A Different Way to Bet the Kentucky Derby

By John DaSilva

It is Kentucky Derby weekend and while the whole world concentrates on selecting the Kentucky Derby winner, there are ways that people can make money on the Kentucky Derby without making a direct win wager. You do have to handicap the race, but, if you play your cards right, you could set yourself up for good payoff without making any win wagers the day of the race.

On Friday, the Kentucky Oaks will be run for the 143^rd time and, since 2001, Churchill Downs has offered the Kentucky Oaks/Kentucky Derby Daily Double. When the betting option was first offered, $804,416 was wagered on the Oaks/Derby double. The wager has grown in popularity since then and, in 2015, a record $2,562,510 was bet on the Oaks/Derby double, while, a year ago, $2,537,553 was wagered on the Oaks /Derby Double.

In the 16 years the bet has been offered, the double payoff has paid more than… (more)