2011 Kentucky Derby Picks

Announcement: Stay tuned for Kentucky Derby news as 2012 rolls in!

Since 1875, the first Saturday in May has hosted one of the three most well-known horse races in history. The Kentucky Derby is also called the Run for the Roses, since the race to the winner’s circle ends with the champion being draped with a collar of fresh red roses. The 136th Kentucky Derby runs May 7th, 2011 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the journey to horse racing’s most prestigious award, the Triple Crown. Winning the Kentucky Derby is the first jewel of the Crown. Join the journey by betting on the top Kentucky Derby picks and participate in the “most exciting two minutes in sports” here at KentuckyDerbyPicks.com.

And if you’re curious about this year’s top Derby contenders you can see a detailed list of the big favorites by checking out the page below.

Official 2011 Kentucky Derby Favorites and Bios

Expert Kentucky Derby Picks

Kentucky Derby Picks has expert picks, up-to-date contender information, betting strategies and an overview of live horse racing and horse race betting online. Even if you can’t make it to the Downs for this year’s Run for the Roses, you can participate in the thrill of cheering on your top picks to win the Kentucky Derby. We’ll help you know how to bet like a pro on win, place, show, exacta and trifecta bets to join in the action.

The official web site of the Kentucky Derby offers expert picks for the top contenders of this year’s Kentucky Derby.  Horse masters, Derby watchers and regular Derby bettors update the top Kentucky Derby picks based on the horses’ performances in preliminary races. KentuckyDerbyPicks.com will update our own picks until May 1. To get started, look at these expert Kentucky Derby Picks.

If you want to bet the Derby this is the best time to get on it, as sites like Twinspires and Sportsbook.com still take USA players and deposits.

Also, don’t forget to check out our 2011 LIVE Derby Odds Ticker to bet on UPDATED favorites.

Note: You can bet these Experts’ picks (or your own of course) today at Bodog, Sportsbook.com, or TwinSpires – the official Racebooks for Horse Racing and Derby Betting.  Reviews for all our Derby sportsbooks can be found all over the site, so don’t be afraid to check out our analysis of each before you sign up.

Choose Your Horses and Your Sportsbook

Select your top Kentucky Derby Picks to get in on the action. Visit one of the best sportsbooks for live and up-to-the moment Derby action to place your bets. As May 7th gets closer, the Kentucky Derby betting gets more exciting. Join the thrill of the “Run for the Roses” and make your wagers today!  Millions of dollars worldwide change hands during these exhilarating 2 minutes – why shouldn’t you get YOUR piece?

Betting at the Kentucky Derby

Since its earliest beginnings, the Kentucky Derby has been nearly synonymous with betting. The Kentucky Derby is supported by the parimutuel wagering system. This technique first provides a fixed percentage of all of the race’s wagers to the track. That dollar amount is usually between fourteen and twenty-five percent of the total. In turn, those funds are used for operating expenses, racing purses and taxes. The money that remains from this amount is divided by the number of wagers to calculate bettor winnings.

The estimated payout amounts on the Kentucky Derby, or odds, are formulated recurrently by the computers at Churchill Downs. These are then posted online and on track odds boards before the event. Bettors are enthralled with this hallmark event for two reasons: the Kentucky Derby offers the greatest payouts of all horse races in the world, and the excitement of selecting a winning horse makes for a heart-pounding experience.