Kentucky Derby
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February 18, 2021
Matt Bernier’s Picks – Friday February 19
February 19, 2021Kentucky Derby
Horse Racing Picks
The Kentucky Derby - The Annual Run for the Roses
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is the biggest event in US horse racing, having run continuously since 1875. As many as twenty horses take part each year, all hoping to be crowned the winner.
The Kentucky Derby is a once in a lifetime opportunity for each horses as they are only permitted to enter once. This means that each year sees a completely different lineup of runners, that makes the event exciting and more unpredictable.
The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs, Louisville on a counter-clockwise dirt track that is 1.25 miles in length. More than 150,000 people turn up at Churchill Downs to watch the race each year, creating a carnival-like atmosphere.
The race is often called “The Run for the Roses” as the winning horse has 554 roses draped over it after the race.
When Is The Kentucky Derby?
The race famously takes place on the first Saturday of May at the end of the two-week long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race takes place on May 1, 2021. Since the first running of the Kentucky Derby in 1875, the race has enjoyed a completely uninterrupted run, setting it apart from almost every other sporting event held today. The Kentucky Derby post time for 2021 is expected to be around 6:50 PM ET, check back closer to the race for the official post time.
Ahead of this year’s race, RacingPicks will have details of the runners and riders, as well as plenty of Kentucky Derby predictions from the likes of Matt Bernier and Andrew Champagne.
Who Are The Favorites And Contenders?
Since horses can only be entered into the race once in their lifetime, the Kentucky Derby entries are different every year. All of the horses that have entered the Kentucky Derby have had to qualify in other races. This means that all of the runners are talented and successful horses with proven records of winning.
This can make finding a Kentucky Derby favorite tricky. That’s why at RacingPicks, we use our passion for horse racing and our expert knowledge to examine the form of each horse to find which horses have the best chances of winning the race.
What Are The Odds For The 2021 Kentucky Derby?
We don't have any odds available yet in the US, but here you can see how the UK bookmakers have priced up the race..
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Essential Quality | 12/1 |
| Life Is Good | 12/1 |
| Caddo River | 12/1 |
| Concert Tour | 12/1 |
| Prevalence | 14/1 |
| Keepmeinmind | 16/1 |
| Medina Spirit | 16/1 |
Odds correct as of 02/09/2020 and supplied by Bet365 in the UK.
What Are The Key Trail Races On The Road To The Kentucky Derby?
To earn a place in the Kentucky Derby, horses must earn points in a system called the Road to the Kentucky Derby. There are several dozen stakes races that horses can take part in, and their importance can change from year to year. However, some of the key races include:
● The Arkansas Derby
● The Florida Derby
● The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
● The UAE Derby
● The San Felipe Stakes
Although the qualifying races were only run in the US for the most of the Kentucky Derby’s history, several Japanese and European trail races have been added in recent years. This allows 1 horse from each continent to be in the 20 that qualify.
Can I Bet On The Kentucky Derby Online?
Betting on horses is one of the United States’ oldest forms of wagering, dating back to the beginning of the Kentucky Derby in the 19th century. Horse racing has almost always used a system of betting called pari mutuel. This was traditionally done at the track or in betting shops but you can now also place bets online with an array of ADW's such as TVG, Twinspires and BetAmerica.
You can rely on us and our team of horse racing experts to find you the best horses to back, the best Kentucky Derby odds to bet at, and the best bookmakers to use. We are your home for horse racing and the Kentucky Derby.
Who Do The Experts Predict Will Win?
Choosing which horse is going to get you the best Kentucky Derby payouts can be tricky. That’s why RacingPicks’ horse racing experts analyze every statistic and study the form of each horse that enters the Kentucky Derby to find which horse will win.
These expert picks will be updated as the Kentucky Derby gets closer, so be sure to check back to stay abreast with the latest developments.
Who Won The 2020 Kentucky Derby?
The 2020 Kentucky Derby was an exciting race which saw Authentic come out on top.
| 2020 Kentucky Derby Results | ||||
| Position | Horse | Jockey | Margin | |
| 1 | Authentic | John Velasquez | 1 1/4 lengths | |
| 2 | Tiz The Law | Manuel Franco | 3 ½ lengths | |
| 3 | Mr Big News | Gabriel Saez | 5 lengths | |
| 4 | Honor AP | Mike Smith | 7 lengths | |
Previous Kentucky Derby Winners
Thanks to the long history of the Kentucky Derby, there have been more than 100 horses that have taken first place. Some of the most recent winners are:
| Previous Kentucky Derby Winners | ||||
| Year | Winning Horse | Winning Jockey | Time | Track Condition |
| 2019 | Country House | Flavien Prat | 2:03.93 | Sloppy |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike E. Smith | 2:04.20 | Sloppy |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | John Velazquez | 2:03.59 | Wet Fast |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | 2:01.31 | Fast |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinosa | 2:03.02 | Fast |
| 2014 | California Chrome | Victor Espinosa | 2:03.66 | Fast |
Condition types explained:
● Fast - A dry surface. May be so dry that water needs to be added.
● Sloppy - The track surface is very wet, visible standing water. Could be still be raining, or previously fallen rain has not yet evaporated or been absorbed into the ground
● Wet Fast - The surface of the track is wet, but only has a thin layer of water on top of it, with underlying layers dry still
FAQ
The Kentucky Derby takes place every year on the first Saturday in May. However in 2020, it's been pushed back to September 5.
RacingPicks reviews all of the best ADW's to work out where the best site is to bet on the Kentucky Derby online.
Horses can only enter the Kentucky Derby once, so there is no record for which horse has won it the most number of times.
RacingPicks finds you the best Kentucky Derby predictions to help you pick which horse to bet on. Check out our Expert Picks section for more info.
The name “Run for the Roses” comes from the 554 roses that are draped over the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby.
