Here's a step-by-step guide for how to bet on the Kentucky Derby online today at official partners, which are also offering the best Kentucky Derby online betting promos of the year
By Brandon Gustafson May 2, 2026 at 5:10 pm ET • 5 min read 
Imagn Images Betting on horse racing can be a unique challenge compared to traditional online sports betting, so many will be wonder how to bet on the Kentucky Derby. There are numerous Kentucky Derby betting apps to choose from like TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DK Horse and 1/ST BET, along with a loaded 20-horse Kentucky Derby field at Churchill Downs. Arkansas Derby winner Renegade is the 4-1 favorite in the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds, followed by Santa Anita Derby winner Commandment (6-1) and Blue Grass Stakes winner Further Ado (6-1). Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert also has a pair of 2026 Kentucky Derby horses as he seeks a record-breaking seventh win. Baffert's horses are both considered Kentucky Derby longshots, though, with Potente at 20-1 and Litmust Test at 30-1.
Here, we'll show you how to bet on the Kentucky Derby 2026 with the best available promos to unlock bonus site credits. Sign up for TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, DK Horse and 1/ST BET here:
The best 2026 Kentucky Derby promos
We've taken a close look at the top Kentucky Derby online betting promos, and these four below really stand out. Want to know how to bet on the Kentucky Derby today? Sign up with one of these offers and get started.
Brand
Promo
Promo Code
FanDuel Racing
Get $25 racing bonus with $5+ bet
TwinSpires
Up to $400 in bonus funds + $10 bonus back
DK Horse
Win a share of $1 million if your horse wins
1/ST BET
$500 sign-up bonus in wagering credits
Step-by-step guide for how to bet on the Kentucky Derby
Betting on horse racing is far different than your typical sports betting. With that in mind, we've put together a step-by-step guide for betting on the Kentucky Derby today. It's important to know and understand how to bet in horse racing, especially because you can't place Kentucky Derby bets at a typical online sportsbook. Betting on the Kentucky Derby is only available at official licensed horse racing books and apps.
- Sign up: Get started with a new account at one of the official Kentucky Derby betting apps. Click the links in the table above or the "CLAIM BONUS" buttons on this page to secure valuable promos.
- Create account details: Fill in your personal information to register and validate your new account. Identity verification is required.
- Make a deposit: Fund your new account. Typically, securely linking a bank account is the best way to do so with no additional fees at racebooks and horse racing betting sites.
- Go to tracks: Choose Churchill Downs, then choose Race 12. This is the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
- Choose your wager type: The most common is a "Win" bet, which is where you are picking which horse will win the Kentucky Derby. Other wager types are explained below to further understand more about how to bet on the Kentucky Derby.
For ideas on what to bet and more information about each horse, visit our Kentucky Derby betting guide.
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby: How each promo works
To maximize how to bet on the Kentucky Derby today, it's important to understand how each promo works so you can secure additional bonus funds on top of your initial deposit. Each is explained below.
TwinSpires: Up to $400 sign-up offer with code CBSSPORTS
New TwinSpires users receive up to $400 with this sign-up offer. Sign up with the TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS, which gives new users $100 in site credit for every $400 wagered. That means to unlock the full $400 total, you must wager $1,600 of your own funds. This offer covers the first 30 days after signing up with TwinSpires.
New TwinSpires users can also get a $10 bonus bet back if the horse you place a wager on during any eligible race the week of the Kentucky Derby finishes second or third. Just opt in under the "Offers" tab. Sign up here now with the TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS:
FanDuel Racing: Bet $5+, get $25 bonus
The FanDuel Racing promo code gives new users a $25 bonus after they place a first bet of $5 or more. This FanDuel Racing credit expires seven days after its issued, and this offer is only available for the first wager made on the platform. Get started here:
DraftKings Racing: Win a share of $1 million if your horse wins
DraftKings Racing has a unique promotion with the King of the Track promo for the Kentucky Derby. With the DraftKings Racing promo code, there's a $1 million prize pool up for grabs. Sign up with DraftKings Racing, opt into the King of the Track promotion and wager at least $5 on the winning horse in the Kentucky Derby. Users who correctly pick the winning horse will split that $1 million prize pool. Sign up for DraftKings Racing here and take your shot at a share of $1 million:
1/ST Bet: $500 in wagering credits with code 500BET
This offer awards new 1/ST BET users $500 in wagering credits when signing up with the 1/ST Bet promo code 500BET. How this works is for every $100 you wager, 1/ST BET credits you $25. This means a new user would need to wager $2,500 in order to get the full $500 in site credit. New 1/ST BET users have 60 days after signing up to wager the $2,500 in order to receive the $500 in wagering credits.
Sign up now with the exclusive promo code 500BET:
How to bet on the Kentucky Derby with different types of wagers
There are a lot of Kentucky Derby bet types you can place on Saturday. A Win bet is as it sounds -- you're betting on the horse you think will win. Renegade is the favorite at 5-1 odds while Commandment is close behind at 6-1. That means a $10 bet on Commandment would net you $60 in winnings plus your $10 stake back.
Here are some other Kentucky Derby bet types to know:
- Place: This means you are picking a horse to finish in the top two, and it doesn't matter whether they finish first or second.
- Show: This means you're picking a horse to finish in the top three, be it first, second or third place.
- Exotics: You can also place Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta bets. These are picking the exact order of finish. An Exacta correctly picks the top two horses, a Trifecta has the top three horses and a Superfecta correctly picks the top four horses.
Responsible Gaming
Bettors must be 18+ in some states and 21 years or older in other states and otherwise eligible to register and place wagers at online racebooks. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please seek assistance from trained professionals such as the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-MY-RESET.
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