The Kentucky Derby is the world's premier horse racing event. It is a gathering of enthusiasts who largely bet on the outcome of this particular horse race. The 145th edition of the event is scheduled for May 2025. The following guide provides details about the event, along with the author's picks for the likely winners.
The Horse Racing Tournament brings excitement to fans and bettors alike every year. You can bet on head-to-head races, the overall winner, or even things that have nothing to do with the horse racing itself. Our recommended sportsbooks in New Zealand have not only the Kentucky Derby but also horse racing tournaments from all over the world.
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Kentucky Derby Online Betting Odds
Looking for advice on the 2025 Kentucky Derby? No problem. All you really need to do is navigate to a variety of legal betting sites in any state that allows online betting on horse racing, and they will provide you with the latest Kentucky Derby stats. No need to even go to Churchill Downs!
It is often said that it is too early to consider the likely contenders for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. As with any horse race, you can start placing bets and researching the developing names and what they might mean for the betting picture at any point leading up to the big event. You can bet on the Derby with advanced Kentucky Derby online betting at Bovada, or you can wait until the final moments to place a more basic, trackside bet. Both strategies have their merits.
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is the kind of race you want to bet on, and when it comes to betting, you want to be informed and you want to have the best odds available. It's a smart idea to check the odds pretty consistently, as they can change pretty drastically from one day to the next, and you don't want to be stuck betting on yesterday's odds for a race that's only a few days away.
The likelihood of a horse winning the Kentucky Derby in 2025 is affected by something called the pari-mutuel system. This is how the odds are set for the horses in the race. The odds are set according to the amount and manner in which different gamblers bet on different horses. They pretty much bet from dawn until they stop betting, which is pretty close to the time of the race, and also until they stop with the old cash register when the race is over. It's a good way to get the horse that wins to have pretty much the same chance of winning that the odds say he should have. Ratings matter.
Come the 2025 Kentucky Derby, the odds of each contender in the race will be determined by the bookmakers, and that better happen before the race. Bookmakers and bettors alike need to know at what point in the morning of the Derby a horse is a sound bet. And keep in mind - this is a horse bettors might want to get if his or her odds are likely to drop if any same horse gets bet on more and more.
How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby
Learn how to bet on the Kentucky Derby over the internet from our horse racing experts. Our steps are designed for both beginners and seasoned veterans of horse racing betting. We doubt that it's actually very easy to come up with the kinds of gambling decisions to make when you're staring at the numerous forms of betting you can make online from the comfort of your computer or mobile device. Here's a basic overview of how betting on horses online works.
- First, bettors should research past Derby races. The Kentucky Derby website offers a comprehensive selection of information on the Derby horses, including an evaluation of their performances leading up to this year's Derby.
- Register with any of our legally sanctioned horse racing bookmakers, who will give you a hefty welcome bonus when you sign up. This bonus can be used to make some rather exotic Kentucky Derby futures bets, with the potential for some truly amazing payouts.
- Deposit money into your account and review the Kentucky Derby racing schedule before placing your bet.
- Choose the best available odds on the Derby horses and make a profit on horse racing.

History of the Kentucky Derby Race
The 2025 Kentucky Derby is fast approaching and people are already picking and predicting the winners. Year after year, the stakes for each contender rise with the increasing hype and this-is-it-just-look-at-it-and-you'll-see-it's-gonna-win kind of reasons. Betting on the Derby gets harder every year, and it may become one of America's favorite traditions.
Even more exciting than it already is, watching the classic race known as the Kentucky Derby becomes a truly exhilarating spectacle under the watchful eyes of those who have placed bets on it. Because the Kentucky Derby is the first race in a yet-to-be-completed three-race series that (when complete) will consist of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, any would-be bettor hoping to
Kentucky Derby 2025 betting lines have begun to emerge, and right now they're heavily favoring Improbable, a Bob Baffert-trained horse who appears to be the next best thing to Justify, who won the 2018 Triple Crown. Country House, a horse that came out of nowhere to win the 2019 Derby, is another strong contender.
Kentucky Derby Betting Lines
Although safe horse betting is easy, with more than 256 different types of bets available for the Kentucky Derby, exotic betting can yield even greater rewards. The Derby prep races provide an excellent opportunity to scout many of the horses that will be top contenders on Derby Day. In fact, the 1991 Derby winner, Strike the Gold, was one of the least likely to win during the prep season. Of course, you have to pick the right horse on the first Saturday in May, and the odds you are offered are a direct reflection of how likely that horse is to win. Here are the main lines you can bet on.
- Kentucky Derby Future Odds - bet on the Kentucky Derby future odds, looking at the jockey and trainer with the most potential to win the entire tournament.
- Exacta Betting - bet on the margin of victory in the race, looking at the two most prominent horses to finish first and second.
- Horse Racing Props - predicting various events surrounding the contest that are not necessarily related to the race.
- Morning Line Bets - Sportsbooks list all the entries for the race and the potential odds on each horse before betting begins.
- Win bets - although not the most rewarding, players can bet on the jockeys and trainers who have placed the best Thoroughbred to win the race.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby Strategy
There are several factors to consider when deciding which trainer and jockey to bet on. Check out our tips and strategies for betting on the Kentucky Derby to light your way to making smart, informed bets.
- Wagers should be placed on the trainer who has had a successful prep season to win the Derby. Gary Stevens, Calvin Borel, Kent Desormeaux and Victor Espinoza have each won the race three times.
- Stay away from the expensive horses, those priced in the millions. Historically, the Kentucky Derby has been won by horses that were not overpriced.
- A good performance at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, is the general trend for winners of the Florida Derby. Betting on a jockey who has either won the Derby or at least done well in the FL Derby makes a lot of sense.
Most Recent Kentucky Derby Winners in the Last 10 Years
Year | Winner |
2022 | Rich Strike |
2021 | Mandaloun |
2020 | Authentic |
2019 | Country House |
2018 | Justify |
2017 | Always Dreaming |
2016 | Nyquist |
2015 | American Pharoah |
2014 | California Chrome |
2013 | Orb |
2012 | I’ll Have Another |
2011 | Animal Kingdom |
2010 | Super Saver |
2009 | Mine The Bird |
2008 | Big Brown |