The 149th Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday with 20 of the world’s best horses competing in the race at Churchill Downs. The horses have been carefully bred and trained for this moment, with the winner crowned in just two minutes and draped in red roses. While sports betting is still emerging in many states, betting on horses has a long history in the US, making it a popular activity for fans. In this article, the basics of betting on the Kentucky Derby will be explained, along with insights into some of the top bets for this year’s race. The 2023 Kentucky Derby will be race No. 12 and is set to take place at 6:57 p.m. ET with a purse of $3 million Awarded to the top five horses. This year’s Derby does not have a clear standout horse, meaning the race will likely have more parity than ever before.
The 20-horse field for this year’s Derby was reduced to 19 after four of the horses experienced difficulties. Despite this, it is still a very open race, with the morning line odds reflecting how wide open the competition is. Therefore, betting on the horses with long odds and winning the trifecta – selecting five horses to finish first, second, and third – may be a lucrative way to bet on the race. Some of the top horses to bet on include Forte, Tapit Trice, and Angel of Empire, while long shots such as Confidence Game and Disarm are also worth considering.
