Record betting totals reported on Kentucky Derby, card

The Kentucky Derby’s three-horse photo finish on Saturday undoubtedly had bettors on edge in what proved to be a record day of wagering on that race and the entire Churchill Downs card.

The famed horse racing complex in Louisville, Ky., on Sunday listed Derby wagering at $210.7 million, an increase of $20 million from 2023.

The total for the day’s 14 races reached $320.5 million, surpassing the $288.7 million of a year ago. An online racebook, TwinSpires, which is a partner of the Derby, accepted another $92.1 million on the card, yet another record.

Mystik Dan won the Derby and its $3.1 million first prize by edging Sierra Leone ($1 million) and Forever Young ($500,000).

–Field Level Media