Kentucky Derby
Prep Races

Road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby: Prep Races

The spotlight is squarely on May 4th as officials trigger the start of the race with the iconic bell ring. But the journey to this moment began long before, with competitors fiercely dueling one another month after month on the Road to the Kentucky Derby path.

New to  BUSR? Join us for what remains of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and claim a $150 racebook welcome bonus plus up to a 10% betting rebate. Expect nothing less than VIP treatment with the advantage of early odds, fast-track payouts, exquisite promotions, and a broad spectrum of tips and insights to elevate your betting game. 

What are the Kentucky Derby Prep Races?

The Kentucky Derby Prep Races are a series of thoroughbred horse racing events that take place across the United States and beyond. They are collectively known as the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ —  a pathway that begins in September and extends to the main event — and operates on a points system where participants accumulate points in an attempt to qualify for a position at Churchill Downs. 

Road to the Kentucky Derby 2024: Key Facts

• Dates: September 16, 2023, to April 13, 2024

• Paths: The U.S. Main Road, the European Road, and the Japan Road

• Location: Races are held in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Japan

• Distance: Varies from 1 mile to 1 1/8 miles

• Horse Types: Two and three-year-old thoroughbreds eligible

• Surface: Dirt and synthetic tracks.

• Points System: Tiered, ranging from 10-4-2-1 in early races to 100-50-30-20 in final preps

• Popular Races with Horse Racing Fans: The Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, UAE Derby, and Blue Grass Stakes

• Prize Money: Ranges significantly, with top races offering over a million dollars in purses

History of the Kentucky Prep Races

Before the new points system came into effect in 2012, the Kentucky Derby field was determined by earnings from all graded stakes races. This approach essentially gave equal weight to earnings from juvenile races, sprints, and turf competitions alongside traditional Derby prep races. It often led to a field selection that did not necessarily reflect the performance or suitability of horses for the Derby’s specific distance and surface conditions.

Kentucky Derby Prep Races Season 2023-2024 

The Kentucky Derby is among the most prestigious events around the world. Horse racing fans from all over the globe travel to Churchill Downs to witness up close and personal the finest three-year-old thoroughbreds in the world competing for a $5 million prize purse. At the gate, 20 positions are up for grabs; 18 from the United States, one reserved for the top finisher in European events, and another for the leading horse from the Japan series.

BUSR, your Elite Racebook

Discover 300+ betting options, all at your fingertips on your smartphone or computer.

Take advantage of our competitive future odds and enjoy fast payouts on top Kentucky Oaks and Derby horses, along with leading Jockeys and Trainers. Place bets on a variety of options such as margin of victory, head-to-head matchups, the winning time compared to Secretariat’s world record, Triple Crown contention, and much more.

20% Cash Welcome Bonus – Up to $1,000

KD20 Copy Code

 

 

Bet the Derby

How to Qualify for the Kentucky Derby

The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby includes 36 pivotal races divided into the Prep Season and the Championship Series. Each contest is assigned a specific point value, deliberately structured to escalate as competitors edge closer to the day of the Derby. 

• Prep Season:

• Runs from late September to early March, awarding points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers in each race. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the season’s highlight, offers points at a 30-15-9-6-3 scale and boasts a $2,000,000 prize purse. Other notable races like the Robert B. Lewis and Holy Bull provide points at a 20-10-6-4-2 scale.

• Championship Series:

• Divided into two legs plus a ‘wild card’ round. The first features minor prep races, usually Grade II, on a 50-25-15-10-5 hierarchy, leading into the second leg’s Super Six Prep races: Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Arkansas Derby, Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, and Wood Memorial Stakes. Each of these can significantly impact standings, with 100 points awarded to the winners.

• Wild Card Races:

• Positioned towards the Championship Series’ conclusion, these races offer a final opportunity to accrue points, typically on a 20-8-4-2 scale. They serve as a last-ditch effort for horses on the cusp of qualification and can be crucial for any late surges in the leaderboard.

• Filling the Positions

• The 18 horses with the highest number of points at the end of the Championship Series are eligible to enter the Kentucky Derby. Owners must then pay entry ($25,000) and starting ($25,000) fees and declare their intention to run. If any of the qualifiers do not enter the race, their spot is offered to the next horse in the standings.

• Tie-Breaking:

• In the event of a tie in the points, the deadlock is resolved by comparing earnings in non-restricted stakes races. The thinking behind it is to try and get the most consistently performing horses throughout the season while prioritizing success in high-stakes competitions.

• International Qualifiers:

• The Kentucky Derby reserves spots for international competitors through two separate paths: the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby” and the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Each of these roads has its own series of races and points system, with the top finishers (one European and one Japanese) earning a spot for the most exciting two minutes in sports.

What changes have been made to the Road to the Kentucky Derby format for 2024?

2024 Kentucky Derby Prep Races Schedule and Results

September 16th initiated the prestigious journey for the first Triple Crown leg at Churchill Downs. Along the way, Brad Cox’s Timberlake has surged ahead in the points standings with several overpowering performances and a decisive victory in the Grade 2 Rebel. Dornoch, under Danny Gargan’s guidance and jockey Luis Saez, emerged as a formidable contender, grabbing the spoils at the Remsen Stakes and Fountain of Youth. Turning heads as well are horses like Sierra Leone and Honor Marie, the latter distinguished by Jody Demling’s expert analysis for its notable track record at Churchill Downs.

How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby Prep Races

Betting on Kentucky Derby Prep Races at  BUSR is very straightforward. Start by:

1. Entering your login credentials and logging in.

2. Click or tap on the horse racing section.

3. Browse through the list of races and select the specific Kentucky Derby Prep Race you’re interested in. These will be named individually (e.g., Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby).

4. Each horse participating in the selected prep race will have odds listed. Review these along with recent form, track records, trainer success rates, and jockey performances to refine your betting strategy.

5. Decide on the type of bet you’d like to place. Options include straightforward bets like Win, Place, Show, or more complex wagers such as Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, and so on.

6. Click “ADD TO BET SLIP” to add your selections.

7. Review your bet slip. This is found on the right side of the screen (desktop) or in a mobile ‘Shopping Cart’ and allows you to make necessary adjustments if required.

8. Confirm and finalize your wager by clicking “PLACE BET.”

9. You’ll receive a ticket number as confirmation that your bet has been placed.

FAQ

When is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is the inaugural event of the Triple Crown and is scheduled for May 4th, 2024.

Which is the most important Kentucky Derby prep race?

Each one of these races can significantly impact the final leaderboard, with 210 points to be divided among the top five finishers.

How many prep races are there for the Kentucky Derby?

There are a total of 36 races split into the Prep Season (20) and the Championship Series (16). Additionally, there are 7 races in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby and 4 races in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Is the Road to the Kentucky Derby part of the Triple Crown?

No, the Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of qualifying races that determine which horses can compete in the Kentucky Derby, not a part of the Triple Crown itself.