Kentucky Derby Day generates record $320m in handle
Positive program championed by Churchill Downs and TwinSpires in particular as previous Kentucky Derby records beaten
This year’s Kentucky Derby Day program saw record handle of $320.5m wagered across all sources, representing a 11% year-on-year (YOY) increase from 2023’s $288.7m.
All sources wagering on the Kentucky Derby race itself also reached a record handle of $210.7m, surpassing last year’s record of $188.7m.
Handle across Derby week reached a new record sum of $446.6m, an 8.4% YOY rise from the $412m recorded in 2023.
TwinSpires, Churchill Downs’s digital betting arm and the Kentucky Derby’s official betting partner, returned a record handle of $92.1m across all races for the Kentucky Derby Day program, including all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering.
When it came to the main event specifically, the Louisville-based operator also recorded a 24.5% YOY rise in handle. The 2024 race saw $60.9m wagered, compared to 2023’s then-record sum of $48.9m.
More than 150,000 spectators were present at Churchill Downs to watch Mystik Dan’s victory, though it took stewards several minutes to confirm the win after a photo finish that included Sierra Leone in second place and Forever Young a nose behind.
This year’s Kentucky Derby saw interest from all over the world, including Japan, with two Japanese thoroughbreds featuring in the race in the form of Forever Young and T O Password.
In terms of all sources wagering from Japan on the Kentucky Derby race, this year saw a new record of $10.1m wagered, $1.8m more than the 2022 record of $8.3m.
FanDuel and DraftKings were the only two other online operators that covered the Kentucky Derby Day program. Though bettors could not use the main FanDuel app for the race, they were able to place bets via the FanDuel racing app.
It was a similar story for DraftKings, with coverage of the event found only on the DK Horse app.
In his comments following the showpiece event, Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen made clear a record-breaking year was expected.
He said: “We expect the Kentucky Derby Week adjusted EBITDA to reflect a new record with $26m to $28m of growth over the prior record set last year.
“The Kentucky Derby is a testament to the enduring spirit of sportsmanship, unity, and the power of tradition.
“We were honored to debut our transformational new paddock as we celebrated this milestone 150th run for the roses. The new paddock has fundamentally enhanced the experience of all of our guests as they pass through our front gates and is a stepping stone to the next chapter of this time-honored event,” Carstanjen added.
The 2024 Kentucky Derby, its 150th iteration, was the first to be contested since online sports betting was legalised in the state on September 28, 2023.