Kentucky Derby Guide 2022

Here's everything you oughta know for this year's 148th running of the Kentucky Derby - Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at Churchill Downs.

Are you returning to Bovada for the derby and having trouble accessing your account?

Below we've listed some hot tips and common questions we typically answer around this time of year:

When is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in May. This year the Derby falls on May 7th. There are a number of races that take place on Derby Day, but the one you're looking for will be Race #12.

Where can I place wagers on the Derby?

We've got a couple different ways to get in on the action on Derby Day, as you can place wagers both in our Racebook and Sportsbook!

Betting in the Racebook, you'll have the choice to wager on Live Track odds. These odds are based on the amount of money (or action) on each horse and only gets locked in once the race is off the board. For a quick guide on how to place wagers in our Racebook, click here.

You can also place wagers on the Derby in our Sportsbook which offers Fixed odds on the race. Fixed odds are lines such as Futures and Proposition bets. Horses Futures consist of single wagers on the outcome of an upcoming race, and Propositions refer to wagers placed on a specific occurrence or non-occurrence within the race.

How is my payout calculation determined?

When wagering on horses through the Racebook, your payout is calculated based on the rules of 'Parimutuel Betting'. This type of betting is used at all major tracks in the United States. For more information on Parimutuel Betting, click here.

What is "ML"?

The odds displayed under 'ML' are the Morning Line odds. These are odds that are set by professional handicappers before any wagering begins. They are simply an indication of how the handicapper thinks the public will bet and reviewing them will give you a better understanding of the contenders. Click here to see how your payout will be determined.

What wagers can I make in the Racebook?

We offer the same Singles and Exotic wagers the host track offers, up to a Pick 4. If a wager is not available at the track, it will not be listed in the Racebook. Visit our help center to view all of our bet types and rules.

How long do I have to place my wagers?

You can place your wagers up until approximately 2 minutes from the actual post time. On the top right-hand corner of the selected track, you’ll see the MTP (Minutes to Post). Once the timer reaches ‘0 Minutes to post’, wagers will no longer be accepted for that race. If a player is able to place a wager at the time of, or after the race starts, the wager will be deemed void and your risked amount will be refunded.

What does it mean when a horse is scratched from a race?

A scratched horse means that it has been taken out of the race before it has started. Our system grays out scratches on the entry table so that they cannot be wagered on. Should you wager on a horse prior to it being scratched, we follow the official payout results posted by the host track. Click here, to see scratched rules for each bet type.

How soon will my wagers be graded?

Racebook wagers are graded once the official results are available and we’ve received them. Usually, it takes up to 10 minutes from the race's end to be deemed official; however, due to high volumes of wagers on the big day please allow us a little longer to settle all wagers. It’s always a good idea to sign out and sign back in to refresh your account balance.

Having trouble placing a wager?

Sometimes, cache and cookies aren't saved properly in your browser which can prevent you from betting on Horses. When this happens, clearing the cache and cookies for the browser should help resolve the problem.

Cleared cache and cookies and still unable to place a bet? Contact our Customer Service Team and we’ll be happy to look into it further.