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25* on Purdue +12 (W)

20* on Ball State -1 (W)

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15* on UCLA/Washington U 55.5 (W)

15* on Astros -109 (L)

Jack’s Impressive Top 10 Credentials/Streaks:

The post Jack’s Free Sports Picks: Sunday, October 17th appeared first on BetFirm.

While it’s usually a smaller field, this year’s Preakness sees 10 horses competing to win Saturday. Many trainers do not run their horses on only two weeks’ rest, which would be the case for any horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby.

Win, Place, Show & Exotics Predictions

Win: No. 4 Crowded Trade (10/1)

The lightly raced colt has hit the board in all three of his races and has a top trainer in Chad Brown and a top jockey on Javier Castellano.  He has improved in all three of his races as well.

Crowded Trade is fresh after sitting out the Kentucky Derby.  He closed well while passing five horses in the stretch after getting a shaky start in the Wood Memorial for a third-place finish.  It was his first start around two turns and he should keep improving in his fourth career start.

He should get a good trip behind Concert Tour, Medina Spirit and give Chad Brown his second Preakness win.  His connections also won the Preakness in 2017 with Cloud Computing and made the right move to pass on the Derby.

Place: No. 10 Concert Tour (5/2)

Concert Tour is the only horse classified as a stalker in this race.  From 2013 to 2019, there were 27 horses in the Preakness that were classified as stalkers.  More than half (15) hit the board, four of them won and four others took second.

The pace won’t be very swift in the Preakness Stakes, which will benefit the first flight of horses and any that can stay within the pack before falling too far behind.  Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon are both front-runners that Concert Tour will be dueling with.

Concert Tour is the only horse in this race besides Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit that has two graded stakes wins to his name.  That’s a huge class advantage in this Triple Crown event.

Show: No. 9 Risk Taking (15/1)

Broke his maiden at the Withers at Aqueduct this winter over a pair of different surfaces than the main track at the Big A on Wood Memorial Day.  The track that day was deeper and tiring and he took a ton of dirt while amongst horses.  He won’t have that difficult a track at Pimlico either way.

Risk Taking is training as well as anyone coming into the Preakness Stakes, which prompted his connections to enter him this week. He will be fresh after not running in the Kentucky Derby. I am clearly high on the two Chad Brown-trained horses as this is another one in his stable along with Crowded Trade.

4th: No. 5 Midnight Bourbon (5/1)

Managed to finish 6th in the Kentucky Derby despite a troubled trip. He has hit the board in seven of eight career starts. He has the top jockey in North America on the saddle in Irad Ortiz Jr. as well.

Midnight Bourbon was actually slightly faster than Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit a few weeks ago when you adjust for distance traveled. His pedigree suggests he has more inherited speed, which will help him at this shorter distance. And the price is better than Medina Spirit.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Ausmussen saw enough from in him the Derby to bring back the eye-catching son of Tiznow on two weeks’ rest. Ausmussen will be going for his third Preakness win and it would be hard to leave this one out of the exotics after what he showed in the Derby after such a troubled trip.

Exacta, Trifecta & Superfecta Picks:

Across the Board: 4 to Win, Place & Show ($20 across the board costs $60)

Exacta Box: 4, 5, 9, 10 ($2 exacta box costs $24)

Trifecta Box:  4, 5, 9, 10 ($2 trifecta box costs $48)

Superfecta Box: 4, 5, 9, 10 ($1 superfecta box costs $24)

2021 Preakness Stakes Odds & Posts Positions

The post 2021 Preakness Stakes Expert Handicapper Win, Place, & Show Predictions appeared first on BetFirm.

I’m going to fill you in on some random trivia so you can look like a horse racing genius.  If you’re unable to pick the race winner, at least you’ll have some fun facts to contribute.

Preakness Traditions: Woodlawn Vase Trophy & Official Flower

Trophy – The winning owner is awarded the Woodlawn Vase, created by Tiffany & Co.  The trophy is considered priceless, but has an estimated appraised value of over $4 million, earning it the moniker of “The Most Valuable Trophy in American Sports”.

Flower – The Preakness winner is supposed to be adorned with the state flower of Maryland.  It is the Black Eyed Susan, much like the Derby winner is draped in roses.  However, the Black Eyes Susans only blooms during the summer and fall so the winner actually gets coverd with Viking Daisies, which are carefully crafted to look similar to the Black Eyed Susan.

History & Date of the Preakness Stakes

First Race – The first running of the Preakness took place back in 1873 and was won by Survivor, who won by 10 lengths.  About 12,000 people showed up to watch and the purse was $2,050.  There were only three races that day, instead of the 13-race marathon that will take place on Saturday.

Date of Race – Many people know the Preakness as the second leg of the Triple Crown, but did you know that it was actually held before the Kentucky Derby eleven times between 1888 and 1931?  Also, in 1890 the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes were both held on the same day.  In 1918, there were divisions so two winners were crowned.

These days the Preakness is always held on the third Saturday of May (two weeks after the Kentucky Derby), which is always held on the first Saturday in May.

Records & Top Performances

Top Jockey – Eddie Arcaro, who earned the nickname “The Master,” is the all-time winningest jockey at the Preakness with six titles.  The leading active jockeys are Kent Desormeaux, who has won three titles, with Exaggerator (2016), Big Brown (2008), and Real Quiet (1998), and Victor Espinoza, who also has three victories, on American Pharaoh (2015), California Chrome (2014), and War Emblem (2002).

Men Only – There have been four fillies that have won this race, but only two female jockeys have ever raced.  The first was Patricia Cooksey back in 1985, who finished sixth on Tajawa, then Adrea Seefeldt finished seventh in 1994 while riding Looking.  No female trainer has ever won the Preakness, but Nancy Alberts trained Magic Weisner to a second place showing back in 2002.

Largest Margin of Victory – Smarty Jones holds the largest margin of victory when he won by 11 1/2 lengths in 2004.  That broke the record that had stood since Survivor won the first race.  Funny Cide won by 9 3/4 lengths in 2003, but more races have come down to the wire with six races being decided by a nose and eleven being won by a head.

Biggest Upset – Back in 1975, Master Derby upset the field and returned $48.80 for a $2 wager.  That’s a far cry from the Derby, which has seen two 50-to-1 or higher underdogs come through this decade.

Top Trainers – The all-time leaders in training winners are R. Wyndham Walden, who won for the seventh time back in 1888, and Bob Baffert who won his seventh Preakness in 2018.  Baffert is still active and is very likely to train more winners before he’s done.  D. Wayne Lukas has trained six Preakness winners.

Trainer/Jockey Combo – Two different people have won the Preakness as both a trainer and as a jockey.  Louis Schaefer got his win riding Dr. Freeland in 1929 and then trained Challedon in 1939.  Johnny Longdon rode Count Fleet in 1943 and trained the winner in 196; Majestic Prince.

The post Preakness Stakes Fun Facts & Trivia Answers appeared first on BetFirm.

2020 Preakness Full Order of Finish & Money Won

Ticket Payouts for Win, Place, Show Bets

Wondering what your win, place, or show ticket should have paid out this year?  The table below shows how much a $2 wager would have paid for each type.

Win: Win the race outright.
Place:  Finish in 1st or 2nd place.
Show: Finish in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.

Winning Numbers for Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta Payoffs

Exactas, trifectas, and superfectas continue to grow in popularity due to their high potential payoffs.  The bigger the underdogs that finish, the bigger the payouts (and the risk) will be.  Below is the table based on this year’s results.

Exacta: Pick 1st and 2nd place finishers in the correct order.
Trifecta: Pick 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in the correct order.
Superfecta: Pick 1st through 4th place finishers in the correct order.

The post Preakness Stakes Official Results: Winner & Payouts appeared first on BetFirm.

I am going to give you a few tips to stick with when deciding on which horses to bet on in the Preakness Stakes. By following these guidelines, you should give yourself a better chance to win.

Top Handicapper Advice for Picking Preakness Winners

1. Do Not Take on Long Shots to Win

Sure, the opportunity at turning a huge profit while only having to risk a little is tempting. And many times, a long shot goes on to win the Kentucky Derby. However, the Preakness Stakes is a completely different race because it’s a small field, so the best horses usually win.

The highest paying winner ever in the Preakness was Master Derby in 1975 at 23/1. In fact, between 2000 and 2018, there have been only four horses that paid better than 3/1 to win. Bernadini at 13/1 odds (2006), Shackleford 11/1 (2011), Oxbow 15/1 (2013) and Cloud Computing 13/1 (2017). War if Will (6/1, 2019) and Swiss Skydiver (11/1, 2020) were decent priced winners the past two years, however.

In the Preakness, the smart money goes on the best horses in the field because it’s the shortest race of the Triple Crown at 1 3/16 miles, which leaves less time for things to go wrong.

2.  Stay Away From Front-Runners

You need to start looking elsewhere if you are wanting to bet a horse that you think is going to lead wire-to-wire. From 1960 to 2017, there were just five horses that wired the field.

In fact, Oxbow (2013) became the first horse to go wire-to-wire to win the Preakness Stakes since Aloma’s Ruler in 1982. This is a long enough race at 1 3/16 miles that it still favors a good closer over a horse with speed out of the gate.

3.  Only Bet on Horses to Win That Ran in the Kentucky Derby

From 1986 to 2018, there were only four out of 33 horses that went on to win the Preakness Stakes despite not racing in the Kentucky Derby. Also, one of those three was Rachel Alexandra in 2009, and she ran in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby.

Red Bullet (2000), Bernardini (2006) and Cloud Computing (2017)  were the other three. The best argument for why this is the case is the fact that the top owners and trainers in the country want to win the Kentucky Derby more than any other race. Therefore, they enter their best horses in the Run for the Roses.

4.  Don’t Fall for Hometown Horses

Sure, it makes for a good story for a hometown horse to win in Maryland. Each year, there’s usually at least one Maryland-bred horse in the field to carry his hometown colors. However, Maryland is not known as a hotbed of thoroughbred breeding in this day in age. The last Maryland-bred horse to win the Preakness was Deputed Testamony all the way back in 1983.

5.  Pedigree Matters

Figuring out which horses are bred for the 1 3/16-mile track at Pimlico Race Course is key. One huge thing to look for is a son of a former Preakness Stakes winner. Up until 2018, there have been 10 sons of former Preakness winners who have gone on to win themselves. That’s a pretty big number in the grand scheme of things.

Be sure to check out my predictions for this year’s race.

Preakness Betting: Trifectas, Exactas, Superfectas & More

Simple Bets

Win Bet – This is the easiest and the most common of bets. All you do is pick the winner at given odds, and you only win if the horse you pick comes in first.

Place Bet – This bet gives you a little extra insurance, as it allows the horse that you pick to finish the race either 1st or 2nd. Though your chances of winning are improved, the amount you can win drops. If you are torn between two horses, this is usually a good and safe bet to make.

Show Bet – If you want to improve your chances even more of coming away with a winning wager, then the show bet is what you’re looking for. You simply pick a horse and all it has to do is finish in the top 3 and you win. You get paid the same amount whether your horse finishes in 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Exotic Bets

Quinella – To make this bet you have to pick the two horses you think will finish first and second in either order. This is where things get a little harder as you are forced to find two horses instead of one.

Quinella Box – This is a much easier bet as you can pick three or more horses and all that needs to happen for you to win is two of the horses need to finish in the top two.

Exacta – This bet is pretty much the same idea as the quinella, but you are required to pick the two horses that will finish 1st and 2nd in the exact order. It pays better than a quinella because of it.

Exacta Box – Boxing horses together with an exacta means that you just have to have the top two horses in any order. It costs more to box them together, but also gives you a better chance of coming out with a winning wager.

Trifecta – Trifecta is similar to the exacta, except you are required to pick the exact 1-2-3 finish to the race.

Trifecta Box – This is a little easier than the normal trifecta, as you pick three horses to finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in any order. Again, it costs more to box them together than a straight trifecta, but it gives you a much better chance to come away a winner.

Superfecta – To win this bet, you really need to have some luck.  You are asked  to pick the exact order of the first four horses to cross the finish line. It’s hard enough to pick one or two horses to finish in order, but picking four is about as tough as it gets. You can also place a superfecta box, but it costs so much more than a straight superfecta.

The post Handicapping the Preakness Stakes: Winning Tips & Tricks appeared first on BetFirm.

It is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which is followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The Kentucky Derby has been run every year since 1875, making this the 147th running. The attendance at the event ranks first in North America and surpasses that of all the other stakes races, including the Breeders’ Cup.

Because of its popularity, the Kentucky Derby draws millions of fans and bettors around the world. I’m going to take a look at the wagering side of it and go through and give my predictions for this year’s race. I will give my Win, Place and Show picks for the horses to finish in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  I will also give my exotic bets.

Note – I have picked three of the past nine Kentucky Derby Winners with American Pharaoh (5/2) in 2015, Orb (7/2) in 2013, and I’ll Have Another (12/1) in 2012 with my ‘Win’ selections.  

In 2017, I had Always Dreaming picked to finish 2nd and he won, so we cashed our place wager.  I also noted that I may regret not picking him to win.

In 2018, I hit the Exacta AND the Trifecta with Justify, Good Magic and Audible finishing in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  I had a 6-7-11 Exacta Box and a 5-6-7-11 Trifecta Box.  A $2 Exacta Box cost $12 and paid $69.60, and a $2 Trifecta Box cost $24 and paid back $282.80.

2021 Kentucky Derby Betting: Win, Place, Show and Exotic Picks

Win: #1 Known Agenda (16/1)

Most bettors will be scared off by the No. 1 post Known Agenda has drawn, but not this bettor. No horse has won from the No. 1 post since Ferdinand in 1986. But in 2020, a new 20-stall starting gate was used that provides more room on the inside.

So basically rather than starting from the No. 1 post where it used to be, it’s like you’re coming out of the No. 3 post. There’s just more room for the inside horses to operate now. And with four 50-1 long shots in the 2 through 5 posts, plus slow starter O Besos in the 6th post, Known Agenda should get a perfectly fine trip and stalk the leaders that break from the outside.

Known Agenda is the best horse in the field in my opinion and can overcome the tough post draw. Since adding blinkers two races ago, he won his first race by 11 lengths with a 103 Equibase Speed Figure. He then won the Florida Derby one month later by coming from 2 1/2 lengths back on the final turn to win with a career best 112 Equibase Speed Figure, which is the best mark in the entire Kentucky Derby Field.

That type of closing speed is exactly what is needed to win the Kentucky Derby. And 2020 North American leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. knows him well after riding him for those two wins. He can save ground along the rail and win from a mid-pace position with the kind of closing kick he showed in the Florida Derby.

He is the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who finished third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and has sired the most winners at this 10-furlong distance than any other stallion who has a starter in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Place: #19 Soup and Sandwich (30/1)

Naturally, since I’m picking Known Agenda to win, I can’t look past Soup and Sandwich at this ridiculous 30/1 price for a Place finish. He is a steadily improving three-year-old trained by Mark Casse.

Soup and Sandwich debuted at Gulfstream Park on January 28th and won by 7 1/4 lengths before being geared down late. He when won at Tampa Bay Downs before his initial stakes try at the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

There, Soup and Sandwich went off at 12/1 odds and held the lead on the backside before eventually getting passed by Known Agenda. Those two were way ahead of the rest of the field, and Soup and Sandwich finished three lengths ahead of multiple graded stakes winner Greatest Honour. He would have been a Derby favorite if he was in the field this week.

The 108 Equibase Speed Figure earned in the Florida Derby is actually the third-best figure in the field behind Known Agenda (112) and Essential Quality (109). I believe the wide draw from the No. 19 post actually benefits this colt.

He has the tactical speed to gain good position and the length of the stretch to make his way over so he’s not incredibly wide on the first turn. He should sit just off the pace for jockey Tyler Gaffalione and get the jump on some of the late runners. I expect a repeat of the Florida Derby where he is dueling with Known Agenda for the win.

Show: #14 Essential Quality (6/5)

It’s going to be tough to beat the favorite in Essential Quality. He is undefeated in five career starts and has the second-best Equibase Speed Figure (109) earned in his Blue Grass Stakes victory.

It didn’t come easy in the Blue Grass as it looked like he would never get by Highly Motivated, who led the from the start. But Essential Quality showed heart as the finish line neared and edged out Highly Motivated by a neck in a photo.

While that’s the heart of a champion, it also showed that Essential Quality is very beatable. And Known Agenda, Soup and Sandwich and Highly Motivated are all contenders to give him a run for his money.

4th: #15 Rock Your World (9/2)

Like Essential Quality, Rock Your World is undefeated in three career starts, all of which have come at Santa Anita. The latest was an impressive win at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in which he led from the start and widened his lead in the last quarter-mile.

Clearly, Rock Your World does not need the lead as evidenced by his off-the-pace rallies in his first two starts. He has a physical presence about him that lets you know he’s a contender. And if he can keep improving in his fourth career race, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he won on Saturday.

That being said, his 103 Equibase Speed Figure in the Santa Anita Derby was a far cry from the three horses I have picked ahead of him in Known Agenda (112), Soup and Sandwich (108) and Essential Quality (109). He will need a big leap forward to challenge those three contenders.

5th: #17 Highly Motivated (16/1)

If you’re high on Essential Quality to contend in the Kentucky Derby, then you have to also expect Highly Motivated to find the board. He did everything right in the Blue Grass Stakes except come out on top. He finished a neck behind winner Essential Quality.

He improved with 87, 89, and 104 Equibase Speed Figures in his first three starts as a two-year-old.  Highly Motivated then took four months off before a disappointing third-place finish in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes with a 102 figure.

I think that could have been due to rust, and Highly Motivated came back to post a career-best 108 figure in the Blue Grass Stakes. That number puts him right up there with other top contenders like Known Agenda, Essential Quality and Soup and Sandwich. That gives me reason to believe he can hang with those horses and be in the mix in the final furlong.

6th: #16 King Fury (SCR)

King Fury clearly likes Churchill Downs as he won his first and third races of his career here last year. He then bottomed out with 7th and 5th place finishes in his final two starts of 2020 before getting 4 1/2 months off.

Then he returned just three weeks ago in the Lexington Stakes and ran about as impressive a race as you will see. He closed from eighth of nine in the field to take the lead at the top of the stretch and opened up to win comfortably.

King Fury posted a 103 Equibase Speed Figure in the Lexington Stakes in the mud, and that matches the figure posted by Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World. Another closing kick like that and he could find the board.

It’s also worth noting that King Fury is the Son of Curlin, which is the same sire as Known Agenda. Curlin finished third in the 2007 Derby and has sired the most winners at 10 furlongs than any other stallion who has a starter in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. He has the bloodlines to get a mile and a quarter.

Note: King Fury has been scratched since this writing.  My next-favorite horse is the #6 O Besos (44/1).  So I’ll sub him in for the #16 in my exotics.

My Final 2021 Kentucky Derby Bets

Win Bet: $100 to Win on #1 (Costs $100)

Win, Place, Show Bet: $20 Across the Board on #19 (Costs $60)

Exacta Pick: $10 Exacta Key Box 1/6, 14, 15, 17, 19 (Costs $100)

Trifecta Pick: $2 Trifecta Key Box 1/6, 14, 15, 17, 19 (Costs $120)

Superfecta Pick: $.10 Superfecta Key Box 1/6, 14, 15, 17, 19 (Costs $24)

Note: A Key Box means I keyed the No. 1 horse Known Agenda.  That means you win your bet if Known Agenda comes in 1st or 2nd in the Exacta and also the 6, 14, 15, 17 or 19 comes in 1st or 2nd with him.  You will win your bet in the Trifecta if Known Agenda comes in 1st, 2nd or 3rd, and also two of 6, 14, 15, 17, 19 come in the top three with him.  You will win your Superfecta if Known Agenda comes in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th and also 6, 14, 15, 17, 19 round out the top four places.

The wording for these exotic wagers at the betting window are as follows:

• “$10 Exacta Key Box on the 1 with the 6, 14, 15, 17, 19”
• “$2 Trifecta Key Box on the 1 with the 6, 14, 15, 17, 19”
• “$.10 Superfecta Key Box on the 1 with the 6, 14, 15, 17, 19”

If you are new to the Kentucky Derby, then you might want to check out my betting guide for beginners.  This year’s complete odds are listed below.

Odds to Win the 2021 Kentucky Derby

The post Expert Predictions on Who Will Win the Kentucky Derby appeared first on BetFirm.

I’m going to give you some tips that will help you plan your trip to the most famous racetrack in the world.  If you aren’t a big horse bettor then I recommend my beginner’s guide to betting the Derby so you will fill more comfortable at the betting window.

This Year’s Gate Open/Post Times

The gates will open at 9:30 am (ET) with post time for the first race at 10:30am (ET).  Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:57 pm (ET).

Entering Churchill Downs

There will be sign that says which items won’t be permitted into the racing facility.  Be sure to review those signs before going in.  All patrons are subject to magnetic wand scans before entering the track.  General admission guests can enter through any gate, but those of you wishing to spend the day in the infield should enter through Gate 1 or Gate 3.  Guests with reserved clubhouse seats enter at Gate 10 or Gate 17.  Guests with reserved grandstand seats will enter through Gate 1.

Is there a Will Call?

There is no will call for the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks.  There is Will Call for normal racing days at Churchill Downs, which is located at Gates 10 and 17.  The Box Office is loaced at Gate 1, which is durictly across from the Kentucky Derby Museum.  You can purchase tickets at the Box Office for the day of the tickets, and also advance race dates.  The Box Office is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm.  They are also open on Fridays from 12 noon to 9 pm.

Kentucky Derby Dress Code: What to Wear

Recommended Reserved Seating Attire

Everyone that goes to the Kentucky Derby needs to dress to impress.  Ladies typically wear pastel-colored suits, dresses, or bold separates.  Hats are the biggest fashion trend at the Derby, so please, don’t go without one.  High heels look nice, but you may want to pack a pair of comfortable shoes such as flip flops for your walk back to the car.

Men traditionally wear sport suits, light-colored sport coats or navy sport coats, nice khakis or dress pants, light-colored shirts, and fashionable ties with matching accessories.  Denim/jeans, shorts, tennis shoes or any athletic apparel is not permitted in the Trophy Room, Turf Club, Finish Line Suites, Jockey Club Suites, Aristides Room, Stakes Room, Turf Suits, Section 111 Trophy Suits, Trackside Village or Millionaire’s Row.

Typical Infield Dress Attire

The infield is much less formal than the reserved seating areas.  You can where almost anything you want into the infield as the goal is to be comfortable.  Recommended infield attire includes blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, casual sundresses, and comfortable footwear.  Because it typically rains at some point on the day of the Kentucky Derby, be sure to come prepared for it.  Grab a jacket if rain is in the forecast because umbrellas are not allowed at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby.  Bring a layer of sunscreen and sunglasses if forecasts are calling for sunny weather.

Churchill Downs Parking Tips

All parking at Churchill Downs is sold in advance and is revised for Kentucky Derby weekend.  Churchill Downs has developed a new plan for taxi cab and bus drop-off and pick-up for patrons.

The new Bus Depot, which is locates outside of Gate 1, provides transportation to-and-from parking lots at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, the Kentucky Exposition Center and shuttle locations in downtown Louisville.

The new Taxi Depot, which is located near the Wagner’s Pharmacy building at 4th and Central, will pick up and drop off patrons on race day.  The new location is about a four-to-five minute walk for patrons exiting from Gates 1 and 17, but only seconds from the infield entrance at Gate 3.

Parking at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium is $20, while parking at the Kentucky Exposition Central is only $8.  A round-trip shuttle from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium is $15, from downtown Louisville is $20, and from the Kentucky Exposition Center is $15.

Making Bets on the Race

And last but not least you want to make sure you win your bets while you are there.  You can take a look at the latest odds and figure out who to take on your own.  The easier option is to look at my free Derby predictions where I detail the horses that I like and why.

The post Tips for Going to the Kentucky Derby appeared first on BetFirm.

I have broken down the different types of bets that can be placed, which is what I’m sure most of you are interested in.  Note that these types of wagers can be used for betting on just about any type of horse race, including the Kentucky Derby.

Most Common Types of Wagers: Win, Place & Show

Win – If you bet a horse to win and your horse finishes first, your bet is a winner.  It’s as easy as that!

Place – With this bet your horse needs to finish first or second for you to have a winning ticket.  Keep in mind that the payout may be lower because it is split two ways.

Show – A “Show” bet means you’ll bet your horse to finish either first, second, or third.  You’ll win if it finishes in any of the three places, but of course the payout is lower because you have more chances to win.

Exotic Bets: Quiniella, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Boxes & More

Quiniella – To make this bet you have to pick the two horses you think will finish first and second in either order. This is where things get a little harder as you are forced to find two horses instead of one.

Exacta – This bet is pretty much the same idea as the Quiniela, but you are required to pick the two horses that will finish 1st and 2nd in the exact order.  It pays much better than a Quiniela because of this.

Exacta Box – You get to pick two or more horses with this bet and they have to finish in the top two in any order for a winning wager.  However, it costs double the amount of a regular exacta to box two horses.

Trifecta – Trifecta is like the Exacta but tougher to win. You are required to pick the exact 1-2-3 finish of the race.

Trifecta Box – This is a little easier than the normal Trifecta, as you pick three horses to finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in any order. This is a popular bet for your big-time horse bettors, but we advise any newcomers to stay away from this unless you have good knowledge of the horse race.

Superfecta – To win this bet you really need to have some luck.  You must pick the exact order of the first four horses to cross the finish line. Its hard enough to pick one or two horses to finish in order; picking 4 is nearly impossible.  That’s why the payouts are massive on these.

Pick 3 – This requires you to step up your game and pick the winner of three consecutive races.

Pick 6 – Like the Pick 3, but you have to do the difficult task of picking six straight winners.

Daily Double – This is pretty similar to the last two, but it only requires you to pick the winners of the first two races of the day.

Boxing Your Bet – This is where a lot of people get lost, but it’s actually much easier to understand than you might think.  If you box your exacta, trifecta, or superfecta, you don’t have to get the order of the horses correct, you just have to pick the right horses.

For example, an Exacta Box on the #2 and #5 horses would mean that those horses just need to come in first and second in any order.  Just keep in mind that these wagers cost much more than your straight bets because you are increasing your chances of winning.

When & Where to Make a Bet on the Race

You can place your bets at a live racetrack near you, or at an online sportsbook.  The thing about horse betting is that the odds change up until the race, so your payout won’t be based on the odds you get at the time of the bet, but on the final odds once the race goes off.

That’s why you shouldn’t place your bets too early.  It can only hurt you.  You may feel like you are getting value on a horse at huge odds early, only to have those odds plummet on race day.  If this happens, then your value is likely gone.

How to Place a Bet on the Kentucky Derby

If you’re at the track and you don’t know how to place a bet, then here’s a little tip for you.  Go up to the pay window and give the amount you want to bet, the type of bet, and the numbers of the horses you want to wager on.

For example, if you wanted the #1 horse to win for $10, you would say this; “Give me $10 to win on the 1”.  If you want to bet a $10 exacta box on 1 & 7, meaning the 1 and 7 have to come in first and second in any order, then you would say this; “Give me a $10 exacta box on 1 & 7”.

If you are fortunate enough to have a winning ticket, then just return it to the betting window and collect your winnings.

2021 Kentucky Derby Odds

This list of odds is as of April 28th, 2021, which is just three days from the Kentucky Derby on May 1st.  These odds are sure to change as more action comes in.  But as of right now, Essential Quality is the favorite at 2/1.

A $2.00 win bet on Essential Quality to win would profit you roughly $4.00.  A $2.00 win bet on second-favorite Rock Your World (5/1) would profit you roughly $10.00, and so on and so forth.

There you have it.  Hopefully for any newcomers out there this helps them to better understand how to bet on this year’s Kentucky Derby, or to at least learn some of the lingo so you know what people are talking about!  Thanks for reading and good luck!

The post Beginner’s Guide to Betting the Kentucky Derby appeared first on BetFirm.

This year marks the 147th running of the race.  It will be held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is set up for the top three-year-old horses in the world to do battle and take part in what is referred to as the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.”

The Kentucky Derby is believed by many to be the most prestigious horse racing event of the year. Let’s take a look at how the race got started, and some fun facts you might not of known about the race itself.  Even if you don’t use our predictions to win money on the race, your friends will still consider you an expert.

Origin: Who Founded the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby was founded in 1875 by Meriwether Lewis Clark. Clark was trying to mimic England’s Epsom Derby. While the event struggled to begin with, it’s easy to see that it was able to get things turned around and become one of the biggest sporting venues of the year. On average, there are usually around 155,000 attending the race, and millions watching at home on television.

Did you Know the Distance of the Race Has Changed?

One thing you might not have known is that for the first 21 years the racing distance was 1 ½ miles before being shortened to today’s 1 ¼ miles in 1896. What many of you probably do know is that the Kentucky Derby is the first of three races that make up the Triple Crown.

The other two races are the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. So far there have been 12 horses to win the Triple Crown.  The most recent was American Pharaoh in 2015.

All-Time Fastest & Slowest Winning Times

The fastest time ever ran at the Kentucky Derby is held by Secretariat who was clocked at an astounding 1:59:40 in 1973. Secretariat would go on to back up his performance with wins at the Preakness and Belmont for the Triple Crown.  The slowest winner was Kingman in 1891 with a time of 2:52:00.

Most Victories By Jockey (5)

The most victories at the Kentucky Derby by one jockey is five. Both Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack hold this record.

Bill Hartack – Iron Liege (1957), Venetian Way (1960), Decidedly (1962), Northern Dancer (1964), Majestic Prince (1969)

Eddie Arcaro – Larwin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Hoop Jr. (1945), Citation (1948), Hill Gail (1952)

Most Wins by Owner (6)

The most victories by an owner is six.  Bob Baffert just won his sixth with Authentic in 2020 to match the record set by Ben A. Jones before him.

Ben A. Jones – Lawrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952)

Bob Baffert – Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002), American Pharoah (2015), Justify (2018), Authentic (2020)

Official Song

The official song of the Kentucky Derby is “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Collins Fosters. This song is performed each year before the race, and on a fun side note you can place a prop bet on just how long this song will take to be played.

Official Drink

The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby; it consists of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup.

Where the “Run for the Roses” Nickname Came From

I’m sure many of you have heard the Kentucky Derby being called the “Run for the Roses” because of the 554 red roses that are awarded to the winner each year.  However, you might not know is just how this tradition got started.

Way back in 1883, E. Berry Wall was presenting roses to ladies at the post-derby party. It just so happened that M. Lewis Clark was at this party, and he liked the gesture so much that he decided the rose would be the race’s official flower.

It wasn’t until about 15 years later that the Kentucky Derby winner was draped with Roses.  All of us are familiar with seeing it happen today, but many don’t know how it all got started.

Rain is a Common Factor

Rain has fallen at some point on 46% of all Derby days.  But how many times has the Derby been postponed due to weather?  The answer is none.  In 1918, 2.31 inches of rain fell on race day, but the race was still held and Exterminator was the winner.

How Much is Bet on the Big Race?

It’s tough to peg exactly how much is bet on the Kentucky Derby but at Churchill Downs the number is nearly $130 million.  In Las Vegas alone it’s estimated that $6-7 million is bet on the race.  See our link above for the most recent estimates.

I hope that you can take some of these fun facts and use them with the friends or family that you will be watching the Kentucky Derby with.  Who knows, maybe you can surprise them all with your knowledge of the Derby.  However, nothing will earn you more bragging rights than if you have the winning horse pegged, so make that priority number one.

The post Interesting Facts & Trivia About the Kentucky Derby appeared first on BetFirm.

While it’s not known how much is bet everywhere, I have pulled up some numbers from Churchill Downs and all North American Racetracks in recent years. Let’s take a look at these betting totals, plus the attendance numbers.

North American Racetracks: Money Bet on the Derby (Simulcast)

Last year was an outlier due to not having fans in attendance with the COVID-19 pandemic.  It also didn’t help that the race took place in September instead of early May.  But things are mostly back to normal for the 2021 Kentucky Derby and handle should be way up again with this race taking place in the first weekend of May.  There will be fans in attendance, but it won’t be full capacity.

Betting on the Kentucky Derby in 2019 set records across the board, including the simulcast at all North American racetracks.  These wagers totaled $165.5 million last year, up 10% from $149.9 million in 2018. There really is nothing quite like it in the world of horse racing.

We have included wagering totals for the entire day of racing (program), as well as the main event (race).  On-track numbers show the amount of money wagered at Churchill downs on the day of the race, while the numbers from all source represent money coming in from all over the country at casinos/racetracks that offer simulcast betting on the Derby.

Attendance at Churchill Downs & Total On-Track Wagers

Attendance at the track came in at 150,729 in 2019, the fourth straight year the race had seen a drop in ticket sales. More and more people are opting to watch the race at a local casino or at home as ticket prices continue to rise. It’s still an experience that any fan should try at least once, but the quality of coverage on the race has gotten so good that it’s not as big of a draw as it had been in the past.

The record for attendance was set back in 2015 with 170,513 fans packed into Churchill Downs, but it has seen a steady decline from that peak ever since. Until there is a big name running like Bob Baffert’s American Pharaoh in 2015, these numbers are likely to remain near the average for the last 10-15 years.

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