Kentucky Derby Still Major MA Betting Event, Even With Legal Sportsbooks
Jump straight to the main content.
Massachusetts horse racing bettors can prepare for the opening leg of the Triple Crown, as the 2023 Kentucky Derby approaches.
Massachusetts gamblers have the opportunity to win their own payouts as the world’s top horses converge at Churchill Downs in a few weeks competing for a $3 million prize.
Horse race betting remains thriving in Massachusetts, despite the recent introduction of legal sports betting.
If you’re interested in placing bets on the Kentucky Derby in Massachusetts this year, here’s what you should know.
When is the Kentucky Derby?
On May 6, the 2023 Kentucky Derby will be held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. NBC will begin coverage of the event at 2:30 p.m. ET, while the race itself will commence at 7:30 p.m. For those unable to watch on television, fans can also stream the race through Peacock, NBCSports.com, or the NBC Sports app.
Betting options
Massachusetts horse racing enthusiasts have a wide range of choices when it comes to placing bets.
If you are in search of simulcast wagering, Massachusetts’ three horserace betting venues, namely Suffolk Downs, Raynham Park, and Plainridge Park Casino, are the perfect options for you.
If you’re going to Suffolk Downs, you have the option to watch and place bets through the site’s advance deposit wagering partners. These partners consist of TVG, FanDuel Racing, Twinspires, 1/st Racing, and NYRA Bets.
In 1935, Suffolk Downs commenced its operations, coinciding with the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering in Massachusetts. The track’s website proudly claims that it hosted renowned horses of the industry’s past, including the likes of Seabiscuit and Skip Away.
Raynham Park has a rich history in Massachusetts as well. Originally established as a greyhound racetrack in 1940, it did not start as a horse racing venue. However, in 2009, greyhound racing was outlawed in Massachusetts, leading the facility to transition to offering solely simulcast-only wagering.
The upcoming changes at Raynham Park are worth mentioning, as the park will undergo a transformation in the near future. This spring, the unveiling of the new Caesars Sportsbook will take place.
Plainville is the home of Plainridge Racecourse, the last and third establishment in Massachusetts to provide pari-mutuel services.
Plainridge Park Casino is the sole establishment in the state that provides live thoroughbred racing, with the track directly linked to the casino.
Bettors have the option of placing horse bets in person or online through platforms like TVG and FanDuel Racing. TVG provides a round-the-clock broadcasting network, now integrated into FanDuel TV.
Furthermore, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has recently granted approval for DK Horse to be available online for residents. DK Horse, which is owned by DraftKings, will collaborate with Suffolk Downs in its operations.
Different Kentucky Derby bets
This year, numerous options are available for betting on the first leg of the Triple Crown.
In simple terms, you have the option to place a bet on a particular horse to win. Additionally, you can also choose to wager on a specific horse to place, which requires it to finish either first or second.
Moreover, you have the option to wager on a horse for a show, which implies that if it secures the first, second, or third position, you will emerge victorious.
In addition, you have the option to place bets on multiple horses within a single wager. However, this may involve a slightly more intricate process. Some of the bets you can choose from are:
- An Exacta bet involves selecting two horses and predicting the specific order in which they will finish: one horse to win the race and the other horse to place second.
- Quinella betting allows you to select two horses, and as long as they both finish in the top two positions, it doesn’t matter which one wins and which one finishes second.
- A trifecta is a type of bet where you predict the winning, placing, and showing order of three horses.
In the first month, Massachusetts betting apps generated a staggering amount of over $548 million in handle.
A look at the 2023 Kentucky Derby field
After the Kentucky Derby draw took place on May 1 and four horses were later scratched, the official 19-horse field was determined. Below are the post positions and current odds for each horse.
- Hit Show (33-1)
- Verifying (19-1)
- Two Phil’s (8-1)
- Confidence Game (20-1)
- Tapit Trice (6-1)
- Kingsbarns (12-1)
- Reincarnate (15-1)
- Mage (20-1)
- Skinner (SCRATCHED)
- Practical Move (SCRATCHED)
- Disarm (27-1)
- Jace’s Road (39-1)
- Sun Thunder (37-1)
- Angel Of Empire (6-1)
- Forte (4-1)
- Raise Cain (50-1)
- Derma Sotogake (8-1)
- Rocket Can (37-1)
- Lord Miles (SCRATCHED)
- Continuar (SCRATCHED)
- Cyclone Mischief (38-1)
- Mandarin Hero (26-1)
- King Russell (39-1)
Is there a chance of witnessing a Triple Crown champion in the upcoming year? Only two horses have managed to achieve this remarkable feat in the past 40 years, with Justify being the most recent victor in 2018.
On Saturday, May 20, the Preakness Stakes, which is the second leg of the Triple Crown, will be held. Following that, on Saturday, June 10, the Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg, will take place.
If you or someone dear to you is facing issues related to gambling, feel free to reach out to a trained specialist for assistance anytime, day or night, at 1-800-327-5050 or by visiting www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling. The support provided is completely free.
Related Articles
