Churchill Downs has set the dates for its trio of three-day betting pools for its 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW") and a single pool for the historic track's Kentucky Oaks Future Wager ("KOFW").
Dates for the pools for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is now in its 14th year, are:
Pool 1 - Feb. 10-12
Pool 2 - March 2-4
Pool 3 - March 30-April 1
Wagering on each of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools will open at noon (all times Eastern) on Friday and close on Sunday at 6 p.m. The KDFW Pools will feature both win and exacta wagering.
The single three-day pool for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, now in its ninth year, is scheduled for March 2-4 and will run concurrent to Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Betting on the KOFW pool will open at noon on Friday and is set to conclude on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., 30 minutes after the conclusion of betting on the accompanying Kentucky Derby Future pool. The Kentucky Oaks Future Pool will also offer win and exacta wagering.
The wagers provide fans of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks opportunities to bet on potential competitors in those great American races at odds that could be considerably more attractive than those available on the days on which the respective races are run. Winning mutuel payouts on both wagers are determined by the odds that are in place at the conclusion of each respective betting pool.
The 138th running of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), America's greatest race and the 1 1/4-mile first jewel of the coveted Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, is scheduled to be run on Saturday, May 5 at Churchill Downs. The $1 million-guaranteed Kentucky Oaks, the nation's top prize for 3-year-old fillies, will be run on Friday, May 4, the eve of the Derby. Like the Derby, the Kentucky Oaks has been contested annually since 1875 and its 2012 renewal will mark the 138th consecutive year that the 1 1/8-mile "Derby for Fillies" has been run beneath the track's historic Twin Spires.
Both the KDFW and KOFW pools consist of 24 wagering interests that include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field, or "all others" interest. In the Kentucky Derby wager, the mutuel field is made up of all other 3-year-olds - including fillies. The mutuel field in the Kentucky Oaks bet consists of all other 3-year-old fillies.
All bets in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Future Wagers are $2 minimum wagers. No refund will be made on any wager placed during the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Future pools. If it is determined during an individual pool that any of the individual betting interests has suffered an illness, injury or other circumstance that would prevent that horse from competing in either race, wagering on that betting interest will be suspended immediately.
Wagering on the Derby and Oaks Future wagers is available through TwinSpires.com and other advance deposit wagering platforms and at racetracks and simulcast centers throughout North America.
Wagering interests for the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks future pools will be announced on the Wednesday prior to the Friday start of each pool. Real-time odds and other information on the KDFW will be available at the official event Web site at www.KentuckyDerby.com, and information on the KOFW will be available at www.KentuckyOaks.com.
Animal Kingdom, who went off at odds of 20-1 and paid $43.80 for a $2 win wager in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, was listed as an individual betting interest only during Pool 3 of last year's Derby Future Wager. He closed at odds of 31-1 in that pool and a $2 future wager on trainer Graham Motion's colt returned $64.40 on Derby Day. As a member of the "all others" mutuel field in the first two pools of 2011, he returned $6.20 for a Pool 1 bet and $9.40 for a Pool 2 wager. Both Animal Kingdom and Derby runner-up Nehro were part of the "all others" interest (#24), so the KDFW $2 exacta payouts for the three pools were:
Pool 1 - 24-13 (mutuel field over third-place Mucho Macho Man) for $230;
Pool 2 - 24-12 (mutuel field over third-place Mucho Macho Man) for $388.20;
Pool 3 - 1-12 (Animal Kingdom over runner-up Nehro) for $3,074.60.
The Derby Day $2 exacta payout for Animal Kingdom over Nehro (16-19) was $329.80.
Eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty was not an individual betting interest in the lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool, but returned $21.80 to win as member of the KOFW mutuel field. The Peachtree Stable filly trained by Bob Baffert returned $14.60 for a $2 win wager on Oaks Day. Both Plum Pretty and runner-up St. John's River were members of the mutuel field, so the KOFW exacta paid to 24-23, with third-place Zazu under the top two "all others" finishers, and returned $142.20 for a $2 bet. The Oaks Day exacta of Plum Pretty over St. John's River (12-13) paid $163 for a $2 wager.
Results for all three pools of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Wager can be viewed here and for the single 2011 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool here.
You may also want to participate in Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby fantasy stable contest the Road to the Roses Fantasy Challenge. The contest will open for entries soon and the first scoring races are in late February.
Oxbow upsets in the Preakness - Oxbow led the entire way in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Pimlico with Itsmyluckyday second and Mylute third. Heavy favorite Orb made a mild move to finish fourth. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Preakness undercard stakes results - There were 7 other stakes on the card, highlighted by the Dixie Stakes (G2) won by Skyring and the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) won by Summer Applause. Get the results, charts, and photos for 6 of the races here.
Fiftyshadesofhay wins the Black-Eyed Susan - Fiftyshadesofhay just got up to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) on Friday at Pimlico by a neck over Marathon Lady with favorite Emollient 6th. On the undercard, Last Gunfighter won the Pimlico Special (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Analyzing the Preakness Stakes Contenders for 2013 - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Preakness winner. The big surprise is that Kentucky Derby winner Orb is not in the top group!
Orb wins the Kentucky Derby - Orb was far back early but took the lead in the stretch and drew off to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths over longshot Golden Soul and Revolutionary. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
More Kentucky Derby Photos - More photos from the day including more of Orb, the trophy, the roses, Martina McBride, and lots of mud.
Kentucky Derby undercard stakes results - There were 5 other stakes on Derby day including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) won by 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan and the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) won by Aubby K. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
Princess of Sylmar upsets in the Kentucky Oaks - She rallied from far back to win the Kentucky Oaks by a half length over Beholder and Unlimited Budget, while favorite Dreaming of Julia was fourth. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Oaks undercard stakes results - There were 5 other stakes on Oaks day including the La Troienne Stakes (G2) won by Authenticity and the Alysheba Stakes (G3) won by Take Charge Indy. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
Wednesday Kentucky Derby Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 18 Derby horses, everyone on the grounds except the one in quarantine, and 6 Oaks fillies from this morning on the track.
Kentucky Oaks Entries - A field of 11 fillies will go, with Gulfstream Oaks winner Dreaming of Julia favorite at 3-1 from post 8. Get the post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Top Kentucky Derby Contenders - my list of the top horses headed to the Derby with profiles for each with photos, stats, and link to more info like past performances and pedigree.
Analyzing the top 2013 Kentucky Derby contenders - My annual analysis of the top contenders to try and select a winner by matching each to the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner using many of the more popular angles and statistical trends. This year there were is a 3-way tie for the top spot: Goldencents, Normandy Invasion, and Overanalyze.
2013 Kentucky Derby And Oaks Security - New enhanced stricter rules will be enforced this year. Be sure to read the rules as many have changed and more things are banned. There will still be magnetic wand searches of all patrons and many things are no longer allowed. Check here to make sure you don't bring anything they will confiscate.
Review: Triple Crown Handicapper 2013 - by Jim Mazur. Includes lots of stats for all 3 races and explains how to use a system of statistically derived negative angles to eliminate the "bad" picks.
Review: Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments - Commemorative DVD from Churchill Downs with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info. Definitely recommended for any racing fan!
Review: Churchill Downs - America's Most Historic Racetrack by Kimberly Gatto. An entertaining and informative account of the history of the track and it's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, with lots of photos. Definitely recommended.