2025 Kentucky Derby betting lingo guide: Key terms to know & how to place a bet

Aaron Mudd, Lexington Herald-Leader on May 2, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Between exacta bets, superfectas and boxing, there’s a dizzying array of Kentucky Derby terms to wrap your head around.

Whether you’re headed to a racetrack or just want to place a bet from your home watch party, here’s a quick primer on key betting terms to get you started ahead of the 151st Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 3.

If you do plan to bet, remember to do so responsibly. It’s recommended you make a budget and stick to it, and know that you can still win big by betting a small amount.

The basics of betting on horses: Key terms to know

There are many different types of bets you can place up until post time, which is 6:57 p.m. EDT Saturday.

Broadly though, bettors can choose to place straight wagersor exotic wagers.

To start with, the straight wagers include basic bets like win, place and show. As explained by Daily Racing Forum, these are the safest bets with smallest payouts.

As defined by the Kentucky Derby’s official glossary, they all require a minimum $2 wager and include the following:

— Win: A bet you win if your horse finishes first.

— Place: A bet you win if your horse finishes first or second.

— Show: A bet you win if your horse finishes first, second or third.

You can also bet what’s called “across the board,” which is actually three bets in one.

Going this route, you receive three different bets: one win, one place and one show, each with a minimum $2 wager. If the horse wins, you collect three ways; if second, two ways; if third, one way. While not technically a straight bet, since you’re gambling on more than one race outcome, it’s another popular type of bet to make.

While straight wagers center on one outcome, when you place an exotic wager, you’re betting on multiple horses in one race or even across several races.

As explained by DK Horse, these are wagers that involve two or more horses finishing the race in a sequence you predict. There’s a shot at a bigger payout with the trade-off being the odds are harder to beat.

Some common examples of exotic wagers, as defined by the Kentucky Derby’s glossary, include the following:

— Exacta: A bet you win if your horses finish first and second in that exact order. This bet requires a $2 minimum wager.

— Trifecta: A bet you win if your horses finish first, second and third in that exact order. At a minimum, it requires a $0.50 wager.

— Superfecta: A bet you win if your horses finish first, second, third and fourth in that exact order. The minimum wager required is $0.10.

For exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets, you can also opt to “box” your bet, which enables you to get a payout if your horses win, but don’t do so in an exact order.

For example, you can pick three horses to finish first, second or third in a trifecta bet and box it so you get a payout if the horses finish in any combination of the three, whether that’s 1-2-3, 3-2-1 and so on.

How to bet on the Kentucky Derby from home

Along with various racetracks around Kentucky, such as Churchill Downs and Keeneland, you don’t have to go far to place a bet on Derby Day.

Downloadable mobile phone apps allow you to place bets from your Derby watch party. TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, is one of them.

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If you or a loved one have a loved one have a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER