Kentucky Derby Odds & Betting Lines 2024: Sierra Leone Leads the Way

2024 Kentucky Derby odds are on the board for the year's biggest horse race.

Apr 24, 2024 • 16:17 ET • 5 min read
Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby horse racing
Photo By - USA Today Sports

The road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby has reached its end, and odds for the seminal thoroughbred event at Churchill Downs — featuring the best three-year-olds in horse racing — are on the board at bet365. Meanwhile, Churchill Downs has completed its futures betting for 2024 with Kentucky Derby Future Pool 6, which ran from April 4-6.

bet365's updated odds see Sierra Leone as the 11-4 betting favorite, with Fierceness sitting as the second choice at 7-2.

Join us as we take a look at the latest Kentucky Derby odds ahead of the 150th edition of the "Run for the Roses."

Kentucky Derby live odds

Horse bet365 Fractional odds
Sierra Leone +250 5-2
Fierceness +350 7-2
Forever Young +800 8-1
Catching Freedom +1,200 12-1
Stronghold +1,400 14-1
Just A Touch +1,600 16-1
Resilience +2,000 20-1
Dornoch +2,500 25-1
Domestic Product +2,500 25-1
Encino +2,500 25-1
Epic Ride +2,500 25-1
Just Steel +2,500 25-1
Mystik Dan +2,500 25-1
Society Man +2,500 25-1
Track Phantom +2,500 25-1
Honor Marie +3,300 33-1
T O Password +3,300 33-1
Catalytic +4,000 40-1
Tuscan Gold +4,000 40-1
Seize the Grey +5,000 50-1
Uncle Heavy +5,000 50-1
West Saratoga +5,000 50-1
Grand Mo The First +6,600 66-1
Le Dom Bro +6,600 66-1

Odds as of 4-24-2024.

Kentucky Derby odds over time

Kentucky Derby favorites

Sierra Leone (5-2)

Sierra Leone just missed the win in the Remsen Stakes, getting out-bobbed by Dornoch, who had the benefit of racing on the inside that day at Aqueduct. Laid up until the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 17, the Chad Brown trainee made good on the promise he showed in his debut victory by winning the first 50-point Kentucky Derby prep convincingly. He then aced a loaded edition of the Blue Grass Stakes in his final prep for the "Run for the Roses."

Fierceness (7-2)

Fierceness was the Kentucky Derby favorite before being supplanted last weekend following a tour-de-force triumph in the Florida Derby. Runner-up Catalytic was left 13 1/2-lengths behind the Todd Pletcher trainee, who produced a staggering 110 Beyer Speed Figure.

Forever Young (8-1)

Forever Young is expected to put his 5-for-5 record on the line in the $5 million Kentucky Derby. The Japanese colt has taken both the Saudi Derby and the UAE Derby to prep for the "Run for the Roses." 

Catching Freedom (12-1)

Catching Freedom now has two wins on the road to the Kentucky Derby, namely the Smarty Jones Stakes and the Louisiana Derby. He looks more than capable of picking up the pieces on the first Saturday in May if the Derby pace falls apart.

Kentucky Derby long shot to watch

Encino (25-1)

The move by Brad Cox to withdraw Encino from the Blue Grass Stakes to await the Lexington Stakes on April 13 worked like a charm, as Encino won his first start on conventional dirt to punch his ticket to Churchill Downs. Assuming he runs, Encino could be live at a price as he continues to improve. 

Kentucky Derby Future Pool 6 final odds

Horse Odds
Be You 52-1
Catalytic 99-1
Catching Freedom 12-1
Common Defense 234-1
Deterministic 12-1
Domestic Product 40-1
Dornoch 12-1
El Grande O 117-1
Encino 63-1
Endlessly 37-1
Epic Ride 156-1
Evening News 147-1
Fierceness 5-2
Forever Young 14-1
Good Money 157-1
Grand Mo The First 179-1
Hades 92-1
Honor Marie 26-1
Just a Touch 22-1
Just Steel 30-1
Lat Long 322-1
Mc Vay 194-1
Merit 478-1
Mystik Dan 35-1
No More Time 277-1
Resilience 76-1
Seize the Grey 42-1
Sierra Leone 7-1
Society Man 793-1
Stronghold 30-1
T O Password 135-1
Tapulo 294-1
Tessuto 516-1
Timberlake OFF
Top Conor 80-1
Track Phantom 53-1
Tuscan Sky 24-1
Uncle Heavy 72-1
West Saratoga 121-1
All Other Three-Year-Olds 22-1

Odds as of 4-6-2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

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Who won the Kentucky Derby and what were the odds?

Although the Kentucky Derby favorite dominated at Churchill Downs from 2013 to 2018, Country House won the Run for the Roses in 2019 as the second-biggest underdog in Derby history at 65/1. Just three years later, Rich Strike surpassed Country House when he won the "Run for the Roses" at 80/1.

Here are the winners of the Kentucky Derby since 2000, their post positions, and their final odds.

Year Kentucky Derby Winner Post Position Final Odds
2023 Mage 8 14/1
2022 Rich Strike 20 80/1
2021 Medina Spirit 8 12/1
2020 Authentic 18 8/1
2019 Country House 20 65/1
2018 Justify 7 5/2
2017 Always Dreaming 5 9/2
2016 Nyquist 13 2/1
2015 American Pharoah 18 5/2
2014 California Chrome 5 5/2
2013 Orb 16 5/1
2012 I'll Have Another 19 15/1
2011 Animal Kingdom 16 20/1
2010 Super Saver 4 8/1
2009 Mine That Bird 8 50/1
2008 Big Brown 20 7/2
2007 Street Sense 7 9/2
2006 Barbaro 3 6/1
2005 Giacomo 10 50/1
2004 Smarty Jones 13 4/1
2003 Funny Cide 5 13/1
2002 War Emblem 5 41/2
2001 Monarchos 16 21/2
2000 Fusaichi Pegasus 15 9/5

More horse racing betting

Event Favorite Odds
Preakness Stakes TBD TBD
Belmont Stakes TBD TBD

Where can I bet on the Kentucky Derby?

Several legal horse racing betting sites allow you to wager on the Kentucky Derby, but not every sportsbook is allowed to offer Derby odds. We have created a guide outlining the best Kentucky Derby betting sites available in your area.

Which states have legal betting on the Kentucky Derby?

While sports bettors can enjoy some form of online or retail wagering in 34 states (+ DC), horse racing enthusiasts have even more legal options. Refer to our list of legal states for betting on horse racing to see if horse race betting is legal in your state via the FanDuel Racing app.

Canada (excluding Ontario)

Almost all sports betting sites offer fixed-odds betting on horse racing. Check out the best sports betting sites in Canada or sign up now with one of our top partners, bet365, and earn up to $200 in bet credits!

Ontario

Following the changes to the iGaming regulations on April 4, 2022, horse racing betting is no longer available at sportsbooks. Those in Ontario who are looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby will need to sign up at one of Woodbine's two online offerings, HPIbet and Dark Horse Bets.

How are Kentucky Derby rankings determined?

Kentucky Derby rankings are determined by a points system that assigns a point value to each of the designated prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby during the first Saturday of May. The system is designed to reward the top performers in the most important races, while also taking into account the overall consistency and success of each horse throughout the season.

The horses with the most points at the end of qualifying are guaranteed a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, with the remaining spots filled by horses with the next highest point totals. In the event of a tie in points, the horse with the highest earnings in graded stakes races will be given preference.

The Kentucky Derby rankings are updated weekly leading up to the race as new prep races are run and points are awarded, so the rankings can change quite a bit over the course of the qualifying season.

How are Kentucky Derby odds made?

Kentucky Derby odds are based on a horse's past performance, jockey and trainer success, and public perception. The odds are determined by an oddsmaker that works for the track or an off-track betting facility, and their goal is to set odds in a way that will balance the amount of money bet on each horse, so that the track or betting facility will make a profit regardless of which horse wins.

Here's how the odds-making process typically works:

1. The oddsmakers start by analyzing each horse's past performance, looking at factors such as speed figures, finishing times, and previous wins and losses.

2. They consider the jockey and trainer, looking at their track records and success rates in past races.

3. The oddsmakers take into account any recent news or changes that may affect a horse's performance, such as injuries, equipment changes, or changes in the track conditions.

4. The oddsmakers look at the public's perception of each horse, considering factors such as media coverage, social media buzz, and the horse's popularity with fans.

Based on all of these factors, the oddsmakers assign each horse a morning line, which is the initial set of odds that are released to the public before the race.

Once the betting starts, the odds will fluctuate based on how much money is bet on each horse. If a lot of money is bet on a particular horse, the odds will go down, while if considerably less money is bet on a horse, the odds will go up.

Kentucky Derby odds are designed to reflect the public's perception of each horse's chances of winning, while also ensuring that the track or betting facility makes a profit regardless of the outcome.

What are the different types of horse racing bets for the Kentucky Derby?

Here are some of the most common types of horse racing bets available at Churchill Downs and beyond:

Win: This is a simple bet on which horse will win the race. If your horse finishes first, you win the bet.

Place: This is a bet on which horse will finish in second place or better. If your horse finishes first or second, you win the bet.

Show: This is a bet on which horse will finish in third place or better. If your horse finishes first, second, or third, you win the bet.

Exacta: This is a bet on which horses will finish first and second in the correct order. If you correctly predict the first and second place finishers, you win the bet.

Quinella: This is a bet on which horses will finish first and second, regardless of the order. If you correctly predict the first and second place finishers, you win the bet.

Trifecta: This is a bet on which horses will finish first, second, and third in the correct order. If you correctly predict the first, second, and third place finishers in the correct order, you win the bet.

Superfecta: This is a bet on which horses will finish first, second, third, and fourth in the correct order. If you correctly predict the first, second, third, and fourth place finishers in the correct order, you win the bet.

Daily Double: This is a bet on which horses will win two consecutive races. You must correctly predict the winner of both races to win the bet.

Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, or Pick 6: These are bets on which horses will win three, four, five, or six consecutive races, respectively. You must correctly predict the winner of each race to win the bet.

Future Bet: This is a bet on a future event, such as the winner of the Kentucky Derby or Breeders' Cup Classic. The odds for this type of bet are usually set well in advance of the race, and can change as the race approaches.

It's important to understand the rules and potential payouts for each type of bet before placing your wager.

Kentucky Derby odds FAQs

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