2011 marks the 11th year of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager program, which offers fans and handicappers the opportunity to bet on potential Derby runners. It can also provide higher payouts than those earned on the day of the Derby!

The betting format is for Win and Exact bets only.

If your bet on the horse does not reach the Kentucky Derby starting field, your bet will be forfeited as no refunds will be made.

There are 3 groups of future bets scheduled weeks apart during the Derby preparation race schedule. Each group will have 25 betting interests consisting of 24 selected potential Kentucky Derby runners with 25 being the field (all other horses).

The chance to get a higher payout in the Future Pool is great! Of the three groups of future bets, group 3 appears to return the highest payouts.

Last year, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver paid $ 18.00 on Derby day, but paid $ 43.20, $ 51.20, and $ 73.00 in Groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The Super Saver / Ice Box Exacta paid $ 152.40 on the day of the Derby but paid $ 176.40, $ 259.20 and $ 1,077.40 in Groups 1, 2 and 3! The Exact bet has only been available for the last 2 years.

Even when the postseason favorite wins the Kentucky Derby, his rewards are even higher at the Future Pools.

When Big Brown won in 2008, he paid $ 6.80 on Derby day, but paid $ 8.60, $ 15.00 and $ 8.60 at Future Pools. In Groups 1 and 2, it was part of the Field entry and was not included as an individual betting entry until Group 3. (Field betting entry is always the favorite in Groups 1 and 2).

In the 12 years of the Derby Future Wager Pools, the Kentucky Derby favorite has won 4 times and all 4 times his Future Wagers paid the most.

There have only been 3 times Future Wager didn’t pay more than on Derby day.

They were when a long shot won the Kentucky Derby!

In 2009, Mine That Bird (50-1) won and paid $ 103.20. His Group 1, 2, and 3 payments were $ 5.80, $ 11.80, and $ 36.80. This is because he never had a single interest in Future Pools betting and was listed as part of the Field.

In 2005, Giacomo (50-1) paid $ 102.60 on Derby day and his Future Wager payments were $ 52.00, $ 54.20 and $ 103.60.

The third time was in 1999, Future Wager’s first year, when Charismatic won and paid $ 64.00 with their Group 1, 2, and 3 payouts of $ 10.20, $ 30.20, and $ 26.60 respectively. Charismatic was also not a single betting entry in the groups and therefore a part of the field.

In conclusion, if you think a long shot will win the Kentucky Derby, don’t bet on the horse at Future Wager. However, if you think one of the three hyped racers during the Derby Prep racing season will win, then bet on the horse at the 3 Pools.

Remember that it is important that your horse has the correct pedigree to win the Kentucky Derby, which is contested over a distance of 1 1/4 mile.

Group 3 future betting for the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for April 1-3.