TVG announced Wednesday that the company would offer exclusive interactive online wagering and special television programming for each leg of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which begins today (Thursday). TVG subscribers can wager online and access real-time field, odds and pool information, free past performances from Equibase and special handicapping capsules on each horse in the mutuel field. The Future Wager will also be available on TVG's automated touch-tone telephone wagering system. To follow the action, racing fans can tune into TVG for special programming from 12:00 Noon - 8:00 PM (EST) during each leg of the Future Wager. Two features, the TVG Inside Track and TVG Backtracks, will highlight the programming and provide an inside look at the early contenders for the Kentucky Derby in each Future Wager field - including replays of their most recent races. Programming will also include hourly live odds updates during the wager."With comprehensive television programming, wagering information, free past performances and the ability to wager from home online or by telephone, TVG is the destination for racing fans that cannot make it to their local racetrack but still want to participate in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager," said David Carrico, TVG's vice president of market development. "Our subscribers can get into the action early and find value on their Derby favorites."
The Kentucky Derby Future Wager is a pari-mutuel wager offered by Churchill Downs that allows racing fans to wager early on prospective entrants in Kentucky Derby 127, which will be run on May 5, 2001. The minimum wager is $2 and the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is a win wager only. All Kentucky Derby Future wagers will be merged through the Kentucky hub located at Churchill Downs.There will be three separate wagering pools for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager in the months leading up to the race with the winner of each pool being determined by the official first place finisher in Kentucky Derby 127 on May 5. Each of these pools will be open for a period of four days, running from Thursday at 12:00 p.m. (EST) to Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (EST). Pool 1 opens Thursday, February 15 and closes Sunday, February 18. Pool 2 opens March 8 and closes March 11. Pool 3, the final wagering pool, opens April 5 and closes April 8. Current odds and other merged pool information will be available Thursday-through-Saturday from 12:00 p.m. (EST) to 11:00 p.m. (EST) and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. (EST) until 4:30 p.m. (EST).
