Kentucky Derby Betting Guidelines From Ocean City’ t Only Racebook Boss

Ocean City casinos have long offered odds on the horses, especially on the first Saturday in May. Indeed, Kentucky Derby betting in AC predates online sportsbooks in New Jersey, same-game parlays, digital kiosks, and non-stop gambling advertising.

A handful of casinos in town had racebooks where gamblers researched betting sheets, made their picks on paper slips, and handed them to a real live person behind a counter. Outside the city, a few off-track betting parlors also took thoroughbred action.

Racebooks never quite received the love and attention that today’s sportsbooks do, but there’s still one in Atlantic City.

Inside the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is the BetMGM Race & Sportsbook. It is the only place in AC to legally bet on horses.

BetMGM Competition & Sportsbook: The only display in town

In anticipation of the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby, PlayNJ caught up with Thomas Gable, director of race and sports at Borgata , to get some tips.

This Kentucky Derby betting primer is useful for experienced bettors and curious first-timers alike.

Gable’s advice is presented in a format fitting with the “Greatest 2 Minutes In Sports” – Win, Place, Show. There’s also an extra tip at the end that all gamblers should know. *wink, wink*

Kick that off having Gable’ nasiums WIN idea

Let’s start with the basics.

The Kentucky Derby is the most popular horse race in the country, and it’s also the one horse racing event that everyone gets excited about, even if they won’t bet on any other horse race until the next year’s Derby.

So, if you plan on betting this year, know what you want in advance and be able to clearly communicate to the ticket writer what you want.

When you approach the counter, make sure you have the track (i.e., Churchill Downs), the race number (e.g., Race 12), the type of wager (more on that in a minute), the amount you want to bet, and the horse’s number (please don’t use names of horses).

This will expedite the process for everyone and make your transaction smoother. Trust me, the people behind you waiting to bet will be thankful!

At this moment on to Gable’ s SPOT tip

There are a variety of different bet types you can make in horse racing, with the most common being single race wagers like Win (the horse must come in first place), Place (the horse can come in first or second place), and Show (the horse can come in first, second, or third place).

But there are also exotic wagers like Exactas (where you pick the two horses that will come in first and second), Trifectas (where you pick the top 3 finishers), Superfectas (where you pick the top 4 finishers), and Doubles (picking winners in two consecutive races).

Obviously, the exotic bets are more difficult to win, but the payouts are significantly higher than the Win, Place, Show wagers, which is what attracts people to play them.

There have been Superfectas in previous years at the Derby that have paid out lottery-like amounts, such as above $860,000 in 2006. Of course, it increases the payouts when a longshot comes in.

Think about Gable’ nasiums SHOW idea?

The Kentucky Derby is one of the hardest races to predict the outcome of due to the large field of 20 horses, the fact that none of the horses have run at the distance before (1¼-mile distance), and they have not raced in front of such a large crowd before (usually around 100,000 people attend the race).

With that being the case, the favorite doesn’t always win, so it’s important to look for value when handicapping the field.

Forte (#15) will likely be the favorite this year, probably at around 5/2 odds, so even though he may be the best horse in the race, you won’t have much value betting on him.

Look for horses further down the odds board and take a chance or use Forte in some exotic bets by adding horses like Tapit Trice (#5), who has the bloodline and impressive wins in prep races, under the favorite or box the wager (which allows your picks to come in any order).

Personally, I also like the draw for Tapit Trice in the 5th hole, which has produced the most Derby winners of any post position.

Other horses to consider: Angel of Disposition (#14), Two Phil’s (#3), and for a real long shot, Rocket Can (#18) who could go off at 40/1 or more.

Remember that the 80/1 long shot won it last year!

SMART MONEY idea for 2023 Kentucky Derby

Remember to set an amount you want to bet before going to the casino, track, or OTB. It can be a lot of fun to have something riding on the outcome of the race and wager on the races that are on the undercard that day. But in order to keep it fun, have an amount you are willing to lose before heading out and don’t deviate from that amount.

Whether you are a serious handicapper or a casual once-a-year bettor, the Derby is an American tradition that is meant to be enjoyable and a break from the realities of everyday life and stressors. Treat it as such!