top accessory adorning the band. Straw hats with bows or ribbon or fascinators work well.

Women typically wear these hats along with colorful patterned, ruffled or gingham dresses, or other floral garments. Men will usually wear suits, but some degree of gauche, preppy design is usually desirable (think seersucker, bowties, pastels, linen, bowler hats.) It's definitely a time to be loud, bold, and over-the-top. In other words, foul fashion-wearing poker player John Hesp would feel right at home at the Derby.

Social distancing party or virtual party

If you're playing it safe and opting to host your Kentucky Derby party online, you can do so via the many video conference apps out there.

Want To Bet On Kentucky Derby Entries

• Zoom
• Skype
• Google
• FaceTime

Kentucky Derby Betting At Home

Should you opt to have a few people in attendance be sure to follow they are either in your usual 'pod' or stay at the recommended 6-foot social distancing guidelines courtesy of the CDC. To add another layer of virus protection, wear a mask for your event and have guests wear masks too. If you all want to give a nod to the Derby's famed over-the-top style, wear a mask — but make it fashion.

Food and beverage

The Kentucky Derby may be the only sporting event with a well-known official beverage. The Mint Julep has been a staple at the race for decades, so having a Derby party without serving them/or drinking one, would be a cardinal sin.

For those who don't know, a mint julep is a unique concoction of bourbon, mint, water, and sugar. Woodford Reserve bourbon is the official whiskey of the Derby, but any good bourbon will do. For that matter, bourbon is pretty good as-is. The recipe is also easy to make, and if you want to get extra fancy, serve them in official silver Julep cups.

For food, you can't go wrong with the authentic Kentucky dish called hot brown. Basically, a hot brown is an open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich covered in Mornay sauce or cheese. It was invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, hence the name.

For dessert, naturally, serve derby pie. Derby pie is a chocolate and walnut tart that is so famous, people go to court over its naming rights.

Failing all of the above, you can use dishes served on the grounds of Churchill Downs. The racetrack itself publishes the recipes for all different types of food cooked for guests there.

Above all else, the Derby is a time to have fun, even during a global pandemic. Dress up, get loud, and yell for your favorite horse. If you have guests over, be smart, be safe. If you opt to go the virtual route, that's okay too. If you're having trouble getting into the spirit, a couple of Julep's should help.

The only bad bet is the one you don't make.

One good tip for placing a bet during Kentucky Derby Week is to give yourself a budget and stick with it. Don't overextend yourself.

Also, don't be afraid to take a chance. So what if the horse that shares the same first name as your great aunt who lives in North Dakota has 65-1 odds? If you like it, put some money down. What if that horse wins?

Here are more tips on how to place an online bet on a horse in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, held this year on May 1 at Churchill Downs:

How do you place a bet at Churchill Downs?

If you're a beginning bettor, and are there in person, you probably want to avoid the self-service betting machines and mobile applications, instead opting for a mutuel window with an in-person teller.

Have your money in hand as you approach the teller, then state the race you're betting on, the amount of money you are betting, and the type of bet you are placing. Finally, state the horse's (or horses') program numbers. It should sound something like this, 'Churchill Downs, Race 11, $2 to win #4.'

Bet On The Kentucky Derby

Once you hand the teller your money, be sure to take the ticket and keep in a safe place. If your bet wins, you'll need the ticket to collect your winnings.

You also can wager through the racetrack's online wagering platform, twinspires.com. You're required to create a username and password, but signing up is free and doesn't take much time. You can transfer money from your bank account into your twinspires account and then place your bets.

A twinspires app is also available on smartphones.

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Kentucky Derby betting tips for 2021

When placing your bet, consider how a horse has performed in its recent races at the same distance on the same surface (in the case of the Kentucky Derby, 1 1/4 miles on dirt), percentage of starts won this year and notable margins of victory (winning by over three lengths is considered good).

Know that a horse's program number is not always the same as its post position, this occurring when there are coupled 'entries,' horses paired in betting because they have the same trainer or owners. L auberge baton rouge poker tournaments. (Rules vary on this from state to state.) Always be sure you know the correct program number of a horse before betting.

Check your tickets before you leave the betting window to make sure you have the horse, wager, race and track that you wanted. Track policies vary on changing tickets after a patron has left the window, but most will let you do so if it's not too close to post time or there's not a long line.

You can also ask a track employee (they wear red jackets at Churchill Downs) or a mutuel clerk for help if you have questions about wagering. Right after a race is over and before the payoffs are posted can be a good time to ask a mutuel clerk a question.

Want To Bet On Kentucky Derby Contenders

Many first-time bettors will go for a horse that has high odds. If you're going to do that, bet it across the board so that you get a larger payout if the horse wins but still get some money if it finishes second or third. Multi-horse bets such as exactas and trifectas are riskier — don't be that person who spends the whole day complaining that he or she liked the big-priced winner but that the 4-5 favorite ruined the bet by not coming in second.

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If 2019 taught us anything, don't toss a ticket in disgust before a race has been made official (which you'll see on the tote board and hear from the track announcer if watching the race live on NBC). There can be an inquiry by the stewards (who officiate the races) or an objection made by a jockey or trainer who believes their horse was fouled, which could change the official order of finish. Also, in the case of multi-horse wagers, there can be a consolation payoff if nobody has a perfect ticket.

This happened in the 2019 Derby when Maximum Security — first across the finish line — was disqualified for interference. If you had bet Country House to win, you might have thrown away your ticket. But when Maximum Security was disqualified, Country House was declared the winner and paid $132.40 on a $2 win ticket — the second-highest payout in the Kentucky Derby's 145-year history.

Donerail, the 1913 Derby winner, went into the race at 91-1 odds. The $2 win payoff of $184.90 remains a Kentucky Derby record.

What is a win-place-show bet?

The first is a 'win' wager. The horse must win the race in order for you to win the wager. Next, is a 'place' wager, which is betting on a horse to finish in the top 2. You win if your horse finishes first or second. Betting a horse to 'show' means picking a horse to finish in the top 3. You win the wager if your horse finishes first, second, or third.

Kentucky Derby Bet Calculator

What type of bet pays the best?

Because of the difficulty of a 'win' bet, it will yield the highest payoff of the three wagers. A 'show' wager will yield the lowest payoff but has the highest chance of winning. Payouts are calculated based on the horse's pre-race odds.

How do you bet an exacta?

An exacta bet is a step up from a win, place and show bet. To place an exacta bet, you pick two horses to finish in first and second place. The horses have to finish in that order for you to win the bet.

What is an exacta box?

A common way to bet is to 'box' your choices. The two horses you select would have to finish first and second, but unlike a regular exacta, they can finish in any order. This also means you can pick more than two horses. But that also increases the price. A $1 exacta box with three horses costs $6.

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How do you bet a trifecta?

Trifecta betting is popular because of its difficulty as a small wager can have a big payout. To place a trifecta bet, you pick three horses that you think will finish first, second and third. The horses have to finish in that order for you to win the bet. The minimum bet is 50 cents.

What is a trifecta box?

A common way to bet a trifecta is to 'box' your choices. The three horses you select would have to finish first, second or third, but unlike a regular trifecta, they can finish in any order. This also means that you can pick more than three horses. But doing so could get pricey: A $1 trifecta box with three horses costs $6 while using six horses costs $120.

How do you calculate a trifecta payout?

Calculating the potential payout is difficult because of the large number of combinations to choose from. They can be very profitable, however. In 2009 when Mine That Bird (50-1) won the race and was followed Pioneer of the Nile (4-1) and Musket Man (20-1), a successful $1 trifecta bet returned $20,750.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby betting 2021: Everything you need to know about placing a virtual bet