How To Bet On The 2024 Kentucky Derby in California

It’s Derby Day! The Kentucky Derby captures the imagination of Americans across the country and betting on the race is part of the culture. In a typical year the Kentucky Derby gets the second most betting action of single day betting events, next to only the Super Bowl.

This years Kentucky Derby will take place on it’s traditional day on the first Saturday in May, which is tonight (May 4th) this year. The race has a post time of 3:57pm PST (6:57pm EST) and will be broadcast on NBC.

On this page you will find the betting site we recommend for Californians looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby online and the various ways you can bet on the race from California (online sportsbooks vs racetrack simulcast betting).  I’ve also included a straight forward 3 step guide to help you get your 2024 Kentucky Derby bets placed online within minutes.

Best Online Sportsbook For Californians

BetOnline.ag is our top rated betting site for Californians looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby.

They offer new players a free $25 bet on the Kentucky Derby, in addition to 9% daily horse racing rebates and a sign up bonus of up to $1000.  Check out our review for a full breakdown.

Kentucky Derby Betting in California

In addition to betting online through BetOnline.ag, you can also place off track bets at any of the big racetracks in California such as Del Mar or Santa Anita Park.  These tracks will often have special events on Derby Day and the Kentucky Derby simulcast viewing areas will often be packed with horse racing fans with action on the race.  Check out our California sports betting section for a further breakdown of the top tracks in all of the big cities in the State.

Like I said above, you don’t need to head to the local track to place your bet.  BetOnline pays out up to $100,000 in winnings on each Kentucky Derby wager and you can quickly and easily place your bets in just minutes, while watching the race from the comfort of your own home.

How To Bet On Kentucky Derby From California – 3 Step Guide

Follow this 3 step guide to get your Kentucky Derby bets placed online in under 5 minutes.

Step 1. Open An Account With BetOnline.ag

BetOnline is our top rated betting site for California residents.  They accept players from around the world, but their main focus is on providing the best betting service to their American customers.  The bet offerings, customer service and deposit/payout options are all geared towards their American client base.

Click here to visit BetOnline.ag.  Select ‘Join Now’ on the home page and fill out the short form to open your account.

Step 2. Deposit

BetOnline accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more for instant deposits.

Your first deposit is eligible for a 50% matching bonus up to $1000.  Use bonus code ‘BET1000’ when making your deposit to opt-in to the bonus.

Step 3. Place Your Kentucky Derby Bets

It’s now time to bet on the race. You can either place your bet on the race winner in the BetOnline sportsbook (available at any time) or have the full option of horse race betting options in the BetOnline Racebook (available during race week).

Sportsbook (Fixed Odds Winner, Matchups and Props Betting)

Leading up to the race you can make outright winner, head-to-head matchups, and Derby props bets on the 2024 Kentucky Derby in the ‘Sports’ section of the BetOnline website. Click ‘Sports’ from the menu bar and select ‘Horse Racing’ -> ‘Horses Daily’ -> ‘Churchill Downs’ from the left sidebar to see the Kentucky Derby winner odds.

Pick your horse to win the race -> enter your risk amount -> click ‘Place Bet’.

Here’s a screenshot showing the clicks to bet on Fierceness to win the race from the Sportsbook (screenshot from May 2nd – odds may vary slightly):

Racebook (Full Betting Options using Parimutuel Betting System Odds)

Click on ‘Racebook’ in the top navigation bar and select ‘Churchill Downs’ from the ‘USA Thoroughbred’ drop down menu in the left sidebar.  Select race #12 on May 4th (post time of 6:57pm EST) for the Kentucky Derby and then select the type of wager you want to make (straight, exacta, superfecta, etc).  Enter your bets and select ‘Add To Bet Slip’, then click ‘Submit All Bets’ in the right sidebar to confirm your wagers.

**You can also quickly navigate to the Kentucky Derby race by selecting ‘2024 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs’ from the Featured Races section.

The bets you place through the racebook will use the parimutuel betting system (odds are determined by the betting pool participants, so they are subject to change).

Here is a screenshot from the morning of this years race showing the clicks to place a bet on Sierra Leone to win:

Check out our horse racing betting guide for a breakdown of the various bets you can make on race day and some tips to help you win your Derby wagers.  We also have a dedicated Kentucky Derby betting page where you can learn more about the race.

Are you ready to bet?  Click here to visit BetOnline.ag.

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