It would take the most cold-blooded of UK racing fans not to yearn for a little Spring sunshine on their backs in this particularly grim winter. Unable even to enjoy the crisp January air of a Cocklebarrow or an Alnwick fixture, it's all too tempting to think of the big international fixtures that punctuate the Flat calendar.
After a series of interruptions and setbacks last year, one of the world's premier horse race meetings, the Kentucky Derby, will finally launch from the starting stalls between April 30 to May 1, 2021. Last year, the Derby ended up in the third quarter of the year, behind closed doors due to the pandemic. This year, it is planned in its usual spot, returned to its original date. The team at Churchill Downs is anticipating an event more in keeping with the previous 145 runnings before the oddity that was 2020.
As a fan and punter, it’s important to make sure you know everything about the race before you start betting. While it's still way to early to name the race lineup of for this year's Run For The Roses, here is your ultimate guide to the 2021 Kentucky Derby and the most common FAQs every horse racing aficionado must take heed of.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown Series that also takes in the Preakness and Belmont, all within the space of a few weeks. It is a Grade 1 stakes race for three-year-old colts over 1m 2f and open to all comers. The Derby has existed since 1875 and this will be its 147th edition in the next few months.
The Run For The Roses will take place at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky. On April 30 and May 1, 2020, the field is expected to showcase another batch of three-year-old thoroughbreds aiming to win therir share of a prize fund of $2m. There are richer races for sure, but few with a heritage and style that only "the ole South" can provide.
Unlike the Epsom Derby, earning a berth in the Kentucky Derby is not easy. Every hopeful needs to go through one or more of the Derby trials, comprising more than thirty races - the so -called "road to the Kentucky Derby". Although each trial offers a valuable prize in its own right, they secure a place in the race that counts by earning qualifying points.
Only the top four finishers will earn points based on their rank. The top 20 racehorses at the end of the trials will become the Run For The Roses' official participants. Horses who won notable Derby Championship Series like the Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass Stakes are a shoo-in.
This is little more than a formalization of what takes place to earn your slot in one of the Championship races at the Festival. Whilst in thoery these races are open to any horse, in practice, testing ability through one of the many Pattern races effectively sets the standard to allow participation, but imagine if this were compulsory? Would this not end the charade of poorly supported Pattern races like the recent Rising Stars at Wincanton?
The US betting market is pretty similar to the UK, which may explain why so many British-based betting firms are makimg efforts to break into that market, as well as vice versa.
Like all top sporting events, the Derby offers a broad range of bets and often lower overrounds. Punters are afforded more comprehensive selections allowing them to increase their chances of winning and losing. Derby bets are divided into two main categories: the Straight Bets and Exotic.
Win. Like the Uk bet, pick the winner to receive odds against your stake.
Place. This covers you should your horse finish first or second
Show. This is the US equivalent of a Place only bet, and covers the first three home
Exacta. Choose two horses to either win in the first and second order correctly.
Trifecta. Choose your selections to finish first, second, and third places in the correct order.
Superfecta. Now you're super-confident. Select the first four home in the correct order.
The Kentucky Derby Festival extends the two minutes of the Derby into a month-long party. Aside from two top flight days racing to enjoy, Thunder over Louisville offers the nation's largest fireworks display, there's half and full marathons to watch, hot air balloon races, the Great Steamboat race for paddle-steamers on the Ohio, the Pegasus Parade and lots of independently organised events aside from those officially sanctioned by Churchill Downs.
No trip to Churchill Downs would be complete without a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum either, a magnificent celebration of the pageantry of this great old race.
One of the things you can do is to strut your rodeo-inspired outfits and take part in the red carpet showdown. The Derby offers an impressive reward to the entries who wear the best outfit in the event. Night time entertainment is plentiful; it's obligatory to try the Mint Julep; perhaps no surprise that the event is sponsored by Woodford Reserve, a vodka brand.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most anticipated horse races in the world. You don't only have the chance to see the mightiest racehorses on earth, but you can join in the heady betting and at the same time learn about the whole culture of this East Coast racing event.
The temptation to book for a Spring treat is over-powering! If you are looking forward to the Derby, now might be a moment to save the date and sample one of the American calendar's bucket-list events.
It would take the most cold-blooded of UK racing fans not to yearn for a little Spring sunshine on their backs in this particularly grim winter. Unable even to enjoy the crisp January air of a Cocklebarrow or an Alnwick fixture, it's all too tempting to think of the big international fixtures that punctuate the Flat calendar.
After a series of interruptions and setbacks last year, one of the world's premier horse race meetings, the Kentucky Derby, will finally launch from the starting stalls between April 30 to May 1, 2021. Last year, the Derby ended up in the third quarter of the year, behind closed doors due to the pandemic. This year, it is planned in its usual spot, returned to its original date. The team at Churchill Downs is anticipating an event more in keeping with the previous 145 runnings before the oddity that was 2020.
As a fan and punter, it’s important to make sure you know everything about the race before you start betting. While it's still way to early to name the race lineup of for this year's Run For The Roses, here is your ultimate guide to the 2021 Kentucky Derby and the most common FAQs every horse racing aficionado must take heed of.
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown Series that also takes in the Preakness and Belmont, all within the space of a few weeks. It is a Grade 1 stakes race for three-year-old colts over 1m 2f and open to all comers. The Derby has existed since 1875 and this will be its 147th edition in the next few months.
The Run For The Roses will take place at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky. On April 30 and May 1, 2020, the field is expected to showcase another batch of three-year-old thoroughbreds aiming to win therir share of a prize fund of $2m. There are richer races for sure, but few with a heritage and style that only "the ole South" can provide.
Unlike the Epsom Derby, earning a berth in the Kentucky Derby is not easy. Every hopeful needs to go through one or more of the Derby trials, comprising more than thirty races - the so -called "road to the Kentucky Derby". Although each trial offers a valuable prize in its own right, they secure a place in the race that counts by earning qualifying points.
Only the top four finishers will earn points based on their rank. The top 20 racehorses at the end of the trials will become the Run For The Roses' official participants. Horses who won notable Derby Championship Series like the Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass Stakes are a shoo-in.
This is little more than a formalization of what takes place to earn your slot in one of the Championship races at the Festival. Whilst in thoery these races are open to any horse, in practice, testing ability through one of the many Pattern races effectively sets the standard to allow participation, but imagine if this were compulsory? Would this not end the charade of poorly supported Pattern races like the recent Rising Stars at Wincanton?
The US betting market is pretty similar to the UK, which may explain why so many British-based betting firms are makimg efforts to break into that market, as well as vice versa.
Like all top sporting events, the Derby offers a broad range of bets and often lower overrounds. Punters are afforded more comprehensive selections allowing them to increase their chances of winning and losing. Derby bets are divided into two main categories: the Straight Bets and Exotic.
Win. Like the Uk bet, pick the winner to receive odds against your stake.
Place. This covers you should your horse finish first or second
Show. This is the US equivalent of a Place only bet, and covers the first three home
Exacta. Choose two horses to either win in the first and second order correctly.
Trifecta. Choose your selections to finish first, second, and third places in the correct order.
Superfecta. Now you're super-confident. Select the first four home in the correct order.
The Kentucky Derby Festival extends the two minutes of the Derby into a month-long party. Aside from two top flight days racing to enjoy, Thunder over Louisville offers the nation's largest fireworks display, there's half and full marathons to watch, hot air balloon races, the Great Steamboat race for paddle-steamers on the Ohio, the Pegasus Parade and lots of independently organised events aside from those officially sanctioned by Churchill Downs.
No trip to Churchill Downs would be complete without a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum either, a magnificent celebration of the pageantry of this great old race.
One of the things you can do is to strut your rodeo-inspired outfits and take part in the red carpet showdown. The Derby offers an impressive reward to the entries who wear the best outfit in the event. Night time entertainment is plentiful; it's obligatory to try the Mint Julep; perhaps no surprise that the event is sponsored by Woodford Reserve, a vodka brand.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most anticipated horse races in the world. You don't only have the chance to see the mightiest racehorses on earth, but you can join in the heady betting and at the same time learn about the whole culture of this East Coast racing event.
The temptation to book for a Spring treat is over-powering! If you are looking forward to the Derby, now might be a moment to save the date and sample one of the American calendar's bucket-list events.
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