With a humongous field and millions of dollars added into the betting pools by passing sports fans, the Kentucky Derby is undeniably America's biggest and most exciting horse race happening yearly. So how do you take advantage of this grand event so you can end it with a padded bankroll?
Here are a few tips:
Prepare yourself.
There is a sea of information online for those who want to brush up on their handicapping and wagering skills. There are replays of every major 145th Kentucky Derby prep, along with workout analysis, pedigree information, etc. to help you with your homework. At the same time, there is a ton of unhelpful information out there, opinions of self-proclaimed experts that you are better off avoiding. If you're ever going to use anyone's advice on Derby Day, it should only be from someone with an impressive track record to their name. Most press credentials given out on Derby Week are for writers and bloggers who only write about horse racing a week a year. Take note of that and always be discriminate when picking your sources.
Plan a strategy.
Define your budget and the amount you'll be fine losing. On Derby Day, there will be 13 races, and there is no need to spend all or most of your bets on the Kentucky Derby. You will see sizable fields and even more sizable betting opportunities the entire day. Put a larger portion of your betting bankroll on races that you feel more passionately about, and then less on the others. You can also watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOUMLbhaUYs for more info about sports betting.
Think of value.
The gist of profiting from bets on ponies is looking for value, or overlays. Plan your Kentucky Derby bets well and look for odds that look fair to you. If the odds of a horse looks like 5-1 to you but the tote board puts him at 3-1, you'd like to hold that wager and dig up the exotic pools instead to find better value and increase your potential profit.
Rules are not steadfast.
Something we're sure of in the last decade is that rules are not unbreakable. In reality, almost each single so-called unbendable Derby rule has actually been bent, several times. Derby winners now show up after breaks spanning five to six weeks, tackle polytrack in their concluding preps, train with basically unproven trainers, use non-traditional schedules and races, and have been raced to a slight degree.
Take it lightly.
Lastly, one thing you have to avoid is being overwhelmed by the race. The only sure thing is that there will be unanticipated twists and turns. Even the most meticulous plan will not give you total control. So stay cool, make rational wagers, and have fun.
