In just two weeks, the 2023 Preakness Stakes will take place May 20 at the historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.
That means horse bettors in Kentucky and around the world are gearing up for one of the biggest annual gambling events on the sports calendar. Luckily for Kentuckians, there’s a wide array of in-person and online betting options for the 149th running of horse racing’s crown event.
Here’s everything you need to know about horse betting in Kentucky and how to bet on the Preakness Stakes.
When is the 2023 Preakness Stakes?
The 147th running of the Preakness Stakes is on Saturday, May 20. The race at Pimlico begins at 6:50 p.m. ET, but pre-race coverage begins on NBC at 2:00 p.m.
FanDuel Racing Preakness Stakes betting online
Flutter is dedicating its US horse betting resources to the FanDuel Racing app. FanDuel Racing is legal and live in Kentucky. From May 1 until the race, it will offer all customers a $20 No Sweat Bet on the Preakness Stakes.
Previously, FanDuel purchased horse betting industry giant TVG back in 2009 and just last year rebranded the network as FanDuel TV.
FanDuel Racing is a standalone horse betting app in Kentucky and 23 other states. It’s part of the FanDuel Sportsbook app in 15 states where sports betting is legal. This will likely be the setup in Kentucky, where sports betting will be live by the end of 2023. You must be 18 or older to bet on horse races in Kentucky. That will be the same age limit for Kentucky sports betting.
FanDuel is partnered with Churchill Downs Inc., which provides its advanced deposit wagering technology for FanDuel Racing to use. For that reason, FanDuel is also a sports betting sponsor for the Kentucky Derby.
Other online betting options
Although FanDuel Racing and TVG are our recommendations for Kentucky Derby betting, there are other options:
- DK Horse — This is DraftKings’ standalone horse betting app. It’s live and legal in Kentucky.
- TwinSpires — This is CDI’s flagship horse race betting site. Like FanDuel, it is also a Kentucky Derby sponsor.
- Caesars Racebook — This is the horse betting app under the Caesars Entertainment brand.
Betting at Kentucky horse racetracks
If you want to be surrounded by fellow horse bettors and place your wagers in-person, Kentucky has horse racetracks and simulcast facilities for you to do just that.
- Churchill Downs — If you can somehow get a ticket, watching and gambling on the Kentucky Derby at its Louisville home would be a heck of an experience.
- Ellis Park — Located in Henderson, Ellis Park offers simulcasting all year, a clubhouse dining room, a trackside grill and gaming machines that play the same way as slot machines.
- Keeneland — In Lexington, Keeneland is considered one of the top racetracks in the US. It’s one of four host sites for the Breeders’ Cup.
- Kentucky Downs — This Franklin racetrack has live racing in September and simulcasting all year long. It’s the only all-turf flat racing thoroughbred track in the US.
- Oak Grove — Oak Grove has live harness racing April-July, plus a simulcast room with United Tote self-serve kiosks.
- The Red Mile — Also in Lexington, The Red Mile is the second-oldest harness racetrack in the world and offers simulcast betting 364 days a year.
- Turfway Park — Located in Florence, Turfway Park has live racing during its winter and spring meets, as well as a simulcast center open at 11:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Preakness Stakes 2023 horses, odds
When officials release the draw, an official list of horses and odds will be released. The draw takes place on Monday, May 16.
How many horses race in the Preakness Stakes?
There are 14 horses in the Preakness Stakes. They all must be 3-year-old thoroughbreds.
Other Triple Crown races
After the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes (June 10, Belmont Park) is the last remaining Triple Crown race.
There have been 13 horses to win the Triple Crown:
- Justify (2018)
- American Pharoah (2015)
- Affirmed (1978)
- Seattle Slew (1977)
- Secretariat (1973)
- Assault (1946)
- Count Fleet (1943)
- Whirlaway (1941)
- War Admiral (1937)
- Omaha (1935)
- Gallant Fox (1930)
- Sir Barton (1919)
