from Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs received Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approval Feb. 10 for exacta wagering in the final two of its three Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools.
Derby Futures Exacta betting will be available March 12-15 and April 2-5. The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) will be held May 2.
The addition of exacta wagering in the field of 24 wagering interests is the first change in the betting menu in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager since the bet was introduced in 1999. To this point, the pools in each Kentucky Derby Future Wager have offered only a $2 minimum win wager. Now, there will be an exacta with a $2 minimum.
“We are excited to offer a new wrinkle in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and hope the ‘Futures Exacta’ will be an attractive option for both veteran and novice Derby Futures fans,” Churchill general manager Jim Gates said. “There is potential for significant payouts on perfect tickets in the new Derby Futures Exacta, and we believe Derby fans will be intrigued by this newest betting option.”
The Kentucky Derby Futures Exacta requires bettors to select the first two finishers in the exact order in the Kentucky Derby. Those horses must be selected from the 24 wagering interests in each respective pool. Those interests include 23 individual horses and a “field”—No. 24—that consists of all other 3-year-olds.
Boxes and other combinations will be accepted. In the event of a finish in which multiple members of the “all others” betting interest occupy spots at the top of the official order of finish, the calculation of the $2 payout will be conducted in accordance with KHRC rules on coupled entries.
For example, if horses in the field occupy the first five spots in the Derby’s order of finish, and No. 9 finishes sixth, the winning exacta numbers will be 24 and 9. A finish of 3/24/24/24/7 would result in an exacta payout on a 3-and-24 ticket.
The field can be used in only one position in the exacta. Bettors cannot place wagers on 24/24, or “all”/“all,” for example.
Like the $2 win bet in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, there will be no refunds on wagers placed in the Futures Exacta. If it is determined during a Future Wager pool that an individual wagering interest will not be able to compete in the Kentucky Derby because of injury or another concern, wagering on that horse will be suspended immediately.