The 150th Kentucky Derby Post Draw, Odds And 2024 Top Win Contenders

It’s Derby week, and I’ve posted a number of articles on the 150th Kentucky Derby in Forbes. Check out the links in this article, which is reposted from the original article on April 27.

The post position draw and odds are set a week before the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. The opening parimutuel odds show Fierceness (5/2), Sierra Leone (3/1) Catching Freedom (8/1), Just a Touch (10/1) and the Japanese horse Forever Young (10/1) as the top favorites and win contenders in the 20-horse field. Will any of these leading 3-year-olds win the Run for the Roses and prove best in the 2024 Kentucky Derby?

Tune in on NBC Saturday, May 4 at 6:57 p.m. ET from Churchill Downs for Race 12 and the 2024 Kentucky Derby, with a record prize pool of $5 million. The $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks is Race 11 on Friday, May 3 at 5:51 p.m. ET, with 14 3-year-old fillies looking to cash in.

  • Friday, May 3: FanDuelTV (10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.). USA and Peacock (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • Saturday, May 4: FanDuelTV (10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.). USA and Peackcock (12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.). NBC and Peacock (2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

Check out more 2024 Kentucky Derby coverage in my update at OSGA with win contenders and insight from my colleagues at Horse Racing Nation.

Kentucky Derby Odds and Post Positions

The Kentucky Derby championship series races produced the field for this year’s Run for the Roses.

The race favorite Fierceness (5/2) drew the No. 17 post. No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby breaking from post 17, and 44 horses have started from this post position, resulting in only three in-the-money finishes.

Fierceness Leads 2024 Kentucky Derby Favorites 

FanDuel Racing provides more insight and analysis on the Kentucky Derby, along with daily horse racing picks and projections with additional Derby Day racing picks provided here leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

Recall in the 2022 Kentucky Derby when we hit the huge longshot winner Rich Strike (125/1) on fixed odds, and he was 80/1 at post time in parimutuel odds.

Churchill Kicks Off Spring Meet With New Paddock

Churchill Downs opened its 43-day spring meet Saturday, April 27. First post was at 6 p.m., and featured the $200,000 Roxelana Stakes for older fillies and mares in Race 9.

The 150th editions of the Derby and Oaks highlight the Spring Meet that runs through June 30. A total of 50 stakes cumulatively worth $25.6 million make Churchill Downs a popular place for horse racing over the next two months with the Oaks and Derby Day races below driving interest on more than 15 stakes races.

Friday, May 3: Kentucky Oaks Day

$1.5 Million Kentucky Oaks (G1)

$1 Million The La Troienne (G1)

$750,000 The Alysheba (GII)

$600,000 The Eight Belles (GII)

$600,000 The Edgewood (GII)

$400,000 The Unbridled Sydney (GIII)

$400,000 The Modesty (GIII)

Saturday, May 4: Kentucky Derby Day

$5 Million Kentucky Derby (G1)

$1 Million The Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI)

$1 Million The Derby Distaff (G1)

$750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1)

$750,000 The Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII)

$600,000 The Pat Day Mile (GII)

$600,000 The American Turf (GII)

$600,000 The Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII)

Kentucky Derby Ticket Prices And Handle

The Kentucky Derby will draw more than 150,000 fans to Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Sat. May 4. And ticket prices will set records. The average ticket price is over $1,200 this year which is on-pace to triple the price of tickets in 2014 ($378), according to Ticketsmarter.

  • 2024 Kentucky Derby – $1,254.43
  • 2023 Kentucky Derby – $1,214.41
  • 2022 Kentucky Derby – $1,092.96
  • 2021 Kentucky Derby – $735.80
  • 2019 Kentucky Derby – $696.57
  • 2018 Kentucky Derby – $768.56
  • 2017 Kentucky Derby – $497.82
  • 2016 Kentucky Derby – $520.03
  • 2015 Kentucky Derby – $364.95
  • 2014 Kentucky Derby – $378.67

Wagering from all sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program set a new record of $288.7 million in 2023. All-sources wagering on the 2023 Kentucky Derby race was a new record of $188.7 million. With mobile betting and more coverage of the 2024 Kentucky Derby, race organizers are expecting another huge handle on Derby Day and the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

You can bet on it.

Author: FairwayJay is a leading national sports betting analyst, writer, handicapper and sports betting insider providing insight and information you can bet on for nearly two decades from Las Vegas. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events for leading media and sports betting sites and companies. Follow him on X (Twitter): @FairwayJay
T: Twitter F: Facebook