2024 Kentucky Derby Odds & Betting Favorites
If you're a casual fan of the ponies or a grizzled veteran of the horse racing scene, the Kentucky Derby is one of the highlights of your wagering calendar, and we have you covered with a look at this year's edition of the Run for the Roses with the Kentucky Derby odds from our best Kentucky Derby betting sites.
Before diving into your Kentucky Derby research, ensuring you're betting with the best horse racing betting sites is pivotal. Make sure to check out how to bet on horse racing so that you're covered for the first leg of horse racing's vaunted Triple Crown.
Once you're finished here, make sure to check out our 2024 Kentucky Derby post positions.
After you've set yourself up with the best Kentucky Derby sportsbooks, it's time to get down to business! Here's a breakdown of the top contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby crown.
Kentucky Derby live odds
(Odds updated April 28; see our betting calculators for help translating horse racing odds)
| Horse | Post position | FanDuel | bet365 | Morning Line odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fierceness | 17 | +250 | +300 | 3-1 |
| Sierra Leone | 2 | +300 | +250 | 5-2 |
| Catching Freedom | 4 | +800 | +1100 | 10-1 |
| Just a Touch | 8 | +1000 | +1400 | 8-1 |
| Forever Young | 11 | +1000 | +800 | 20-1 |
| Dornoch | 1 | +2000 | +2200 | 10-1 |
| Mystik Dan | 3 | +2000 | +2500 | 20-1 |
| Just Steel | 6 | +2000 | +2500 | 30-1 |
| Honor Marie | 7 | +2000 | +2000 | 20-1 |
| Encino | 9 | +2000 | +2500 | 20-1 |
| Track Phantom | 12 | +2000 | +2500 | 30-1 |
| Stronghold | 18 | +2000 | +1400 | 20-1 |
| Resilience | 19 | +2000 | +2000 | 50-1 |
| Domestic Product | 15 | +3000 | +3000 | 20-1 |
| Catalytic | 5 | +3000 | +4000 | 20-1 |
| T O Password | 10 | +3000 | +2800 | 50-1 |
| Endlessly | 14 | +3000 | +2000 | 20-1 |
| West Saratoga | 13 | +5000 | +5000 | 30-1 |
| Grand Mo The First | 16 | +5000 | +6600 | 30-1 |
| Society Man | 20 | +5000 | +2500 | 50-1 |
| Epic Ride | 21 | +5000 | +2500 | 50-1 |
| Mugatu | 22 | +5000 | +10000 | 50-1 |
Kentucky Derby future wager
For reference, what follows is a look at the closing odds from Churchill Downs' sixth 2024 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Wagering opened on April 4 and closed on April 6, hours before the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby were conducted.
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Be You | 52-1 |
| Catalytic | 99-1 |
| Catching Freedom | 12-1 |
| Common Defense | 234-1 |
| Deterministic | 12-1 |
| Domestic Product | 40-1 |
| Dornoch | 12-1 |
| El Grande O | 117-1 |
| Encino | 63-1 |
| Endlessly | 37-1 |
| Epic Ride | 156-1 |
| Evening News | 147-1 |
| Fierceness | 5-2 |
| Forever Young | 14-1 |
| Good Money | 157-1 |
| Grand Mo The First | 179-1 |
| Hades | 92-1 |
| Honor Marie | 26-1 |
| Just A Touch | 22-1 |
| Just Steel | 30-1 |
| Lat Long | 322-1 |
| Mc Vay | 194-1 |
| Merit | 478-1 |
| Mystik Dan | 35-1 |
| No More Time | 277-1 |
| Resilience | 76-1 |
| Seize the Grey | 42-1 |
| Sierra Leone | 7-1 |
| Society Man | 793-1 |
| Stronghold | 30-1 |
| T O Password | 135-1 |
| Tapalo | 294-1 |
| Tessuto | 516-1 |
| Timberlake | OFF |
| Top Conor | 80-1 |
| Track Phantom | 53-1 |
| Tuscan Sky | 24-1 |
| Uncle Heavy | 72-1 |
| West Saratoga | 121-1 |
| All Other Three-Year-Olds | 22-1 |
Kentucky Derby favorites
Sierra Leone (+300 via FanDuel)
It wasn't long ago that selecting one of the Kentucky Derby favorites was the easiest path to profit. No winning horse carried longer odds than +400 from 2014 to 2018. While that certainly benefits those who like sure things, long-shot bettors were a bit crestfallen.
Oh, how things have changed since. Only one winner shorter than +1000 has taken the past five Kentucky Derby races, and two winners in Country House and Rich Strike carried odds of +6500 and +8000, respectively.
Sierra Leone (+300) is the favorite, but take him at your own risk.
Kentucky Derby long shot
Encino (+2500 via bet365)
What's more fun than connecting on a Derby long shot? Two of the longest bets in the history of the race came through over the past few years.
It's best to hitch your wagon to a long shot early. Betting on future favorites months before the race can be quite risky, as so much can go wrong. However, taking a flyer on Encino (+2500), who snuck into the Derby field after winning the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, may not be a bad idea.
Kentucky Derby odds over time
Among our best sports betting sites, the only one offering 2024 Kentucky Derby odds is bet365.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness traded as the betting favorite in the early days before being passed by Sierra Leone following his score in the Risen Star Stakes. Fierceness came back with a vengeance in a highly-rated triumph in the Florida Derby to briefly reassert command in this division, but Sierra Leone's victory in a loaded renewal of the Blue Grass stamped him as the one to beat in Louisville on May 4.
How are Kentucky Derby odds made?
Kentucky Derby odds are made by oddsmakers, who are experts responsible for setting the initial lines for the race. These odds reflect their assessment of each horse's likelihood of winning based on various factors such as past performances in other races, jockey, trainer, breeding, and recent workouts.
To create these odds, oddsmakers analyze a wide range of data and information about each horse and its connections. They consider factors like the horse's racing history, speed figures, performance in previous races, pedigree, and how well it has fared on similar track conditions.
Additionally, oddsmakers take into account the betting patterns and preferences of the public, as well as any news or developments leading up to the race that could impact a horse's chances. Once they have evaluated all these factors, they assign each horse a morning line odds, which represents their estimate of the horse's probability of winning the race.
These initial odds serve as a starting point for betting, but they can change based on the betting action leading up to the race and any new information that emerges.
Who won the Kentucky Derby and what were the odds?
| Year | Horse | Post Position | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mage | 8 | +1700 |
| 2022 | Rich Strike | 20 | +8000 |
| 2021 | Medina Spirit | 8 | +1200 |
| 2020 | Authentic | 18 | +800 |
| 2019 | Country House | 20 | +6500 |
| 2018 | Justify | 7 | +250 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | 5 | +450 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | 13 | +200 |
| 2015 | American Pharaoh | 18 | +250 |
| 2014 | California Chrome | 5 | +250 |
Kentucky Derby 2024 info
- Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
- Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
- Race Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Purse: $5 million
- TV: NBC
Kentucky Derby 2024 FAQs
Who is the 2024 Kentucky Derby favorite?
Sierra Leone (+300) is the favorite to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby with those odds representing an implied win probability of 25.00%.
Who won the 2023 Kentucky Derby?
Mage won the 2023 Kentucky Derby with jockey Javier Castellano.
What were the odds of Mage winning the Kentucky Derby?
Mage entered the 2023 Kentucky Derby with odds of +1700.
When is the 2024 Kentucky Derby held?
The 2024 edition of the Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 4.
Where is the 2024 Kentucky Derby held?
The Kentucky Derby is held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
How to read Kentucky Derby odds
You'll often see horse racing betting sites post odds presented as fractional; for example, an entry might be listed as a 3-1 favorite, or a 50-1 underdog. For those looking to convert fractional horse racing odds to American or decimal odds, you can use our free and handy odds converter.
Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby 2024?
According to TwinSpires, Americans can legally wager on horse racing in the following states:
With online Kentucky sports betting recently launched, Kentucky horse racing fans should be able to bet from anywhere in the state for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. You can also check out our list of the best Kentucky Derby betting sites here!
Horse racing betting odds pages
| Kentucky Derby Odds | Preakness Stakes Odds | Belmont Stakes Odds |
| Kentucky Derby Post Position | Preakness Stakes Post Position | Belmont Stakes Post Position |
Here are our best Kentucky Derby betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
Best Sportsbooks | Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only) | Kentucky Sports Betting | Kentucky Sportsbook Promos | Kentucky Sports Betting Apps
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