The 2026 Kentucky Derby will take place at Churchill Downs Racetrack this Saturday, May 2nd. The race has a post time of 6:57pm ET and will be broadcast in the United States on NBC.
If you live in North Carolina and want to bet on this years Kentucky Derby, then you are in the right place. On this page I will look at your options, touch on the betting climate in North Carolina, and provide a simple three step guide.
Where To Bet
North Carolina legalized online horse race betting in 2023, but no racing app has launched in the state yet, and there are no racetracks in North Carolina. That means there is currently no licensed option to bet on the Derby from inside the state.
Other options include prediction markets such as Kalshi, which have listed winner markets on Triple Crown races, and offshore racebooks, which accept US customers but are not licensed or regulated by any state. Our horse racing betting guide explains how each option works.
Kentucky Derby Betting in North Carolina
Regulated online sports betting launched in North Carolina in March of 2024, and several betting apps are available to North Carolina bettors. Those sportsbook apps do not take bets on horse racing, and the state’s online horse betting market has not launched.
North Carolina residents can bet through a licensed racing app or at a racetrack while visiting a nearby state where horse betting is legal, such as Virginia or Tennessee. Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia takes simulcast bets on the Derby.
Bet On The Kentucky Derby – 3 Steps
Complete this three step guide to bet on the Kentucky Derby as a North Carolina resident.
Step 1. Choose Where To Bet
From North Carolina, prediction markets such as Kalshi are the main option, or you can bet through a licensed racing app such as TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing or Xpressbet while visiting a nearby state where online horse betting is legal, such as Virginia or Tennessee.
Step 2. Sign Up and Fund Your Account
Open an account with the app you picked and complete its identity check, which usually asks for the last four digits of your Social Security number. Then make a deposit, most commonly with a debit card or bank transfer.
Step 3. Bet On The Kentucky Derby
There are two ways to bet on the Kentucky Derby: fixed-odds and futures bets before race day, and the full menu of pari-mutuel bets once the race day card opens.
Before Race Day (Futures and Fixed Odds)
Kentucky Derby betting starts months before the race. Churchill Downs runs the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, a series of pari-mutuel pools that open in the fall and close in early April. Your odds are locked in when the pool you bet in closes, and there are no refunds if your horse does not make the race. You can bet the Future Wager through racing apps such as TwinSpires and at many racetracks, in states where they are allowed.
Fixed-odds bets on the Derby winner, where the odds are locked in when you place the bet, are offered by prediction markets such as Kalshi and by offshore sportsbooks. Regulated US sportsbook apps generally do not take bets on horse racing. Fixed-odds markets usually stay open right up to post time, and they often include extras such as matchups and top three finish bets.
On Race Day (Pari-Mutuel Betting)
Racing apps and tracks open betting on the Derby day card a few days before the race, and the morning line odds are set after the post position draw during the week before the race. Find Churchill Downs in the track list and go to race #12 on May 2nd, which has a post time of 6:57pm ET. Choose your horse and bet type, enter your stake, and confirm the bet on your bet slip. Popular Kentucky Derby bets include:
- Win, Place or Show – Your horse must finish first (win), first or second (place), or in the top three (show).
- Exacta – Pick the first and second place finishers in the exact order.
- Trifecta – Pick the top three finishers in the exact order.
- Superfecta – Pick the top four finishers in the exact order.
These are pari-mutuel bets, so your payout depends on the final pool at post time. Check out our horse race betting section for more information about this betting system and the various bets you can make on a horse race. We also have a dedicated Kentucky Derby page where you can learn more about the race. Most licensed apps let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
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