The 2023 Kentucky Derby shattered records, with unprecedented betting on the race, the Kentucky Derby Day card, and the entire Kentucky Derby Week.
The on-track fervor mirrored the record-setting wagers. Mage, an unexpected victor, claimed victory despite entering the competition as a 15-1 underdog. The frontrunners, Forte and Angel of Empire, stumbled. Forte was withdrawn prior to the race, while Angel of Empire could only secure a third-place result.
Churchill Downs Chief Executive Officer, Bill Carstanjen, announced that the adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization for Kentucky Derby Week is anticipated to establish a new benchmark, surpassing the prior year’s record by $14 to $16 million. He mentioned that Churchill Downs is already anticipating the 150th Kentucky Derby in May 2024.
Total betting on Kentucky Derby Day reached an unparalleled $288.7 million, eclipsing the previous high of $273.8 million set in 2022. Wagers on the Kentucky Derby race itself also achieved a new peak of $188.7 million, up from $179 million in 2022. Overall, betting for Kentucky Derby Week climbed from $391.8 million to an astounding $412 million.
TwinSpires, the official betting associate of Churchill Downs, also documented record-breaking handle of $73.6 million, with $47 million of that originating from the Kentucky Derby race alone.
The 2022 Kentucky Derby was a massive wagering affair, with a combined pot of $67.4 million for the Derby alone and an additional $44 million for the preliminary races.
Although official figures are pending, it’s projected that more than 150,000 spectators were present at the race on Saturday, an increase from the prior year’s 147,294 attendees.
Notwithstanding the thrill, the occasion was not devoid of dispute. An animal welfare organization menaced to display a banner above Churchill Downs in opposition to greyhound racing, which they deem inhumane.
