Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Group One Betting Guide
Date: | Saturday, May 04, 2019 |
Location: | Churchill Downs |
Prize Money: | USD $2 Million |
Distance: | 1 1/4 Miles |
THE Kentucky Derby is one of the most iconic thoroughbred horse races in the world and with it comes a rich heritage of past winners.
Some of the American racing greats are featured in the winner’s list of the 2012-metre dirt race, which is held annually on the first Saturday in May and is run for a purse of around US$2 million.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the prestigious American Triple Crown, which also includes the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes. This triple crown series is regarded as the highlight of the United States horse scene.
Known as “The most exciting two minutes in sports” the Kentucky Derby has all the flair, fashion and supreme thoroughbred talent to make it a must-watch for horse racing fans around the world.
The Churchill Downs Racetrack in Kentucky boasts a crowd which surpasses all other Triple Crown venues and betting on the Kentucky Derby is seen as a tradition in the U.S, much like betting on the Melbourne Cup is to Australians.
Best Kentucky Derby bookmakers
All of our listed bookmakers will have betting available on the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Read our reviews below on the online bookmakers you can trust.
The following bookmakers will have futures and fixed odds betting on the Kentucky Derby:
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2019 Kentucky Derby betting

After the scratching of favourite Omaha Beach, Game Winner is the new $6.50 favourtite to take out the 2019 Kentucky Derby.
Improbably and Roadster are locked together on the second line of betting at the $7 quote with our trusted online bookmakers.
Tacitus ($9) is the only other runner in single figures.
Kentucky Derby tips
As the 2019 Kentucky Derby draws closer rest assured HorseBetting.com.au will have all the latest updates and futures tips, while in the week leading up the race we will provide full form, tips and odds comparison. Below you find plenty of historical information about the Kentucky Derby, with there being obvious conclusions to be drawn out of these findings for punters.
2018 Kentucky Derby result
1st – Justify ($4.50)
2nd – Good Magic ($3.30)
3rd – Audible ($2.90)
Recent Kentucky Derby winners
- Justify went into the 2018 Kentucky Derby as a slight favourite and the Bob Baffert-trained runner was eponymous in victory. Promises Fulfilled jumped out to an early lead and Justify was happy to sit on the horse’s outside in the slop, eventually taking the lead at the half way point. As the horses entered the stretch Justify booted away to establish what would be a Derby winning lead, holding off late charge from Good Magic. Justify would go on to claim the American Triple Crown.
- There was a big betting plunge for the Todd Pletcher-trained Always Dreaming and it paid off big time for punters. The strong three-year-old was backed in from $7.50 to $5 come post time and after trailing to speed throughout, it kicked clear in the straight and held on from the fast-finishing Looking At Lee. The win was both Todd Pletcher’s and jockey John Velazquez’ second Kentucky Derby success.
- Nyquist was the boom runner of 2016 and it didn’t let down punters. The son of Uncle Mo entered the Derby having won its first seven starts and punters secured $3 for the quality type. After jumping well, Nyquist was restrained as Danzing Candy went to the lead. Nyquist was booted up around the home turn and it held off the fast-finishing Exaggerator to win by 1.25 lengths. Exaggerator would get revenge in the Preakness Stakes when beating Nyquist which finished third.
- American Pharoah is a great story of a champion thoroughbred which captivated the American public. The Bob Baffert-trained colt finished fifth on debut, but it quickly rattled off four effortless wins before lining up in the Kentucky Derby. It started as the hot favourite and after settling just behind the speed throughout the trip, jockey Victor Espinoza pressed the go button around the bend and it lengthened nicely for a one-length win. American Pharoah would later become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.
- California Chrome came up short in the Triple Crown, but its legacy remains firmly in tact after an incredible career. The Art Sherman-trained champion didn’t look the part in the early part of its career, but after winning four lead-up races into the Derby by big margins, a star was well and truly on the horizon. Victor Espinoza was again in the saddle and it was another Kentucky Derby favourite to keep punters happy. California Chrome settled just behind the leaders before shooting away for a five-length lead down the backstretch. The win was firmly parceled up as the turned which enabled Espinoza to ease his runner nearing the line.
- Orb was another favourite to win the Kentucky Derby. The Claude McGaughey III-trained colt was positioned at the back of the field before jockey Joel Rosario started to make a move down the back straight. On a rain-affected track, Orb was able to pick up runners with ease before pulling away for a 2.5-length victory. Orb ended its career with five wins from 12 starts and was unable to recapture its form from the Kentucky Derby. Orb currently stands at stud in the same paddock once used by Secretariat.
- I’ll Have Another caused an upset in 2012 when winning at odds of $16. The Doug O’Neill-trained colt ran in front of a record crowd of 165,307 and it became the only horse to win the Derby from barrier 19. It was also the first Kentucky Derby ride for Mario Gutierrez who didn’t have any previous experience in the Triple Crown. Unfortunately for I’ll Have Another, after winning the Preakness Stakes it would later succumb to injury and its Triple Crown dreams were dashed without getting the chance.
Kentucky Derby facts and figures
Knowing all the facts and figures can make betting on the Kentucky Derby much easier.
Listed below are some of the more important statistics which should be used as a guide for the upcoming race.
- Kentucky Derby race record: Secretariat (1973) – 1:59.40
- Longest odds to win: Donerail (1913) – $91
- Record margin of victory: Eight lengths (Old Rosebud, Johnstown, Whirlaway, Assault)
- The favourite has won the last ten of 15 editions of the Kentucky Derby.
- Over the same 13 years there has been two of the three biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history. Mine That Bird and Giacomo both won paying $50.
- Barrier 5 has accounted for 13 winners and the next best is the inside barrier. No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby from barrier 17.
- Five unbeaten runners have won the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew in 1997. These include Smarty Jones, Barbaro, Big Brown, Nyquist and Justify.
- The best active jockeys to back in the Kentucky Derby are Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza and Gary Stevens. All three riders have won three times, with the all-time record going to Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack with five wins a piece.
- Apollo, which won in 1882, is the only horse to win having not raced as a two-year-old. It will pay to back runners which have had a successful juvenile season.
- The Santa Anita Derby has proven to be the best form guide leading into the race. It has produced five winners since 1997.
- Horses with the letter S have won the Kentucky Derby 19 times. No horse starting with Q or Y has ever won and no horse starting with the letter X has ever been entered.
More key races on the US racing calendar
- Kentucky Derby
- The Preakness
- Triple Crown
- ER Bradley Handicap
- Frank E. Kilroe
- Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
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Kentucky Derby past winners list
Kentucky Derby Past Winners | |
---|---|
Year | Kentucky Derby Past Winner |
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 That Bird |
2008 | Big Brown |
2007 | Street Sense |
2006 | Barbaro |
2005 | Giacomo |
2004 | Smarty Jones |
2003 | Funny Cide |
2002 | War Emblem |
2001 | Monarchos |
2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus |
1999 | Charismatic |
1998 | Real Quiet |
1997 | Silver Charm |
1996 | Grindstone |
1995 | Thunder Gulch |
1994 | Go for Gin |
1993 | Sea Hero |
1992 | Lil E. Tee |
1991 | Strike the Gold |
1990 | Unbridled |
1989 | Sunday Silence |
1988 | Winning Colors |
1987 | Alysheba |
1986 | Ferdinand |
1985 | Spend a Buck |
1984 | Swale |
1983 | Sunnys Halo |
1982 | Gato Del Sol |
1981 | Pleasant Colony |
1980 | Genuine Risk |
1979 | Spectacular Bid |
1978 | Affirmed |
1977 | Seattle Slew |
1976 | Bold Forbes |
1975 | Foolish Pleasure |
1974 | Cannonade |
1973 | Secretariat |
1972 | Riva Ridge |
1971 | Canonero II |
1970 | Dust Commander |
1969 | Majestic Prince |
1968 | Forward Pass |
1967 | Proud Clarion |
1966 | Kauai King |
1965 | Lucky Debonair |
1964 | Northern Dancer |
1963 | Chateaugay |
1962 | Decidedly |
1961 | Carry Back |
1960 | Venetian Way |
1959 | Tomy Lee |
1958 | Tim Tam |
1957 | Iron Liege |
1956 | Needles |
1955 | Swaps |
1954 | Determine |
1953 | Dark Star |
1952 | Hill Gail |
1951 | Count Turf |
1950 | Middleground |
1949 | Ponder |
1948 | Citation |
1947 | Jet Pilot |
1946 | Assault |
1945 | Hoop Jr. |
1944 | Pensive |
1943 | Count Fleet |
1942 | Shut Out |
1941 | Whirlaway |
1940 | Gallahadion |
1939 | Johnstown |
1938 | Lawrin |
1937 | War Admiral |
1936 | Bold Venture |
1935 | Omaha |
1934 | Cavalcade |
1933 | Brokers Tip |
1932 | Burgoo King |
1931 | Twenty Grand |
1930 | Gallant Fox |
1929 | Clyde Van Dusen |
1928 | Reigh Count |
1927 | Whiskery |
1926 | Bubbling Over |
1925 | Flying Ebony |
1924 | Black Gold |
1923 | Zev |
1922 | Morvich |
1921 | Behave Yourself |
1920 | Paul Jones |
1919 | Sir Barton |
1918 | Exterminator |
1917 | Omar Khayyam |
1916 | George Smith |
1915 | Regret |
1914 | Old Rosebud |
1913 | Donerail |
1912 | Worth |
1911 | Meridian |
1910 | Donau |
1909 | Wintergreen |
1908 | Stone Street |
1907 | Pink Star |
1906 | Sir Huon |
1905 | Agile |
1904 | Elwood |
1903 | Judge Himes |
1902 | Alan-a-Dale |
1901 | His Eminence |
1900 | Lieut. Gibson |
1899 | Manuel |
1898 | Plaudit |
1897 | Typhoon II |
1896 | Ben Brush |
1895 | Halma |
1894 | Chant |
1893 | Lookout |
1892 | Azra |
1891 | Kingman |
1890 | Riley |
1889 | Spokane |
1888 | Macbeth II |
1887 | Montrose |
1886 | Ben Ali |
1885 | Joe Cotton |
1884 | Buchanan |
1883 | Leonatus |
1882 | Apollo |
1881 | Hindoo |
1880 | Fonso |
1879 | Lord Murphy |
1878 | Day Star |
1877 | Baden-Baden |
1876 | Vagrant |
1875 | Aristides |
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