Why Shop Kentucky Derby Betting Lines?

You have already found an online racebook that you’re comfortable with, so why shop Kentucky Derby betting lines? It turns out that no matter if you are a casual bettor or consider yourself an expert, line shopping will help you increase your profits. Every online oddsmaker makes different considerations when determining where to place a line and this is something that smart horseplayers capitalize on. Even if you think your preferred horse betting site has the best odds, there is still a chance that more value can be found elsewhere. The online racebook is already at advantage, and line shopping helps us to come out on top.

The betting lines for the Kentucky Derby are posted anywhere from the start of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, all the way up until a few minutes before post time. You should give yourself as much time as possible to start shopping Derby lines as there are several factors that you will want to consider. While boosting your bankroll is always the end goal, losses will happen which is another reason why finding the best line is important. Shopping Kentucky Derby betting lines is not as complicated as you might think, and we can give you tips on the best way to start.

What Is Line Shopping?

Simply put, line shopping is when you pick a particular line and compare it to lines posted at least one other online racebook. Consider Kentucky Derby line shopping the same as you would shopping for a new laptop. You want to get the best price on your new toy, and if Best Buy is cheaper than the Sony store you will go with the former. The best line translates into a much better payout and the greatest return on your investment. This is especially true when it comes to high rollers horse betting, where choosing the wrong line can cost you thousands.

Chasing Steam and Stale Lines

Steam moves and stale lines are quite different but are related when it comes to line shopping. We will first go over exactly what a steam move is and how it relates to line shopping. When one side of the bet is heavily favored and an abundance of cash starts flowing in, the line will move drastically. When you see a move like this, it means that huge amounts of money are being wagered by professional bettors that are accustomed to making high-volume bets. The majority of bettors are classified as the betting public and do not have the financial backing to cause such swift movements on betting lines.

You can take advantage of this movement by chasing the steam. Let’s say that you are comparing Derby Day betting odds at ten different online racebooks. The majority of the sites have the same odds for McCracken to win the Kentucky Derby, however after refreshing each page you notice a line movement from one of the racebooks at a higher price. Chasing steam is when you wager on a line at the better price before other betting sites start to adjust their lines. It can be hard to chase steam considering the majority of racebooks will be affected by sharps almost immediately. However if you are diligent about comparing lines, chasing steam can garner much higher profits.

The concept of a stale line is very closely related to chasing the steam. A stale line is basically a line that takes longer to update after a big movement. A book may not have been instantly hit by the sharps action and is a few minutes behind other sites in moving their line. You can research which online racebooks have a history of being slower to adjust their odds in order to determine where you are most likely to find stale lines.

You should always be careful when chasing steam because many online betting sites frown upon the practice. They believe that this is an unfair advantage, and as such can start to limit your account. If you are only betting steam then this will be a surefire way to have attention drawn to your account. If you are using one of the more well-known online racebooks for your legal Kentucky Derby betting, you should not run into any issues when you occasionally chase the steam.

Kentucky Derby Basics
Race Day:
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Post Time:
6:57 pm EDT
Race Day:
Churchill Downs
Track:
Louisville, Kentucky
Track Length:
1.25 Miles
Bovada - Best Kentucky Derby Wagering App

Year after year, Bovada brings horse enthusiasts the best Kentucky Derby betting action. All of the wagering options offered at Churchill Downs are also available at Bovada, which means you can bet on your horse to win, place, or show, or you can even box an exacta, trifecta, or superfecta. If you want to learn more about various horse wagering types, you can read through any of the helpful guides that are posted on the site.

Bovada does not only offer a ton of options when it comes to horse bet types, they also give you more than one way to bet. Instead of having to use your computer, you can now bet from anywhere! That’s right, Bovada has a mobile horse betting app that allows you to bet from anywhere you have an internet connection. You can still make deposits, redeem bonuses, and bet the ponies from the mobile app. Best of all, there is no download required and all you have to do is visit Bovada.lv from your mobile device. You can start betting on the Kentucky Derby today, just visit Bovada and create a free account.

SportsBetting - Up To 7% Back On All Horse Bets

SportsBetting is the easiest place to bet on the Kentucky Derby and all the Triple Crown races. You will find all of the latest betting lines on the Run for the Roses and so much more. SportsBetting gets in on the action earlier than most racebooks and you will find betting odds on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for even more wagering opportunities. You can make huge profits when you bet on your horse to win or bet a trifecta box. SportsBetting accepts action on all of the straight and exotic bets that you are already familiar with.

There are also exclusive promotions just for horseplayers that join the online racebook. You can get up to 7% of your bet volume back with the horse rebates offered by the racebook. You will receive rebates every morning at 8:00 AM on all of your winning and losing horse bets from the previous day. With cash back rebates, you have more money in your pocket for Derby Day betting and the other races in the Triple Crown. Join SportsBetting today and get access to all of the latest horse betting odds.

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