On Saturday, the most exciting two minutes of sports will happen! Kentucky Derby 2012 that is, Thank God it’s only a few days away! It seems like we’ve been waiting for ages. For a couple of minutes (it seems like for a couple of days) we will forget about the NFL draft, the NBA playoffs, and the NHL playoffs, as horse racing's Super Bowl—the Kentucky Derby—takes place. Every year thousands of people go to Churchill to witness this event. And millions watch it on broadcast and do Kentucky derby betting. It’s definitely hard not to get caught up in the history and pageantry of the Kentucky Derby. Especially if you are like me and is planning to bet (who doesn’t want to bet?). And this year, I’m going to make a Trifecta Bet for my Kentucky derby betting. Here's a look at which of the 21 horses I expect to finish in the Top Three.

Win: Dullahan

Dullahan has a lot going for himself. First, he is coming off a huge win—the Blue Grass Stakes against Hansen, who is an impressive horse in his own right. In that race, he started off fairly slow, but closed on Hansen in the stretch. It was a magnificent victory. Second, Dullahan is good on dirt. In his last dirt start, at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he had a terrible start but still managed to finish fourth. Last, his half-brother is Mine That Bird, who won the Derby in 2009. It doesn't get much better than that. As long as Dullahan manages to get off to a decent start—a big if, considering his last few races—he'll be fine in this one. He is arguably the best finisher in the field.

Place: Union Rags

One of the biggest favorites for this race is coming off a very disappointing race at the Florida Derby. After starting off 2012 with a huge win in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, Union Rags finished a disappointing third in Florida. Nonetheless, don't overlook this two-year-old as a solid bounce-back candidate. Much like Dullahan, Union Rags is a good finisher. Don't forget about this popular horse just because of his recent struggles.

Show: Gemologist

Gemologist, a young colt, is unbeaten in his career, and that includes being two-for-two at Churchill Downs. The speedy colt won't extend his winning streak in this big race, but he will manage to stay with the final pack in the final straightaway. Gemologist is about as safe of a bet as you'll find, as he is a fantastic starter and has the stamina necessary for the 1 1/4-mile race. I just don't think he has the finishing speed to take the win. He'll settle for third.

I am definitely sure that you are reading my article because you are going to do Kentucky Derby betting too. So I hope my article will help you decide on your bet. Good luck!

In these modern times, we have all the means and technology to make our life easier. This goes to Kentucky Derby betting too. We have lots of Sportsbook and experts online sharing race odds, we have unlimited videos of prep race to study and see the past performances of horses/ So why, in the midst of this glorious new Information Age, is picking a Derby winner harder than ever?

I think the answer is that the race itself, and the way that horses are prepared for it, has changed as radically as the tools available to bettors and fans alike.

Full fields of up to 20 horses in recent years has made a big difference. There is no longer such a thing as a Derby favorite who scares anyone off, and simply getting a horse to the Derby starting gate has become a badge of success for owners and trainers. Only nine lined up against Spectacular Bid in 1979 because few trainers wanted to run against a clearly superior horse. Today, Pegasus himself could be 1-10 and he would still have 19 opponents (and four on the also-eligible list). Larger fields mean more traffic, more chaos, and a larger pool of plausible contenders, especially for the minor awards that fill out trifectas and superfectas.

Another reason is that Derby entrants today have made so many fewer starts than they used to by this point in their careers. Even without the in-depth coverage available today, we knew more about Derby horses’ capabilities because they had been tested more often, and had established a clearer pecking order among themselves through repeated meetings. There were fewer roads to the Derby, and fewer gaudy prep races that now make every winning owner think his horse belongs in the Kentucky Derby because he won a minor race with “Derby” in its name.

There was a greater chance that horses had run close to their full capabilities by the time they got to the Derby just by making 10 or 12 starts. Now, we have to make a lot of guesses about horses who have run five or six times and are more eligible than their predecessors to make a sudden and sharp leap forward on Derby Day. This has become a staple of modern Derby handicapping, and it’s a highly speculative one: judging a horse’s chances less on what he has actually accomplished so far on the racetrack and more on whether he is poised to deliver a performance unlike any other he has turned in during his brief career.

All these changes have combined to make it harder to select a Derby winner. But there’s one thing I know. No matter what era or year you are, to win your Kentucky Derby betting, research is very important. Research with a touch of luck is your key to win. And no matter how hard it is to choose a Kentucky Derby winner, harder work and research will definitely top it off.

I am glad on how Kentucky Derby 2012 is turning into. There's no clear favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, which means you can expect big payouts no matter which horse wins the race - Saturday’s race could pay astronomical prices. And for that being said, I think it’s time for people to look into longshots for their Kentucky Derby Betting.

Sometimes the best racehorse to bet against at a racetrack is the favorite. That may sound strange since we know that favorites win about a third of the time, but if you want to make money at Kentucky Derby betting then you can’t be betting favorites every race, you need to pick some longshots. Remember last year? Only a few at Churchill Downs, or anywhere though that Animal Kingdom will win. Animal Kingdom was unproven, untested and a long-shot in every sense of the word, but sometimes it's the unknowns that surprise. Will that be the case on this year’s Kentucky Deby too?

If you feel it will be, then let me help you with your longshots bet. Here are three live, longshots for the 138th Run for the Roses:

Alpha (+1500): Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, this one was banged at the start of his last race but still rebounded to finish second to Gemologist in the Wood Memorial. Alpha has solid bloodlines, he’s out of Bernardini, and has three wins and two seconds in six lifetime starts. His best Beyer speed figure is 98, which is actually pretty strong for this field. His worst start was an 11th place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, which featured a bunch of Derby entrants. That result will certainly keep Alpha’s odds pretty long. McLaughlin hasn’t picked a jockey yet but Rajiv Maragh worked him Saturday and he was the fastest colt over 5 furlongs on the day.

Take Charge Indy (+1500): The AP Indy colt will be ridden by Calvin Borel. That’s good enough reason for a couple of shekels right there. Add in the fact that he won the Florida Derby at 7-1 beating Union Rags by more than a length and it’s clear this horse has some speed. Borel won the 2009 Derby on Mine That Bird at 50-1. Take Charge Indy’s won’t be that high but with 20 horses in the field he’ll probably try to set the pace.

Daddy Long Legs (+3000): If all the true contenders come out of the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile then Daddy Long Legs certainly fits the bill. Although he was 12th in the race he went off at a respectable 11-1. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, this colt went on to win the Grade II UAE Derby at 1 3/16 miles in Dubai. He’s won three of five races lifetime and his relative obscurity to the American racing fans is sure to keep his odds quite long. The son of Scat Daddy would make quite a story if he won this race. Scat Daddy was injured in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and forced to retire from racing. He’ll try to win this one for dad.

I hope you will consider these three long shots when doing Kentucky Derby betting. Who knows? With a touch of luck, these long shots will be your key to win.l be your key to win.

There are only a few days left before Kentucky Derby 2012 hits off. And today, marks a very important event on the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Today, they will hold their draw for post positions in the Run for the Roses and it’s going to have a huge affect on the odds of each horse. Yes, the starting position of a horse is very important to win. You would think that the No. 1 post position, the one closest to the rail, would be ideal because it allows a horse to run the shortest distance to the finish line. That's true, but a horse starting from the No. 1 post also stands a good chance of getting pinned against the rail. It's not an accident that no horse has won from the No. 1 post since 1988. History favors horses starting from the middle, which is right around the No. 10 post. These are spots that give horses a chance to start out in front, and from there they can at least stay within striking distance.

Some expert handicappers at Sportsbook.ag says that "If Bodemeister has a bad draw, then it's got to be Union Rags," "And if Union Rags has a bad draw, it would be the other way around." Bodemeister and Union Rags are some of several horses with a fantastic chance to win the Kentucky Derby and join the group of distinguished horses who have won the prestigious race.

With a just a few days before the action at Churchill Downs heats up, take a quick look on my Top 3 favorite horses – and definitely the horses I’m going to put my Kentucky Derby betting on. These horses will give their competition a hard time on the racetrack no matter what their starting position is. And then the battle between these three – winning the race - depends on what position will they get.

Union Rags: Union Rags is a tremendous horse who has had some strong workouts leading up to Saturday's big race. Trainer Michael Matz has done a wonderful job keeping Union Rags in top form over the past year, and the horse has responded with four victories in its last seven races. Unless something unexpected happens close to the race, expect Union Rags to finish no less than third at the Kentucky Derby.

Gemologist: Gemologist has won five straight races, and in those victories, has shown some tremendous speed and stamina by staying strong over long distances. Trainder Todd Pletcher has to be commended for his ability to keep Gemologist in top shape and condition race after race With great speed, power and stamina, it's hard to imagine this horse having a poor showing on Saturday.

Bodemeister: Bodemeister became one of the Derby's favorites after he kicked serious butt at the Arkansas Derby, winning by 9.5 lengths. Famous trainer and Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert has done a masterful job getting Bodemeister in top form ahead of the big race this weekend. Bodemeister has raced four times in 2012, finishing first twice and second twice. Bodemeister will be one of the best prepared horses at the Kentucky Derby and one of the top favorites to win the race.

So consider putting this three on your Kentucky Derby betting list. I am sure one of them will win it. And no one amongst them will get lower than 5th place on the race. Comment on my article if you agree or not.

To all sports, there will always be a favorite. The one that stands out from the rest, the one with better odds and the one that people is cheering on even before the game. And they are not favorites for nothing. There is a reason why people are loving them and sports analyst are choosing them. Kentucky Derby is no different. A few days from now, the “Most exciting two minutes of sports” will happen and people all over the world have their Kentucky Derby betting already. And at these times favorites had already emerged. I have went through some of the most famous and most reliable sportsbook around the internet and compile these horses that you must bet on Kentucky Derby. Here is a look at the early favorites of the field of 20 according to Sportsbooks and sports forums to help you win.

Bodemeister (+450): The early Derby favorite will try to become the first horse in over a century to win the race without having a start as a 2-year-old. He’s topped 100 in the Beyer speed ratings three times, only three other horses in the race have even done it once. Bob Baffert trainee rolled to a dominant win in the Arkansas Derby last time out.

Gemologist (+800): Todd Pletcher trainee will go to the post undefeated in five starts. Gemologist seemed to toy with the field in the Wood, taking the lead and then when it looked like he was about to be passed in the stretch, he dug in again and pulled it out. Will take plenty of money at the windows and perhaps grab the early lead on Saturday.

Hansen (+1000): Some say Hansen will be merely a sideshow because of his beauty but this colt beat many of these in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile on this surface going off at 7-1. The distance could be the problem as Hansen faded to second in his last start, the longest of his career (9 furlongs).

Union Rags (+500): Lots of potential in this one and his connections believe he can get any distance. He’s won four of six lifetime starts but was a disappointing third in the Florida Derby as the prohibitive favorite. Certainly merits consideration and could be the most fit horse to win all legs of the Triple Crown.

Creative Cause (+600): Just missed as the favorite in the Santa Anita Derby last time out but beat Bodemeister the race before by ¾ of a length at the San Felipe. Has had some troubles drifting in the lane but has hit the board in all eight starts.

As for me, I probably would go and bet on Union Rags. First of all, the name is so catchy that it can be use for marketing, the horse got an amazing race record and it seems that it is looking healthy when I last saw it. So what horses are you going to place your Kentucky Derby betting on? Share it here guys and let’s compare notes. Good luck!

Kentucky derby betting is no joking matter. Many bettors are actually taking their time on researching it, some bet a huge amount of money for it and many thinks they have luck on their side in it. If you are one of those people who are planning to bet on Kentucky Derby 2012 then I would tell you that research (wit a touch of luck) is a must before you bet. I know a lot of people like to pick horses based on how goofy their names are or base on their favorite numbers and birthdays and how good (or not good) their odds are, but it's most definitely possible top apply a little bit of method to your madness before placing a bet on the Derby. Here are my four must remember tips before you do your Kentucky Derby betting.

1. How They Race - It's a mile-and-a-quarter race, which is longer than the races the horses in the field are used to running. Most of them have topped out at a mile-and-an-eighth. So beware horses that have reputations of being pacesetters, as odds are they're not going to be able to maintain a good speed for the whole race. You want to look for horses that have a tendency to be strong finishers. These horses are usually easy to spot, as they're the ones with the best odds. In a race as long as the derby, a late burst of speed can make a huge difference, and that's exactly what these horses are capable of.

2. Starting Position - It matters where each horse is going to start from at the Derby. A bad post position can make a world of difference. You would think that the No. 1 post position, the one closest to the rail, would be ideal because it allows a horse to run the shortest distance to the finish line. That's true, but a horse starting from the No. 1 post also stands a good chance of getting pinned against the rail. It's not an accident that no horse has won from the No. 1 post since 1988. History favors horses starting from the middle, which is right around the No. 10 post. These are spots that give horses a chance to start out in front, and from there they can at least stay within striking distance.

3. Rain or Shine - Beware of rainy weather. Naturally, it will make the track wet, and that changes the race completely. In the event of a wet track, you want to look around for the mudders in the field. These are the horses that have a tendency to run well on a wet track. Unfortunately, it's not easy to find out which horses are mudder. So you better know the history of some horses.

4. Jockeys The guys on the backs of the horses matter just as much as the horses themselves. You need to know your jockeys as well as you know your horses. Take, for example, Calvin Borel. He rode Derby winners in 2007, 2009 and 2010. A streak like that can't be coincidental, and it wasn't. Borel rode great horses, but he's also a great jockey. For the record, Borel will be riding Take Charge Indy this year.

To win in your Kentucky Derby betting will be hard work. Yes, some might win it because of luck. But it is better if you will not take the risk and just study. Check out sites like Sportsbook.ag who offers Kentucky Derby odds and good luck to all the races and bettors for this year’s Kentucky Derby!

Only a few more days left before the 2012 Kentucky Derby happens! Yes, the moment we have all been waiting for will happen just a few more sleeps away. My observation for this year? The field looks the strongest it has been in quite a few years, and for the most part, evenly matched. So the competition this year would be very hard to predict. Which makes it more exciting! So buckle up and do your Kentucky derby betting today and be a part of the excitement. And whatever happens, here are some of the horses you need to avoid for your Kentucky derby betting. They might be some people’s favorites and look extremely good, but there are questions surrounding the horses. So it’s a risk you wouldn’t want to take.

1. Bodemeister is sitting at 9/2 right now, and he deserves it after his dominating win in the G1 Arkansas Derby. But just like two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, “Bode” is lightly raced with just four races and only two stakes starts. Bodemeister has a big chance to do big things, but his light schedule will be a big disadvantage, especially with more experienced horses in the race.

2. While Alpha showed talent a few weeks ago fighting Gemologist down the stretch in the G1 Wood Memorial to finish second, the horse is a question mark. Before settling on the Wood, the colt was supposed to go to multiple other preps depending on who ran there when Hansen moved on to the Blue Grass. While this could have been done just to get him the extra graded stakes earnings, it doesn't give much confidence in the horse. Between this and his gate issues the last time he was at Churchill Downs, even though it seems to have subsided this year, Alpha is a wild card. The colt may be worth a bet at longer odds, but not at the low odds that he will probably be at going into the Derby after his second place in the Wood Memorial.

3. Dullahan has the bloodlines and the record to be a contender in this race. His half brother Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby in 2009, and Dullahan was fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But there is a big question mark around the horse’s ability to win away from Keeneland. The horse has done pretty well away from the track, placing at Gulfstream and Saratoga in two graded stakes on the turf. While his fourth place finish behind last year’s three best two-year-olds looks good, it should be noted that the colt was five lengths behind the trio. Dullahan is currently at 8/1 odds, but his form carrying from turf-like surfaces to dirt, even with his Juvenile result, makes him one to think hard about on Derby day.

4. Even though Hansen is currently at 14/1 odds on the Kentucky Derby website, as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and with his race record his odds will probably be much lower come Derby day. However, his questionable ability to go longer distances is a major issue. The colt showed the ability to rate in his G3 Gotham Stakes win, but he hasn’t shown that he can rate when everything doesn’t go his way. In a 20-horse field, the temperamental Tapit son will probably be wound up due to the atmosphere at Churchill Downs, which really won't help his case.

So what do you think? Do you disagree or agree with me? Comment on the comment section below and let us help our fellow bettors increase their chances to win by giving them some helpful tips. Good luck on your Kentucky derby betting and see you at Churchill a few days from now!

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The Kentucky Derby is touted as being the most exciting two minutes in sports. True, but the Run for the Roses experience goes on for a month. Mint juleps, hot-air balloon races, lawn parties, steamboat races, Kentucky Oaks (the Friday before the “big one” races), riverside concerts, celebrity sightings, private galas and hats. Lots and lots of hats. Let me tell you my great experience when I went to Churchill last year to watch Kentucky derby and do Kentucky derby betting there.

Louisville has so much to offer. They have a great history and great places to visits. But this seems to be invisible when Kentucky Derby is on.

I’m not a fashion editor, but I must tell you about my hat. You absolutely have to have a hat for the Kentucky Derby. The bigger, the more lavish, the better. Mine was brown horsehair (appropriate) with brown-tipped white feathers around the wide portrait brim.

I’m also not a food editor, but I feel compelled to share this coveted recipe for mint juleps:2 tablespoons super-fine sugar

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

24 mint leaves, plus 4 for garnish

2 cups finely crushed ice

1 cup Kentucky bourbon

Combine sugar, lemon juice and mint leaves in a pitcher. Crush with a wooden spoon. Add ice and bourbon. Mix well. Pour into frosted silver cups and garnish with mint.

Legend has it that, on a hot day in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, accompanied by his chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, arrived at West Point to give the commencement address. Mint juleps were being served. When asked by a waiter if he wanted a second mint julep, MacArthur wisely declined, saying, “No, thank you. I think I’ll stop now while I still know who is president.”

Looming over the whitewashed grandstand, infield and racetrack are the iconic twin spires of Churchill Downs, officially opened in 1875. Kentucky derby Betting booths and computers are everywhere, and there’s even a “Millionaire’s Row” floor for those who want to lose big. With so much to take in at the tracks, it’s easy to miss some of the sights inside.

I’ve spent many a first Saturday in May watching the Kentucky Derby on television, and every time the crowd is quieted as the glorious thoroughbreds are marched before the grandstands, as the University of Louisville Marching Band marches forward and more than 10,000 spectators begin singing Stephen Foster’s nostalgic “My Old Kentucky Home” — every single time, a tear or two slides down my cheek.

I’ll tell you — being there in person, standing and watching from the grandstand railing, gazing on the magnificent 3-year-old horses parading below and joining in singing with the exhilarated, fancifully bonneted throngs, it is definitely a two-hankie moment. I’ve definitely enjoyed my Kentucky derby betting experience at the race track itself.

Kentucky Derby is often called the “greatest two minutes of sports”. It is a prestigious event that every US citizens want to be a part of. Whether they will go down to Churchill to watch the race or they will do kentucky derby betting on their favorite horse, millions of people around the globe, especially in the US is excitedly awaiting Kentucky Derby. At Saturday's 137th Kentucky Derby, the long lines in front of Kentucky Derby clerks window conjured up a wild tableau of high hopes and cold cash, as bettors tried to pick that lucky winner.

“It can get pretty nerve-wracking,” said a clerk, who was working next to her daughter, 40-year-old Brooke Bond. “But it's also fun, because there are so many first-time bettors and you can see the people’s excitement on their faces. And look at those hats.”

The Derby's large field is traditionally hard to predict, and in the lead-up to Saturday's race, experts said the 137th running had few standouts and many possible winners. That made the choice for bettors all the more agonizing.

The tradition of betting on the Derby ranks up there with sipping mint juleps, and it shows: Last year, total wagering from all sources on the 13 races that went off on Kentucky Derby Day was $162.7 million, with the track returning $133.1 million, or 82 percent, to bettors, according to Churchill Downs. Saturday's on-track Derby wagering set a record of $12,606,249.

There were spur-of-the-moment bettors wagering on nothing but a horse's name, sharp-dressed women spilling julep-soaked cash on long shots and steely gamblers gripping dog-eared Racing Forms.

The serious gamblers laid down their bets with precision: “Sixty-dollar exacta box, three and six,” took their tickets and left. Casual bettors, far less sure of who they should pick in an anything-can-happen, 19-horse field, required some coaching.

“What's a trifecta?” one woman in a droopy Derby hat and diamond earrings slurred to the quiet groans and rolling eyes of patrons behind her. “I don't even know what race it is!”

There were plenty of betting strategies in front of Bennett's clerks Saturday. Many were betting the morning-line favorite, Dialed In, even as they knew that the favorite tends to win only about one-third of the time.

Some were betting less on a horse and more on a winning jockey, such as Calvin Borel, who had won three of the past four Derbys.

Others were poring over statistics on endurance, bloodlines and past victories, or leaving to stroll the paddock to view the horses' muscle tone or check to see if they were restless.

And then there were those who opted for less scientific methods, from Kentucky derby betting birthdays to taking the approach that eventually everyone bets a winner.