How to bet on the 2019 Kentucky Derby

Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Everyone wants to pick a winner, but first you need to know how to bet the Kentucky Derby. We'll show you how to do just that -- and hopefully pick that winner, too. 

There are many locations to wager on the Kentucky Derby, but the easiest option is to bet online from your home computer or phone. In most U.S. states and Canada, it is legal to bet horse racing online. And because of the excitement surrounding Kentucky Derby, you can even get free bonus money to open up your account. First, what horses are running in the Kentucky Derby? With the scratches of favorite Omaha Beach (No. 12) and Haikal (No. 11), there are now 19 horses running in the Kentucky Derby.   Here are the current Kentucky Derby odds as of the end of the day Friday:

2019 Kentucky Derby odds

Horse

Morning line

Current

1. War of Will

15-1

18-1

2. Tax

20-1

38-1

3. By My Standards

15-1

14-1

4. Gray Magician

50-1

28-1

5. Improbable

5-1

5-1

6. Vekoma

15-1

22-1

7. Maximum Security

8-1

9-2

8. Tacitus

8-1

5-1

9. Plus Que Parfait

30-1

50-1

10. Cutting Humor

30-1

22-1

11. Haikal

SCR

SCR

12. Omaha Beach

SCR

SCR

13. Code of Honor

12-1

13-1

14. Win Win Win

12-1

14-1

15. Master Fencer

50-1

50-1

16. Game Winner

9-2

6-1

17. Roadster

5-1

9-1

18. Long Range Toddy

30-1

44-1

19. Spinoff

30-1

54-1

20. Country House

30-1

72-1

21. Bodexpress

30-1

99-1

Which horses look good? Horse Racing Nation has full coverage of the Kentucky Derby, including the latest news from Churchill Downs and background stories on just about every horse in the race:
 Jockey Mike Smith to ride Cutting Humor in Kentucky Derby

 Todd Pletcher likes his 2019 Kentucky Derby chances

 A Kentucky Derby weather update

Plus handicapping from HRN's experts:

 Expert picks for Kentucky Derby 2019

 Conclusions on every horse in the 2019 Kentucky Derby

 Why I’m betting Vekoma in the Kentucky Derby

 The Kentucky Derby pace without Omaha Beach

Also, there are some great articles on handicapping, including:  

 Keys to cashing on the 2019 Kentucky Derby superfecta

 6 Derby prep race replays you need to see

 The math behind 2019 Kentucky Derby’s large expected payouts

Handicapping the horses on paper and video
In handicapping the Kentucky Derby, you want to start out with the past performances. Horse Racing Nation provides free Kentucky Derby PPs. Studying the PPs, you can look at each horse’s racing record, their earnings and most recent finishes. Another good source for picking a horse is by watching prior race replays. Start with some of the more prominent prep races for the Kentucky Derby field.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) • Santa Anita • 4/6/2019
Winner: Roadster
2nd: Game Winner • 3rd: Instagrand

Wood Memorial (G2) • Aqueduct • 4/06/2019
Winner: Tacitus
2nd: Tax • 3rd: Haikal

Florida Derby (G1) • Gulfstream Park • 3/30/2019
Winner: Maximum Security
2nd: Bodexpress • 3rd: Code of Honor


Louisiana Derby (G2) • Fair Grounds • 3/23/2019
Winner: By My Standards
2nd: Spinoff • 3rd: Sueno


Opening a free online account to bet the Derby

This is free and easy. TVG is one of the best websites for betting on horse races, and they are offering a bonus of $200 to new account holders.   It only takes a minute to sign-up and get started. TVG has all the information here if you click on their Derby promotion:

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