Churchill Downs has added an “early bird” advanced wagering period in 2013 to bet on the 2014 Kentucky Derby (Wednesday, Nov. 27-Saturday, Nov. 30). Horses included the Pool will be announced on Monday, Nov. 25.

The special four-day pool will open Wednesday, Nov. 27 at noon (all times Eastern) and close Saturday, Nov. 30.
The dates for the four Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools are:
KDFW Pool 1: Wednesday, Nov. 27-Saturday, Nov. 30 (4 days)
KDFW Pool 2: Thursday, Feb. 6-Saturday, Feb. 8 (3 days)
KDFW Pool 3: Thursday, Feb. 27-Saturday, March 1 (3 days)
KDFW Pool 4: Thursday, March 27-Saturday, March 29 (3 days)

The date for the only Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool is:
KOFW Pool 1: Thursday, Feb. 27-Saturday, March 1 (3 days)

The fields for the four Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools and the single Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool will be selected by a panel of racing officials and journalists. Individual horses included in Pool 1 will be announced on Monday, Nov. 25.

The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Future Wagers are innovative pari-mutuel wagers that allow horse racing fans the opportunity to wager on potential contenders well in advance of those races at odds that could be significantly more attractive than those available on the days the classic races for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds are run.

For example, Orb paid $12.80 to win on race day of the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, but returned $26.20 in Pool 2 and $29.60 in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

More than $1.4 million was wagered on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager in 2012 and 2013, respectively – the highest totals since 2006 when the wager was offered in a three-pool, four-day format. Another $126,039 was bet on the 2013 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which was a record for the single-pool format.

Each pool will feature 24 wagering interests that include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field, known by many fans as the “All Others” bet. The mutuel field, listed as No. 24 on the betting menu, will feature all foals of 2011 other than the 23 individual Thoroughbreds in the pool regardless of whether those horses have been nominated to the Kentucky Derby, the Triple Crown or the Longines Kentucky Oaks.

Both wagers offer $2-minimum win betting and exacta wagering, which is available in the form of $2 minimum straight exacta bets or $1-minimum exacta boxes and part-wheels. No scratches or betting refunds are permitted in either wager, but wagering on a Derby or Oaks Future Wager horse will be suspended immediately if Churchill Downs determines that injury, illness or other circumstance revealed during a pool would prevent a horse from competing in their respective race.

All winning payouts are determined by the odds in place at the end of each respective betting pool.