Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Sire Future Wagers let you bet on 2027 contenders months before race day, often at longer odds than on the day of the race. Six pools run from October 28, 2026, through April 3, 2027. The Oaks and Oaks/Derby Double are offered in Pools 5 and 6. Wagers start at $1 or $2 and are final, with no refunds if a horse doesn't run.
The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May, but the race to pick its winner starts months earlier. With Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Sire Future Wagers, you can back a contender before the starting gate is set and lock in your odds while the Road to the Kentucky Derby is still taking shape.
The 2026–2027 Future Wager schedule is set, and this season brings an extra opportunity: the Kentucky Oaks and Oaks/Derby Double are now offered in two pools instead of one. Here's when each pool opens, how Future Wagers work, and what to keep in mind before you place your first ticket.
2026–2027 Future Wager schedule
| Pool | Dates | Wagers offered |
|---|---|---|
| Pool 1 | Wednesday, October 28 – Friday, October 30, 2026 | Kentucky Derby Future Wager |
| Pool 2 | Thursday, November 26 – Sunday, November 29, 2026 | Kentucky Derby Future Wager Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager |
| Pool 3 | Friday, January 15 – Sunday, January 17, 2027 | Kentucky Derby Future Wager |
| Pool 4 | Friday, February 12 – Sunday, February 14, 2027 | Kentucky Derby Future Wager |
| Pool 5 | Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 | Kentucky Derby Future Wager Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Kentucky Oaks/Derby Double Future Wager |
| Pool 6 | Thursday, April 1 – Saturday, April 3, 2027 | Kentucky Derby Future Wager Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Kentucky Oaks/Derby Double Future Wager |
Pool 1 closes early: wagering in Pool 1 closes before the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Friday, October 30, 2026.
What is a Future Wager?
A Future Wager is a bet placed on a race well before it's run. Churchill Downs offers Future Wagers in a series of pools during the season, and each pool is open for a set window of a few days. When a pool closes, its odds are final, and your payout is based on the closing odds of the pool you bet in, even if odds change in later pools.
Because no one knows yet which horses will qualify for the Derby or Oaks, Future Wagers typically offer larger payouts than betting the same horse on race day. The trade-off is risk: the horse you choose may not make it to the starting gate.
Three ways to play
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Pick the horse you think will win the 2027 Kentucky Derby. Offered in all six pools, alongside the Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races.
- Kentucky Oaks Future Wager: Pick the 3-year-old filly you think will win the Kentucky Oaks, which is run the day before the Derby. Offered in Pools 5 and 6.
- Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager: Instead of choosing a horse, pick the sire (father) of the eventual Derby winner. Offered in Pool 2.
Choosing your betting interest
Each pool lists up to 40 betting interests, selected by the Churchill Downs handicapper and listed alphabetically. That includes up to 39 individual horses (or sires) plus All Others, a single option that covers every horse not listed by name. Morning line odds, the handicapper's estimate of each interest's chances, are posted on KentuckyDerby.com.
Early in the season, All Others is often the favorite because so many horses are still unproven. As the prep races play out, individual standouts emerge and their odds tend to shorten. Betting early can mean a bigger potential payout, while betting later gives you a clearer picture of who is likely to run.
Wager types and minimums
| Wager | What you pick | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Win | The winner of the Derby or Oaks (or the sire of the Derby winner) | $2 |
| Exacta | The first two finishers in exact order | $2 ($1 for a box or wheel) |
| Oaks/Derby Double | The winners of both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby | $1 |
A box covers your selected horses finishing first and second in any order. A wheel pairs one horse with several others. The Oaks/Derby Double is offered in Pools 5 and 6.
How to place a Future Wager
- Check the pool dates in the schedule above.
- While a pool is open, sign in to your wagering account and select Bet Now.
- Find the Future Wager listing for the Derby, Oaks, Sire, or Oaks/Derby Double pool in the track list.
- Choose a betting interest or All Others, then select your wager type.
- Enter your wager amount, review your selections, and submit your wager.
Important details
- All Future Wagers are final. There are no refunds if your horse is injured, retired, scratched, or doesn't start.
- If Churchill Downs determines that a horse won't be able to run, wagering on that horse is suspended. Wagers already placed on that horse are not refunded.
- Wagers are refunded only if the Derby or Oaks is not run that year or does not produce an official winner.
- Each pool is calculated separately. Winning wagers are paid after the official results of the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks.
- Takeout (the portion of each pool kept before payouts) is 17.5% for Win and 22% for Exacta and Double wagers.
Get ready for Derby season
Morning lines and results for every pool are posted on KentuckyDerby.com. Whether you like backing a promising 2-year-old in the fall or waiting for the final prep races in spring, Future Wagers add another layer of strategy to the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Set a budget that works for you, follow the contenders, and enjoy the journey to the first Saturday in May.