Updates on Kentucky Derby Betting Prep Season

The Kentucky Derby prep season, as it is known, begins in January and ends in April. During this time, horses prepare for the Kentucky Derby in races at various locations throughout the country. While potential Derby runners might compete in a variety of races during this period, it is in the graded stakes races at the major circuit tracks where the best colts build the earnings needed to qualify for the Derby. The top twenty horses on the graded stakes earnings list — which includes graded money earned during the previous year as a 2-year-old — are guaranteed one of the twenty spots in the Kentucky Derby field and the ones that to watch out in your Kentucky Derby betting.

By this time of the year, a handful of favorites to win the roses in May have solidified a qualifying position on the graded earnings list. Many still have something to prove and a few need to win additional graded stakes dollars to earn a trip to Churchill Downs. As the racing world prepares for the last stretch of racing before its biggest day on the first Saturday in May, here is a rundown of the colts to watch.

The Big Three

There are three colts among this year’s 3-year-olds that most agree are front-runners to win the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Union Rags, Hansen, and Creative Cause all have the career resume, breeding, and human connections to bring home the roses come Derby Day.

Union Rags has been among the top colts of his generation since winning two graded stakes last year and his narrow loss in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. His won his 3-year-old debut but finished a disappointing third in the Florida Derby last weekend, the final prep before racing in the Kentucky Derby. Even with the loss, he remains among the top three for the way he conducted himself in the Florida Derby. In spite of a tough trip, where he was stuck behind horses, he finished strongly and showed the type of determination in the stretch that is necessary to win the Kentucky Derby.

Union Rags first career loss came to Hansen, who beat Union Rags by a head in last year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. Hansen lost his 3-year-old debut on a muddy track but won his last start impressively in the Gotham Stakes in New York. His final race before the Derby will come in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland on April 14th. The last Kentucky Derby winner to start in the Bluegrass was Street Sense, who finished second in the race in 2007.

The last of the big three is the California-based Creative Cause, who finished third in the Breeders Cup Juvenile behind Union Rags and Hansen. He is the most experienced of the top three with four wins from seven career starts including three graded stakes wins. He won his last race, the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and will be the favorite in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7th.

Now that it is only three weeks before Kentucky Derby, and the Prep race is almost over, you should pay attention on the horses that you will place your Kentucky derby betting on. And let this year be the best Kentucky derby betting experience of you!

Kentucky Derby Betting – The Jockeys Game

The Jockey Shuffle takes place all year long in thoroughbred racing and the Kentucky Derby is no stranger to jockeys changing mounts from one day to another. And the shuffling jockey game greatly affects Kentucky derby betting. Many of the top jockeys in the nation usually ride more than one top Derby contender as they weight their options with them. Or they just play the wait-and-see game in hopes that none of them come down with an injury.

This had happened plenty of times before to John Velazquez, who for four straight years, had various top horses, and decided among them who at the moment was the top contender for the Derby. Then that horse got injured and he was out of the Derby, or at least out of a top candidate.

Last year when Uncle Mo was scratched because of health reasons, he got a twist of fate. Robbie Albarado—the jockey for Animal Kingdom—got thrown off a horse and kicked in the face, having to miss two days of racing. The uncertainty on Albarado's availability for Saturday, prompted Team Valor owner Barry Irwin to seek a capable replacement. When Velazquez got relieved from his commitment to Uncle Mo early on Friday morning, Irwin came calling. The rest is history as he went on to win the 137th Kentucky Derby aboard Animal Kingdom.

This year, leading jockey Javier Castellano had five promising Derby contenders, Union Rags Algorithms, Gemologist, El Padrino and Discreet Dancer. And his first big decision came earlier this year when he had to decide between two top contenders, Union Rags and Algorithms—who had just beaten 2011 two-year-old champ Hansen at the Holy Bull Stakes.

One recent big decision was cleared yesterday as reported, when Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith—who had committed earlier last week to ride Daddy Nose Best—decided to stay aboard Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister.

I think we all know that when the horse you are riding a horse that just crushed the competition by 9.5 lengths in a Grade I prep race, and has three straight Beyer figures in the 100's going into the Derby, you de-commit yourself as soon as you pass the wire. That was how tough I think Smith's decision had to be.

Daddy Nose Best's jockey when he won the Sunland Derby was Julien Leparoux, who is with Union Rags, so he needed a jockey after Smith left for Bodemeister. But it didn't take long as Garrett Gomez will be aboard Daddy Nose Best, so there is no slack there.

Another interesting dilemma is the one two-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Ramon Dominguez has. He is the jockey to both two-year-old champ and Blue Grass runner-up Hansen and Count Fleet and Withers winner Alpha—who just finished second to Gemologist.

Things keep getting interesting as we start to approach the first Saturday of May and finally the Run for the Roses will be upon us. This next few weeks, the action will pick up. So be ready for some jockey changes, this will make or break your Kentucky Derby Betting!

Kentucky Derby Betting – Bet on The Favorites

When you start hanging out with spectators that love horse racing, you start to hear a lot about how they won their Kentucky Derby betting by betting on their favorites. Also known as Kentucky Derby contenders, this sounds like a great tip for a beginner. This is especially true since favorites have a 30 percent chance of winning. However, you will soon learn that there is more to this list of favorites than is first expected.

When to listen for Kentucky Derby favorites - When you start to do your research on the topic of Kentucky Derby betting favorites, pay attention to the dates. Soon, you will see that one of the key details in getting this type of information means accessing it at exactly the right time. Around the middle of April, there will be a few reports that began to predict who will be running in the Kentucky Derby and whether or not they will perform well. Nonetheless, keep in mind that the actual favorites list will not appear until a few days before the Derby actually begins. For example, in 2012 the Kentucky Derby will be on May 5th; this means that the favorites for the Kentucky Derby will be announced May 1st – 4th.

Who has the best advice for Kentucky Derby Contenders? - Of course, when you are reading an article or list that entails descriptions of horses, you know you need to listen to an expert. Despite this, it can be difficult for a beginner to understand which authors are going to do the best job. Many horserace fans will tell you that this is the reason that horseracing is known as an art. In other words, you are not going to be able to figure out everything about horse racing in your first year. Nonetheless, you can go ahead and read everything about the Kentucky Derby favorites, use your best judgment, and analyze everything again in the following year. Over time, you will have your favorite experts they do a good job of predicting Kentucky Derby winners. Until then, you are just getting your feet wet.

Kentucky Derby favorites media sources for beginners - When you are browsing the horse favorite’s articles around the time of the Kentucky Derby, you will start to see that some are compilations of other news sources. Some of the most mentioned media outlets in relationship to the Kentucky Derby are well known. Sadly, few beginners remember to check the newspaper next to Churchill Downs. This media source is called the Courier-Journal and it is operated in Louisville, Kentucky where the Derby is held each year. Other key newspapers to note are the Associated Press, ESPN, and the New York Times.

Understanding Kentucky Derby favorites reports - The official race list is available before the race at Sportsbook.ag. On their webpage titled, “2011 Kentucky Derby Live Odds,” you will see every horse with the number of the horse, horse name, trainer, the jockey, morning line, and current odds. Obviously, this is about Kentucky derby betting, but what does it mean? One tip you need to know is that sometimes a horse will drop out of the race. In this case, you will see an SCR written in the odds column. Otherwise, you will see what other people think about this horse. This means that if it everyone from the public is betting so far is convinced a horse will win, that horse will be number 1 in the odds list.

Steps on how to bet on Kentucky Derby

It’s month of May, and it’s to make to bet on Kentucky Derby. Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular horse racing game that many bettors whether the casual or the professional are attracted to bet on it. Another reason why it is love by many bettors it’s very easy to bet on Kentucky Derby. In fact, you can choose to bet on the exact day of the race, 10 minutes before the race start or even in a few months earlier. In addition, if you want to bet on the Kentucky Derby and make a big score, then it would be best to bet on a single horse to win. But if you are uncertain of the horse, then you can box and spread your bet on several horses in an exotic wager. One thing is for sure, no matter what method you choose, if you bet on Kentucky Derby, you will surely double the fun and excitement of watching the race.

Here’s how you can bet on the Kentucky Derby horse race

• If you are going to bet on the Kentucky Derby, it is necessary that you know when you will do it. Some choose to place wager in advance but the risk of is that you do not get a refund if ever that your bet horse does not run in the Kentucky Derby. That is the reason why many bettors choose to bet until the day of the race comes to make sure that they are betting on a horse that is scheduled to race.

• Identify the number of horses where you will be making your bet. If you want all of your money on horse to win, then simply make a win bet on that horse. Otherwise, you may want to spread your wagering dollar across multiple contenders running in the Kentucky Derby.

• It is very important that you pay close attention to your betting horse(s) in the media the week before the Derby. The media usually published of workouts in the morning from all Kentucky Derby entries. At the same, it is very important that you know if the horse you want for betting gets and injury so you could pick for another one.

• Decide on where you want to see the Kentucky Derby. Thousands of people will surely see it live at the historical place of Church Downhills, but if you can’t make it yourself, you could watch the race on your home TV or at a local horse racing simulcast facility.

• If you are planning to bet on Kentucky Derby but choose to watch the race at home, better set up your legal betting account at least 5 working days before the Kentucky Derby game arrive.
• But, if you see the game live. All you have to do is go straight ahead to the betting window and place your wager. Inform the teller the name of the track (Churchill Downs), race number, and wager amount and program numbers of the horses running. It is important that you followed this order.

Watch and bet on Kentucky Derby! And don’t forget to keep your transaction ticket until the race claims the official winner.

Horse Betting – Handicapping Factors You Should Know

The Following are some horse betting handicapping factors that can be used to aid in placing a wager. Make sure to read and take notes because this is proven to increase your winning chances.

1. Class. Class is difficult to define, but it is unmistakable at the racetrack. Horses seem to sort themselves into competitive levels.

2. Pace. A horse generally can't have it both ways. That is, he can't run extremely fast early and still have enough left in reserve to run fast late in the race. A fast pace generally means that the horses on the front will tire out and thus help the runners that are closing ground. If the past performances indicate that there are several speed horses in a race, it might be a good idea to consider a horse that likes to rally in the stretch. On the other hand, a slow pace will help the horses near the front because they should have something left for the end of the race. In studying the past performances, you might find only one legitimate speed horse in a particular race. If that horse gets loose on the front end and has the pace all to him with no pressure being applied, he figures to have something left for the homestretch and should be hard to overtake.

3. Trainers and jockeys. It's always wise to take into account the human factor. Some trainers do well with 2-year-olds while others are particularly adept with horses shipping in from long distances. Some jockeys seem to ride better on the front end, and others are better known for their come-from-behind style. A good idea is to check the standings, which show the leading trainers and jockeys at the meeting.

4. Changes in equipment. Blinkers are used on horses to limit their vision and to prevent them from swerving from objects or other horses. It's worth noting changes in blinkers - a horse wearing them for the first time or racing without them for the first time. Mud calks are used for off tracks. Calks, pointed extensions or cleats on a horseshoe, are designed to prevent a horse from slipping. Certain other equipment worn by the horses is noted in the past performances.

5. Trip. It is important for a bettor to watch his horse during the running of the race and again on the replays after the race to observe what kind of trip he had. Was the horse squeezed back at the start, or carried wide on the turn, or blocked at the quarter pole? A horse that loses a race because of a troubled trip might be a good bet in his next start. Usually trouble encountered by a horse in a race is shown in the past performance lines.

6. Weight. Weight, the old saying goes, will stop a freight train, so it's especially important to notice when horses are carrying considerably more weight than they did in their last start. Conversely, it's just as significant to watch for horses that are carrying much less weight than they did in their last outing. One theory is that weight plays a bigger role in long races, but another line of reason is that weight is every bit as important in sprints.

7. Breeding. Breeding is an inexact science, but a careful study of pedigrees can enhance a bettor's chances on horse betting. Some horses are bred for speed, others have inherited stamina from their sires and dams and are able to run long distances.

Kegasus: The Preakness Stakes Betting Infield Event Mascot

It’s surprising that absolutely no one expected that Kegasus, the tweeting centaur, would return as the official mascot of the Preakness Infield party for this year’s Preakness Stakes Betting event when the Maryland Jockey Club made the announcement.

This decision was predicted as early as February when various media watchers noticed a new anonymous advertising campaign as the Jockey Club made a transparent bid to inject an element of mystery in the event.

Back in February, the signaling horn for the kickoff part for the Preakness Stakes betting event started with an anonymous ad campaign that premises on the idea that the fictional character known as Kegasus had vanished, and two new characters—the Easter Bunny and the Leprechaun—have taken its place as the event’s mascot.

The ad campaign consisted of billboards and a social media drive with impressive videos. It also had a professional imprimatur that seemed like a teaser for Kegasus’ inevitable return.

However, both the Maryland Jockey Club and Elevation, Ltd., the company that handles all the marketing for the Preakness Stakes betting event, denied the idea for the ad campaign came from them. This happened despite the messy screw up in one Facebook profile that linked to Elevation’s official website.

And just like clockwork, the last chapter of the story that no one was particularly interested in was unveiled: Kegasus has returned. The filthy centaur has made his grand appearance last March 30 at the Pimlico Race Track and then later on at the Orioles’ Opening Day on April 6.

But this time, he has a sidekick: a half-man, half-unicorn creature named Uni-Carl.

Without making any reference to the anonymous ad campaign, both the Maryland Jockey Club and Elevation are proud of what it sees as avant-garde marketing.

Bringing Kegasus back was a logical move. It gives the principals a good strategy that has already been proven to work. Tom Chuckas, president of the Jockey Club gives credit to Kegasus with boosting ticket sales last year.

But if the objective of the stealth ad campaign was to stir excitement for the unveiling of this year’s mascot, it failed miserably. It only succeeded in bringing in a measly 191 likes on the Facebook fan page of one of the new characters.

Launching a stealth campaign fits Elevation’s unorthodox marketing strategies, but it also has risks involved: While you might think you are pulling one over everybody, there is great risk that it’ll backfire and do damage, and people will revel in the thought of exposing you.

Bet on Kentucky Derby: types of bet for beginners

One of the most exciting horse racing event that is very popular in the United States today is the Kentucky Derby. It is one of the sport racing game that attracts many bettors be a professional or casual one. Kentucky Derby is a . It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses and it usually runs in the first week of May, held at Louisville, Kentucky, US.

Moreover, many say that if you bet on Kentucky Derby you will feel your adrenaline rush as it is considered as the most adrenaline bursting 2 minutes in all of sports that offers horse bettors old and new a chance to win on the first leg of the famous Triple Crown horse racing events.

Undeniably, this sports betting event has never fail people who loves betting on horses regularly for it provides an action full of thrilling seconds and exciting party ambience, not to mention the number of wagering options.

If this would be your first to bet on Kentucky Derby then the Win, Place and Show wager are the ideal bet for you to make as these are lot easier and simpler compare to other type of bets. In this article you will further get idea of how these three bets work.

The Kentucky Derby WIN bet
A bet where the bettors need to choose of which horse he / she think will win, if the picked and chosen horse win, the bettor also win his bet and rable to receive her winnings That’s it! Win bet when it comes to bet on horses often pays out more than Place or Show.

The Kentucky Derby PLACE bet
Here the bettor would simply need to choose a horse which he think would take either the first place or the second place. And if picked horse win, then he also win his bet. Place bet is considered as a safer bet to make, you just simply put and place bets involve choosing which horse would finish in the top two places in a race.

The Kentucky Derby SHOW bet
Among the type of bet, this is one of the bets that mostly pick by bettors. With Show bet, you need to pick the horse that place first, second or third. . It pays the least of all three wagers, but offers better odds and a greater chance of winning. If you're new to horse betting, stick with these standard wagers and leave the crazy "superfecta wheel" bets to the expert handicappers.

People who bet on horses stick to tradition. That said, the Kentucky Derby is very much rooted in a tradition that has been running for 130 years, serving as the most important horse racing event. Celebrities, top horse trainers and regular Joes all attend the event in the hopes of cashing in big on their lucky horse.

Not just to horse betting, but with any sports betting, it is always important that you do a little bit of research. If you want to be successful with your Kentuck Derby betting, being knowledge from the pat Derby event is also essential. Knowing a little bit here would give an indication of which horse is the most like to win the "Run for the Roses".

Horse Betting - Types of Bets To Try Every May

If you are a horse racing lover, May is definitely the most important month of the year for you. Because every May. The prestigious races of Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes happen and consist to form the Triple Crown. That is why every May too, millions of people all over the world, especially in the US do horse betting. Betting is already a part of the event and without it the excitement of the Triple Crown would be gone. If you are one of those people who want to do Horse betting this May, then this article is for you. Here are the types of bets you should try.

Win - Win bet is just what it sounds like: betting that the horse you pick will win the race. You win if the horse wins.

Place - For a horse to Place it must finish the race either first or second. This bet generally pays less than the win bet but it gives you two chances to win instead of just one.

Show - For a horse to Show it must finish the race either first, second or third. This bet pays less than either the win or place bet, but it gives you three chances to get a return for your investment.

Across the Board - This is a quick way to say that you want to bet a horse to finish in any of the first three positions and consists of three bets: A $2.00 Across the Board bet = $2.00 to win, $2.00 to place, and $2.00 to show. If the horse wins you collect all three bets. If the horse finishes 2nd then you collect the place and show bets. If the horse finishes 3rd then you will only collect the show bet.

Exacta - With this bet you must pick the first two finishing horses in the correct order of their finish. Sometimes called a Perfecta. Also known as a Forecast bet.

Quinella - In the Quinella you must pick the horses that finish first and second. Either one can be first and the other one second.

Trifecta - With this bet you must pick the first three finishing horses in the correct order of their finish. The simplest form of this wager is the Straight Trifecta, which is a single combination of the first three finishers.

Superfecta - In a Superfecta you must pick the first four finishing horses in the correct order of their finish. Since it s very difficult to determine the top four finishing horses without playing a lot of combinations (which can be very costly), the superfecta is not a very popular bet among seasoned handicappers. If, by chance, the top four finishers stand out and can be determined easily, then the return on the wager is generally very low and will probably be smaller than the amount of money required to hit the winning combination.

Daily Double - To win a daily double bet you must pick the winning horse in two consecutive races. Your bet must be placed before the start of the first of the two races.

Now you know the types of bet for horse racing. You are now ready for horse betting this May. Enjoy the Triple Crown and may the odds be with you.

Bet on Kentucky Derby: picking the winner

Who would not feel the electrifying excitement the Kentucky Derby brings?! With just two minutes you get instantly the result of the race you would not need to wait for a long time to know if you win the game or if it is“better- luck next time” for you, you will surely get attracted to bet on Kentucky Derby. In fact, even those who are not in to horse racing and not following the race, want to place a bet on it. Kentucky Derby is considered as one of the most popular horse racing done every year. It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. It usually runs in the first week of May and held at Louisville, Kentucky, United States.

If you are interested to bet on Kentucky Derby, then there are tips that you should consider to for you to be able to successfully pick the Kentucky Derby Winner , and enjoy bragging rights or big money!

1. It only take a 1 and ¼ mile race for a 3-year-old Thoroughbred horses to finish the game, which means you need to pick up the fastest horse in order to win your bet. Get to know how well did each horses perform, and what are the factors that may consider them to slow down (example, the weather) You can check some site to find out each horse’s average speed racing. Of course, the higher the rating of the horse, the faster he can be.

2. Another ideal way is of picking a horse to bet on the Kentucky Derby is betting on the favorite. You will absolutely need a bit of guesswork out of betting, but betting on the favorite is real effective. In fact, four of the favorites in the last 12 years have won the Derby, meaning you have a pretty good chance of getting a return on your investment.

3. If you bet on Kentucky Derby, suggest picking the favorite to “show”, not win or place. Meaning if your chosen horse finishes anywhere in the top three spots; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, you will win. Actually, bets to show is considered as one of the most popular type of bet during race day, betting to show produces a winner 52 percent of the time.

4. Looking for a bet most likely to pay off? Don't put all your chips on exactas, daily doubles, or any other bet that requires a large amount of risk. There's a reason the payouts are bigger for these types of bets - they rarely ever win!

5. But if you think that all this suggestion will fail you, then there is no better thing to do than to bet on instinct, and this exactly what a large portion of the American population does. Maybe you like the name, maybe you like the color of their silks - whatever the reason, going with your gut may not win you big bucks, but it can be a lot of fun!

Horse Betting – Must Read Help Tips

Finding a good bet at the horse race track or the thoroughbred races is one way to make money and also adds a lot of fun and excitement. That is why it is no wonder that horse betting is the most popular sports to bet on. But horse betting is risky and those who wager on it often lose more than they win. If you really want to win in horse betting, then you should do your homework and study tip sheets and tactic articles to help you win. Luckily, we are here to help you today. I’m going to share to you some general tips that will definitely increase your chances in winning your bet. Read on.
Before we go on some tips that you can use, let’s first look at some of the horse betting lingo that you should definitely.

Entry - A horse entered in a race is called an entry. And on rare occasions, two or more horses are said to be "coupled" and run as an "entry," comprising a single wagering unit. A wager on one horse of an entry is a wager on both.
Furlong - One-eighth of a mile or 220 yards. Races are measured in furlongs.
Morning Line - Approximate odds printed in the program and posted before wagering begins. This is a forecast of how the morning linemaker believes wagering will occur In a particular race.
Post position - A horse's position in the starting gate, numbered from the inner rail outward.
Purse - The amount of prize money distributed to the owners of the first five or six finishers in a race (varies by state).
Now here are some simple tactics which may be helpful to a new bettor:

1. Wager on the favorite.

The favorite is the horse with the lowest odds or the one on which the most money has been wagered. Favorites win approximately one third of the time. This is not necessarily a sound wagering strategy as favorites can pay very little but there's no doubt about it, favorites win a lot of horse races. While historically they won about a third of the races, in recent times that percentage has crept up, particularly at smaller race tracks. In harness racing the percentage of winning favorites is well over 40% at some race tracks. That means that if you're betting on horse races, you have to figure out how to beat the favorite or when to bet the chalk, as they're sometimes called.

2. Purchase a tip sheet or handicapping aid.

These are prepared by professional handicappers and may provide useful wagering selections. Most of the tip sheet needs to be bought. But if you want some free handicapping aid, just visit online betting sites as they offer free daily odds and picks that will help you decide on what horse to bet.

3. View the horses.

Watch the broadcast signal while the horses are in the paddock and in the Post Parade.

Remember that horse betting, like any other sports need to be studied if you really want to win. It’s not like you go on the race and choose your favorite number to bet on. So do your homework and look for some odds and picks of horse betting today and start winning!