KENTUCKY — By Ed DeRosa

Happy New Year to you and happy birthday to all Thoroughbreds. 2024 gives us an extra day to win big with Thursday, Feb. 29, added to the calendar.

Of course, opportunities abound coast to coast throughout the year with newly turned three-year-olds embarking on the Kentucky Derby and King’s Plate trails and those American and Canadian classic races giving way to Breeders’ Cup prep season en route to the main event in November at Del Mar.

But is any time to play better than others? The best time to play is when you have a good opinion that goes against the public. This is a pari-mutuel game after all.

That said, there are certain days when a better opinion is more likely to give you a chance to make more money. These were the top ten betting days in 2023.

 

10. July 22: Grade 1 racing at Monmouth and Saratoga plus first Saturday of Del Mar. If you’re a fan of head-on-a-swivel simulcast action then this is one of the days for you, as Monmouth Park plays host to its premiere racing with the Haskell and United Nations Stakes, Saratoga Race Course has the Coaching Club American Oaks, and Del Mar is open.

2024 date: July 20

 

9. August 12: Similar to July 22, this is a big Saturday at both Saratoga and Del Mar with Colonial Downs’ Arlington Million card complementing the premiere summer meetings. Fans of turf racing will want to pay attention to this day as the features at all three tracks are on turf.

2024 date: August 10

 

8. August 19: Some of the biggest days are associated with the three-year-old male divisions, but this is the top day for three-year-old fillies, as the Alabama and Del Mar Oaks are the features at the premiere summertime venues. This day actually generates more North American handle than Kentucky Oaks day.

2024 date: August 17 (and will include King’s Plate this year, which last year was on a Sunday)

 

7. August 5: If you’re a fan of both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds then this might be your favorite fate, as not only is it one of Saratoga’s top days with the Whitney Stakes but also is Hambletonian day at the Meadowlands. Alas, North American harness racing’s crown jewel is not factored in this list, but this big Saturday at Saratoga generates a lot of handle just the same.

2024 date: August 3

 

6. August 26: Travers day at Saratoga Race Course needs no introduction. It is a juggernaut of a race day with Grade 1s galore ending with the Midsummer Derby. This year’s event got a big jolt from all three classic winners showing up, but it is always a compelling event with lots of money in the pools.

2024 date: August 24, notable in part because Travers is not the last Saturday in August this year

 

5. September 2: The Saturday before Labor Day features a pair of 1 ¼-mile Grade 1 races that serve as preps for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Pacific Classic is the marquee day at Del Mar, and the Jockey Club Gold Cupis the final big race for older males at Saratoga with both venues providing plenty of undercard stakes as well.

4. November 4: Breeders’ Cup Saturday brings the best of the best together. Not just on the track but through the betting windows as well. The eponymous Betting Challenge is a true test for any horseplayer, and even if contests aren’t your scene, winning big on this day always carries with it a little more pride.

2024 date: August 31

 

3. May 20: No surprise to see the three Triple Crown events as the top three wagering days throughout the year. All three handle at least $100-million with Preakness day at Pimlico Race Course anchoring the number three day. Of course, a rising tide lifts all boats, and these are all big days at tracks throughout North America.

2024 date: May 18

 

2. June 10: Depending on strength of the feature and the supporting undercard stakes, it’s possible that numbers 2 and 3 on this list could vacillate year to year. In 2023, Belmont Stakes day handled about $16.7-million more than Preakness day. Neither is any danger to the top spot, though.

2024 date: June 8

 

1. May 6: What more is there to be said about Kentucky Derby day other than it’s basically a holiday for horse racing fans and is the only day to handle more than $125-million–actually coming in at a whopping $210-million in 2023. It’s the most bet race on the most bet day watched by the most people. Yes, the money spends the same no matter when you win it, but there’s just something special about winning on Kentucky Derby day.

2024 date: May the 4th be with you for Derby 150!

 

Overall in 2023, there was $12.27-billion wagered, which means after takeout about $9.8-billion was returned to bettors. Good luck getting your fair share in 2024!