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Kentucky Derby Betting 2027
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most heavily wagered races in the world, and the 153rd running is set for Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs. This guide explains how to bet on the Kentucky Derby, what every wager means and how to build a ticket.
You will also find payout examples, futures betting, strategy and race day tips. For the date, venue and Road to the Kentucky Derby, visit the Kentucky Derby page, or follow the early contenders on the Kentucky Derby odds page.
How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby
Betting the Kentucky Derby online takes a few minutes. Follow these four steps to place your first wager.
Open your BUSR account and fund your balance.
Open the racebook and select the Churchill Downs race card.
Select the horse and the wager type you want to play.
Enter your stake and submit the bet before post time.
Kentucky Derby Bet Types
Derby Day offers straight bets, exotic bets and multi-race bets. Straight bets are the simplest, while exotics ask you to pick several finishers and can pay much more.
| Bet | Type | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Straight | Your horse must finish first. |
| Place | Straight | Your horse must finish first or second. |
| Show | Straight | Your horse must finish in the top three. |
| Exacta | Exotic | Pick the first two finishers in order. |
| Trifecta | Exotic | Pick the first three finishers in order. |
| Superfecta | Exotic | Pick the first four finishers in order. |
| Super High 5 | Exotic | Pick the first five finishers in order. |
| Daily Double | Multi-race | Pick the winners of two consecutive races. |
| Pick 3 | Multi-race | Pick the winners of three consecutive races. |
| Pick 4 | Multi-race | Pick the winners of four consecutive races. |
| Pick 5 | Multi-race | Pick the winners of five consecutive races. |
Boxing Your Bets
A box covers your chosen horses finishing in any order. The cost is the number of combinations multiplied by your base bet, so wider boxes cost more.
| Box | Horses | Combos | Cost at $1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exacta | 2 | 2 | $2 |
| Exacta | 3 | 6 | $6 |
| Trifecta | 3 | 6 | $6 |
| Trifecta | 4 | 24 | $24 |
| Superfecta | 4 | 24 | $24 |
| Superfecta | 5 | 120 | $120 |
Kentucky Derby Payout Examples
Your profit on a winning bet is your stake multiplied by the odds, and your return includes your original stake. These examples show what winning win bets pay at different prices.
| Win Bet | Odds | Profit | Total Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | 8/1 | $16 | $18 |
| $10 | 5/1 | $50 | $60 |
| $10 | 10/1 | $100 | $110 |
| $10 | 20/1 | $200 | $210 |
| $20 | 3/1 | $60 | $80 |
| $50 | 15/1 | $750 | $800 |
Exotic payouts depend on how many tickets are sold on each combination, so a longshot in the Trifecta or Superfecta can pay far more than a straight win bet. Learn how prices work on the Kentucky Derby odds page.
Kentucky Derby Futures Betting
Futures let you bet on a horse months before the race, before the field is set. Early prices can be longer than race day odds, and they shorten when a horse wins a major prep race. A horse still has to earn its place in the 20-horse field, so check the terms of the wager before you bet.
Fixed Odds Futures
With fixed odds, the price is locked in when you place the bet, so later changes in the market do not change your payout.
Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Churchill Downs also runs the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, a pari-mutuel pool offered in the months before the race that lets bettors back a horse before the field is set.
Kentucky Derby Betting Strategy
With up to 20 horses in the gate, the Kentucky Derby is hard to handicap. These are the main angles bettors look at:
- Prep race form. Look at how a horse ran in the major preps and whether it collected enough qualifying points to make the field.
- Distance. The Derby is run over 1 1/4 miles, farther than most three-year-olds have raced, so stamina and pedigree for the distance matter.
- Pace. A big field often produces a fast early pace, which can set the race up for horses that finish strongly.
- Post position. The draw in Derby week sets the starting gates, and a wide post in a 20-horse field can be a disadvantage.
- Trainer and jockey. Experience at Churchill Downs and in Derby week can matter for a horse stepping up to its first Derby.
- Value. Longshots have produced major upsets in the past, so the favorite is rarely the whole story.
Kentucky Derby Race Day Betting
Before the Race
The morning line is released after the post position draw in Derby week. Check it against the odds board on race day, because final odds change with the betting action until the gates open.
Track Conditions
A fast track and a sloppy track can produce very different results, so check the track condition and the weather forecast before you finalize your ticket.
Late Scratches
A late scratch removes a horse from the race and can change the odds on the rest of the field. Check the terms of your wager to see how scratches are handled.
Bet Responsibly
Set a budget before you bet, only wager what you can afford to lose and never chase losses.
Kentucky Derby Betting Resources
Get the date, venue, traditions and the full Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Go to the Kentucky DerbyFollow the early contenders and learn how Kentucky Derby odds work.
View Kentucky Derby OddsSee the full 2026-27 Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule with dates, tracks and points.
View the Prep RacesGet the details on the Friday fillies race that opens Derby weekend.
Go to the Kentucky OaksLearn about the home of the Kentucky Derby and its racing calendar.
Go to Churchill DownsSee today’s horse racing markets, available tracks and wagering options.
Go to the BUSR Racebook
Kentucky Derby Betting FAQ
How do I bet on the Kentucky Derby at BUSR?
Open and fund your BUSR account, go to the racebook, choose the Churchill Downs race card on Derby Day, then pick your horse, wager type and stake before post time.
What bets can I make on the Kentucky Derby?
You can bet Win, Place and Show, exotic wagers such as the Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and Super High 5, and multi-race wagers such as the Daily Double and Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5. Available wagers and minimums depend on the race card and platform.
What is an exacta box and what does it cost?
An exacta box covers every first and second place combination among the horses you choose, in any order. The cost is the number of combinations times your base bet, so a $1 exacta box on three horses covers six combinations and costs $6.
What is a Super High 5?
The Super High 5 is an exotic wager where you pick the first five finishers of a race in exact order. Churchill Downs has offered it on the Kentucky Derby Day card in recent years.
Can I bet on Kentucky Derby futures?
When Kentucky Derby futures are available, you can bet them at BUSR. With fixed odds, the price you take when you place the bet is the price you are paid, even if the odds change later.
How early can I bet on the Kentucky Derby?
Futures markets open months before the race, before the field is set. Churchill Downs also runs the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, a pari-mutuel pool offered in the months before the Derby.
What happens if my horse is scratched?
Rules depend on the wager and the platform, so check the terms before you bet. In general, a scratched horse is removed from the race, and late scratches can change the odds on the rest of the field.
How many horses run in the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby field is limited to 20 starters. Horses earn their place by collecting points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
When is the 2027 Kentucky Derby?
The 153rd Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Oaks is run the day before, on Friday, April 30, 2027.
Are there official 2027 Kentucky Derby odds yet?
Not yet. The prep season is still under way and most contenders have not run, so official Kentucky Derby odds are not available. Follow the early contenders on the Kentucky Derby odds page as markets develop.
Related Pages and Articles:
2026 Breeders' Cup |Breeders' Cup Odds | Breeders' Cup Betting | Breeders' Cup Schedule | Racetracks | Racebook Welcome Bonus | Horse Betting 10% Rebate
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