Churchill Downs releases dates for Derby, Oaks future
wagers
Churchill Downs will offer fans of the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1) 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
three-year-old filly that will succeed Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) as the
winner of the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
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: | February 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 (ET). 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 KDFW Pool 2 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 (Birdstone), 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 three-year-olds. The mutuel
field in the Kentucky Oaks bet includes all other three-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.