Dates Announced For 2010 Kentucky Derby, Oaks Future Wagers
Jan 15, 2010
Churchill Downs will offer fans of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) a trio of opportunities in February and March to make a lucrative early bet on the winner of this year’s “Run for the Roses” and one chance to take a stand on the 3-year-old filly that will succeed Rachel Alexandra as the winner of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI).
The historic Louisville track has announced dates for three wagering pools for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”), which is entering its 12th year, and a single pool for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (“KOFW”), now in its eighth year. In a significant change, all Kentucky Derby and Oaks future pools will consist of three days of wagering. Previous pools for both wagers had been four-day events.
Dates for the three Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools (pending final approval by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission) are:
- Pool 1 – Feb. 12-14
- Pool 2 – March 5-7
- Pool 3 – March 26-28
The single pool for the Kentucky Oaks Future wager will coincide with the March 5-7 KDFW Pool 2. Betting will open each day of the Derby and Oaks pools at noon (all times Eastern). The Kentucky Derby pools will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, while betting on the lone Kentucky Oaks pool will conclude at 6:30 p.m., 30 minutes after Pool 2 Derby Future betting is wrapped up.
Exacta wagering, a popular addition to the Kentucky Derby Future Wager betting menu in 2009, will be offered during all three KDFW pools in 2010. The exacta option was offered on the latter two Derby Future pools in 2009 along with its traditional win option. The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will not offer exactas in 2010.
“Last year’s results proved just how unpredictable and exciting the Kentucky Derby and Oaks Future Wagers can be as Mine That Bird, a 50-1 longshot winner on Derby Day, returned a winning payout as an ‘all others’ wager in all three Derby pools, and the dominant Rachel Alexandra was actually a bettor’s bargain as the second betting choice in the only Oaks pool,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs racetrack. “Exacta wagering was a welcomed addition to the Derby Future pools last year, and we think the shorter three-day future pools we’ve scheduled for 2010 for both wagers will sharpen the focus of our players, generate new excitement and add to the fun of betting experiences that are now a part of the traditions of both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.”
The KDFW and KOFW pools consist of 24 wagering interests that include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field, or “all others” interest. In the Kentucky Derby wager, the mutuel field includes all other 3-year-olds. The mutuel field in the Kentucky Oaks bet includes all other 3-year-old fillies.
All bets in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Future Wagers are $2 minimum wagers. There are no refunds on any wagers made during the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks future pools. If it is determined during those pools that one of the individual horses has suffered an illness, injury or other circumstance that will prevent that horse from competing in either race, wagering on that betting interest will be suspended at that point.
The 136th running of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands is scheduled for Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Oaks, America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies, will be renewed for the 136th time on Friday, April 30. Both races have been held without interruption since the first racing meet at Churchill Downs was conducted in 1875.
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