Betting on horses to win, place or show is just one way to gamble on the 2011 Kentucky Derby. And while the morning line odds have the spotlight, there are quite a few prop bets to go around, just like every other major sporting event.
Here are a few of the prop bets for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. All odds are courtesy of Bodog.
Which will have a large margin of victory: Winner to second place or second to third place?
Winner – 2nd Place -170
2nd Place – 3rd Place +130
Who will the winning jockey thank first? The odds favor the horse, followed by the trainer and nobody.
Family 6/1
God 5/1
Horse 2/1
Owner 5/1
Trainer 3/1
Does not thank anyone 4/1
You can even bet on the announcer. In this prop bet, an over/under for the number of horses NBC announcer Larry Collums calls the leader. The over/under is at 4.5.
Over 4½ (-120)
Under 4½ (-120)
Can a horse take the Kentucky Derby wire-to-wire? It seems unlikely, but there are odds. To win, a horse must start and finish in the lead, never relinquishing it.
Yes (Horse Wins 136th Kentucky Derby Wire to Wire) +550
No (Horse Wins 136th Kentucky Derby Wire to Wire) -900
You can also bet on the margin of victory, measured in lengths. It’s a simple concept, with the over/under set at one length.
More than or equal to 1 length -175
Less than 1 length +135
And, of course, you can bet on the National Anthem. It wouldn’t be a major sporting event unless an over/under was set on the anthem. With Jordin Sparks singing it, the over/under is set at 1:57 seconds.
Finally, there are bets on whether the Kentucky Derby winner will go on to win the Preakness or Belmot. The three races combine to form the Triple Crown, horse racing’s most fabled prize.
The Kentucky Derby gets underway on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Stay with our 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream for previews, odds and analysis up to and throughout the derby. For more on the race, head over to SB Nation's Kentucky Derby StoryStream or check out And Down The Stretch They Come.