“The First Saturday in May,” “The Run for the Roses,” and “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” are special phrases. Specifically, those three monikers point to the biggest day each year in American horse racing. The 146th Kentucky Derby will be run on May 2, 2019. And with that comes certain facts about Kentucky Derby betting. To begin with, no other horse race in the United States draws as much attention. Along the same lines, no other horse race will draw as much gambling action and dollars wagered. Tradition and history are the secret sauce of this classic event.
2020 Kentucky Derby Betting Date, Location and Odds
| Date and Time: | Saturday, May 2, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2020 Kentucky Derby TV Coverage | NBC |
| 2020 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
2020 Kentucky Derby Overview
On the whole, the Kentucky Derby sets itself apart from all other sports betting events with its rituals. It begins with fancy hats worn by most of the women watching. That includes fans taking in the action on TV at casinos or at home parties. Following that is the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” during the parade of horses entering the track. And then there is the blanket of roses placed upon the winning horse. Most important of all the winning horses becomes the odds-on Triple Crown favorite. No race in the United States generates as much attention.
A Winner Overturned
Last year epitomized what is so monumental about Kentucky Derby Betting. Maximum Security took the wire to apparently win the blanket of roses. But a video replay review followed. And it was ruled that Maximum Security blocked other contenders. Instead, the win went to the long shot Country House. Consequently, any shot of a legitimate Triple Crown contender went out the window. Maximum Security was a legitimate Triple Crown threat. By contrast, Country House never had a prayer. NBC was a big loser. The network would suffer a revenue drop due to the loss of a Triple Crown possibility.
Prep Races
Notwithstanding the excitement of the Kentucky Derby is the weeks leading up to the race. Several “prep” races are run all over the country to weed out the pretenders from the contenders. Consider such races as the Arkansas Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Wood Memorial, and the Florida Derby. Additionally, there is the Louisiana Derby, Rebel Stakes, UAE Derby, and Tampa Bay Derby. Namely, the Breeders Cup Juvenile run each November is the unofficial start to the Run for the Roses path. Sharps and hard-core horseplayers use these races as homework for Derby Day.
Characteristics of a Derby Contender
The winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile is always an immediate favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Game Winner took the wire in last year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile under the training of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Indeed, that combination of trainer and victory catapulted Game Winner to the top of the board. Yet Game Winner could manage only a fifth-place finish on Derby Day. Another prep race that is of vital gambling importance is the Santa Anita Derby. Last year Roadster edged out Game Winner to become another top tier Kentucky Derby chalk.
Staying Grounded
On the whole, the winning horses of prep races get an immediate flow of gambling money. More often than not they are overlays. Avoiding the hype is a key element in the ability to find value on Derby Day!