The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner. The morning line odds have been set, and it is officially time for California horse racing fans to dust off their best Derby hats.
Despite being in the 17th post position, the odds-on favorite to win the Kentucky Derby is Fierceness, with 5-2 odds.
This is one of the best times of the year for California horse racing. PlayCA has everything you need to know about Kentucky Derby betting in the Golden State.
FanDuel Racing Is the Best Way For Californians To Bet The Kentucky Derby
More than a few places allow horse race betting in California, including some mobile options. The most popular is FanDuel Racing California.
Sports betting remains illegal in California, but that does not extend to horse racing, which has been legal to wager on since 1933. Californians have been able to bet on horse races through privately owned racetracks, racing fairs, off-track betting facilities, satellite wagering facilities, and mobile apps for years.
A few prerequisites must be met to use the FanDuel Racing California mobile app to bet on the Kentucky Derby or any other race. The user must be at least 18 years old and have location services turned on on their device to confirm that the wager is being placed in California. New users must create an account and deposit a minimum of $10. Bettors can use either desktop or mobile app options to place wagers.
For first-time users who want to take part in Kentucky Derby betting in California, FanDuel Racing California is offering a welcome bonus in which the racebook will cover your first bet, up to $500. If you do not win, the wager will be refunded as a site credit known as a Racing Bonus.
There is also a “No Sweat Win Bet” for players of FanDuel Racing California who are not first-time users, which is similar to the welcome bonus outlined above. The promo allows a player to make their first bet of up to $500 on a horse to win the Kentucky Derby, and if that horse loses, the player receives a refund on the bet in the form of a site credit.
FanDuel Racing CA makes it easy for those looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby in California.
2024 Kentucky Derby Morning Line Adds Are Set
On Saturday, the morning line odds were officially set for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Here are the horses, jockeys and odds for all 20 participants, ranked by post position:
- Dornoch, Luis Saez: 20-1 odds
- Sierra Leone, Tyler Gaffalione: 3-1 odds
- Mystik Dan, Brian Hernandez Jr.: 20-1 odds
- Catching Freedom, Flavien Prat: 8-1 odds
- Catalytic, Jose Ortiz: 30-1 odds
- Just Steel, Keith Asmussen: 20-1 odds
- Honor Marie, Ben Curtis: 20-1 odds
- Just a Touch, Florent Geroux: 10-1 odds
- Encino, Axel Concepcion: 20-1 odds [SCRATCHED]
- T O Password, Kazushi Kimura: 30-1 odds
- Forever Young, Ryusei Sakai: 10-1 odds
- Track Phantom, Joel Rosario: 20-1 odds
- West Saratoga, Jesus Castanon: 50-1 odds
- Endlessly, Umberto Rispoli: 30-1 odds
- Domestic Product, Irad Ortiz Jr.: 30-1 odds
- Grand Mo the First, Emisael Jaramillo: 50-1 odds
- Fierceness, John Velazquez: 5-2 odds
- Stronghold, Antonio Fresu: 20-1 odds
- Resilience, Junior Alvarado: 20-1 odds
- Society Man, Frankie Dettori: 50-1 odds
- Epic Ride, Adam Beschizza: 30-1 odds
Fierceness has the best odds to win at 5-2, with Sierra Leone coming in second with 3-1 odds. The biggest underdogs of this year’s Kentucky Derby are West Saratoga, Grand Mo the First and Society Man, who all have 50-1 odds.
Where Should I Watch the Derby?
With all of the finer details out of the way, where should California horse racing fans go to enjoy Derby Day?
Most of the 60+ tribal casinos in the California casino market have racebooks for horse race betting in California and will have events surrounding the Derby. Casinos such as Agua Caliente and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will have bigger events than others, with the latter offering a specialized Triple Crown Room.
For a more authentic Derby Day experience, heading to a watch party at one of California’s racing tracks could provide exactly that. Santa Anita Park in Arcadia is about half an hour’s drive outside Los Angeles, traffic permitting.
Del Mar Racetrack is ideal for those closer to San Diego than Los Angeles. It is the second-largest horse racing venue on the West Coast and holds up to 44,000 people. It will have a fashion contest, live music, and other events for the Kentucky Derby.
Make sure to check the dress code before attending these events. The Del Mar Racetrack has a menu that matches a dress code full of Derby hats, floral prints, sundresses, and pastel suits.
