Kentucky is considered the mecca of the horse racing industry in the US. There are strong roots to the breeding, training, and racing of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Each year, thousands of residents and tourists head to the legendary Churchill Downs for their annual pilgrimage at the Kentucky Derby. The venue is one of the oldest and most well-revered racetracks in the country, but it is but one of the major tracks located in the Blue Grass State. With hundreds of live and simulcast races happening every day, residents have plenty of opportunities for Kentucky horse racing betting. There is nothing more exciting than horses and races in KY.
If you live in the Blue Grass State consider yourself lucky, because there is more horse racing betting in Kentucky than anywhere else. You can bet at racinos, historic racetracks, off-track betting venues, and even online racebooks. We have put together a quick guide of where to find the best horse betting action in the state. From the different types of horse bets to the best online horse racing betting sites, we have all of the information you need. There has never been a better time than now to bet on horses in K.Y., so keep reading to learn more about Kentucky’s favorite pastime!
With the profound impact that the state has had on the horse racing industry, it should come as no surprise that there are several legal ways to bet on horse racing in Kentucky. 810 KAR 1:011 defines pari-mutuel wagering and describes the laws for operating horse betting facilities. There are also federal horse betting laws such as the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 that authorized licensed racetracks and off-track betting facilities to transmit wagering information across state lines. What this means for bettors is that simulcast wagering is also permitted in Kentucky. As long as you are 18 years of age or older, you can bet on horses at racetracks, racinos, and online horse betting sites.
Read More: Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Kentucky?
The Kentucky Derby is the event that thousands of spectators wait for each May. The third Saturday of the month marks the beginning of the journey to the Triple Crown with the Run for the Roses. The 1 ¼ mile race at the famed Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville is where bettors start to bet on the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown betting odds. Whoever wins the “Most exciting two minutes in sports” could potentially go on to win the Triple Crown, which is an exciting prospect for any horse enthusiast. The 3-year-old Thoroughbred will, of course, have to win the Preakness Stakes two weeks after, and take home victory in the Belmont Stakes just three weeks later.
You can of course attend the event and place your Kentucky Derby bets at the ticket window, but many bettors choose to bet online. You can get in on Derby Day betting without having to bet with the masses, and you can still watch the event via live Kentucky Derby streaming. You still have the same wagering options, like win, place, or show bets, and exactas, trifectas, and superfectas. But you also get so much more, such as cash bonuses and free horse picks. You should choose an online horse betting site such as 5dimes, BetOnline, or Bovada for all of your Kentucky Derby betting needs.
There is nothing more exciting than horse betting, but first you have to know how to bet the ponies. The first concept to understand is that horse bets come in two categories- straight bets and exotic bets. Straight bets are the easiest and these are where most horse bettors start. The types of straight bets are win, place, and show wagers. They offer a lower payout than exotics because they are simpler and only involve betting on one horse.
Win – Betting on a horse to win the race.
Place - Your horse will come in 1st or 2nd place.
Show – Betting that a horse will finish in the top 3.
Exotic wagers have higher payouts due to their complexity. Instead of betting on one horse, you can bet on numerous horses and different races. You must also bet on the exact order that your selected horses will finish in.
Exacta – Betting on the horses will finish in the top 2.
Trifecta – A wager on the horses that will finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Superfecta – Selecting the horses that will get 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in a race.
Box – Though not an actual wager on its own, you can choose to box any exacta, trifecta, or superfecta bet. When you box a wager, you no longer need to specify the exact finishing order. Instead, you are betting on all potential combinations that your horses can finish in. For example, a boxed trifecta with three selections will win as long as all three horses are in the top three of the race.
Pick 3 – Wagering on the winner of 3 consecutive races.
Kentucky is home to some of the premier horse racing tracks in the country. You can always count on live racing action at the various Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks throughout the state. In addition to live racing, you can also watch and wager on races happening at out of state racetracks by simulcast. Each venue will have their own simulcast calendar, but the majority of racetracks show races 7 days a week. Kentuckians can also bet on horse racing via their smartphone or computer. Many racetracks offer internet wagering, or you can use an offshore online racebook for the best horse betting value. When it comes to OTB in KY, The Parlay is called an off-track betting facility but it is actually located in Churchill Downs. You have plenty of horse betting locations to choose from in KY, and we have put together a list of the most popular racetracks below:
Churchill Downs – Louisville, KY (Thoroughbred)
Ellis Park – Henderson, KY (Thoroughbred)
Keeneland – Lexington, KY (Thoroughbred)
Turfway Park - Florence, KY (Thoroughbred)
Kentucky Downs - Franklin, KY (Thoroughbred)
The Red Mile - Lexington, KY (Harness)
Being a horse bettor does not mean that you have to physical go to the tracks every day. Online horse racing betting in KY allows you to bet the horses from wherever you want. You can bet from your computer, or bet while on the go with mobile horse betting. That’s right, you can use your iPhone or Android smartphone to wager on races without being tied to your laptop. In either scenario, you will have access to Thoroughbred and harness racetracks from all over the world. Not only will you find Kentucky Derby betting odds, there will be odds on the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes as well. The bonuses and promotions that online racebooks offer make online horse betting even more exciting. You can get daily cash rebates and exclusive deposit bonuses that put more money in your pocket. Of all the online horse betting sites available to KY residents, we recommend Bovada and BetOnline as two of the best.
BetOnline offers the most exciting betting experience for horse enthusiasts in the state of KY. As one of the most reputable online horse betting sites on the internet, you will get all of the horse race betting action that you need. Over 80 tracks are featured in the racebook including Churchill Downs and Keeneland. You can even head to the Northeast and bet on races at the Aqueduct or Meadows Racetrack. One unique feature of BetOnline is that it also offers live feeds of horse races, and you can even watch replays. This paired with the mobile horse betting platform makes BetOnline one of the best online racebooks that you can join.
To get started at BetOnline, you will need to make your first deposit. The cashier at BetOnline is simple to use and there are over 10 convenient payment methods. We recommend using Bitcoin to fund your account as it is the fastest option for horse bettors. You can deposit up to $5,000 instantly by transferring funds to BetOnline’s BTC wallet address. Another same-day deposit option is by credit card. Both Visa and MasterCard are accepted and you can deposit anywhere from $20 to $5,000 instantly. If you are looking to bet big on the Kentucky Derby or another race, then a bank wire transfer may be the best option. High roller horse bettors prefer this method because there is no deposit maximum. The fee for bank wire transfers will depend on your individual bank and the amount you send. No matter how you choose to fund your account, all of the methods are reliable. Choose your preferred deposit method and visit BetOnline.ag to start betting the horses now!
When you want the best year-round horse betting action, Bovada.lv is the horse betting site to join. The site caters specifically to US horseplayers which is why they know exactly what you need from your online racebook. More than 50 of the most popular USA tracks are featured along with tracks in the UK, Hong Kong, and even Australia! When it comes to wagering options all of the common straight bets are accepted along with exotics like superfectas and pick 6’s. The racebook itself is expertly designed, with an interactive track list, enhanced bet slip, and automatic page refreshing. You will be impressed with all that Bovada has to offer with its easy navigation and special features.
Bovada is the only US-friendly horse betting site that offers exclusive deposit bonuses. The newest and most popular bonus is the $500 Bitcoin Welcome Bonus. Bitcoin is the best deposit method for horse bettors because it is reliable and extremely fast. You can deposit as little as $20 or as much as $5,000 and your funds are guaranteed to be applied to your account instantly upon receipt. With the Welcome Bonus, the cashier will match your deposit by 50%, up to a total of $500 in free plays. The bonus cash can be used anywhere in the racebook and does not expire. Just use code BVSBITCOIN50 while in the cashier and your cash will be available immediately for wagering. Bovada is currently accepting KY residents, and it only takes moments to sign up for a free Bovada racebook account!
| Racebook | Bonus | Kentucky Welcome? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Racebook | 50% Up To $250 First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
| SportsBetting | 50% Match On First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
| BetOnline Racebook | $1,000 On All Deposits - 25% | Yes | Visit |
| 5Dimes Racebook | 50% To $200 Then 20% To $500 | Yes | Visit |