The Kentucky Derby Future Book was once called the “winter book” when Casino Hotels and Sports Books took bets in advance on the Kentucky Derby.  While Casino Hotels and Sports Books still take advance bets on the Kentucky Derby, the name changed to “future book” when Churchill Downs started to also take advanced wagering – see January 3 blog at  www.kentuckyderbytours.com/blog/

These bets can offer bettors a chance to make a big financial score.  The downside is that the non-refundable wager is loaded with uncertainty.  There is no guarantee that the horse you bet on will even get a chance to compete in the race.  Since you are betting so far in advance, there is a chance that a horse could be injured while others never make it to the race.

While many people don’t think about betting on the Kentucky Derby in January, that hasn’t stopped several of the biggest sports books in Las Vegas from offering odds on hundreds of horses who may or may not be in the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

The Wynn Race & Sports Book started the early Derby fun by opening their 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Book last September. Eight months ahead is when the vast majority of horses go off at astronomical odds between 200/1 and 500/1.  After the Breeders’ Cup, more bets may be made and odds lowered.  This can be especially true if any horses put in a strong performance at the Breeders’ Cup.

The two leaders and fan favorites now are Union Rags who opened up at 30/1 and now stands at 11/1 and Hansen who started at 60/1 and has been bet down to 22/1.  Hansen’s performance by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his first start on dirt has set him up as a real contender.  Union Rags went off as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and
ran a great race.

Other winners such as Algorithms, Consortium, Dullahan, Ever So Lucky, Liaison, and O’Prado Again have odds ranging from 20/1 to 40/1. Liaison ‘s win in the Cash Call Futurity gave him his 3rd consecutive overall win and second straight win going 1 1/16 miles. Liaison is trained by Bob Baffert, which is a great start for winning a Kentucky Derby and Liaison looks like he’ll be the one to beat wherever he shows up next.

With hundreds of horses to choose from, the odds are at least 100/1 for many of the horses to just to make it to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. That is why if you’re going to make a future bet this early in the game you need to look try to look for the best value.  Margano started at odds of 250/1 and is “bet down” to 100/1.  Fly Lexis Fly is at odds of 100/1. Good Luck!