Future Odds Book Kentucky Derby Wagering Begins

As the page is turned to a new year, horseplayers will start honing in on the 2026 Grade I Kentucky Derby. The historic race is scheduled to be run on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs, the long-time home of the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

To get the Derby wagering started in 2026 for online and retail horseplayers, the third future odds book is now officially in the books as of the afternoon of January 18. Horseplayers throughout the world have had the opportunity to wager on a designated group of three-year-old colts & geldings. The three leading favorites out of the third pool are:

1. Field = 4-1
2. Ted Noffey = 6-1
3. Futher Ado = 10-1
4. Paladin = 10-1

Before all is said and done, six individual future odds wager pools will be made available to horseplayers. To be clear, wagers will be accepted through online platforms and at retail race tracks located all over the U.S.

Note: The first pool closed on October 31, 2025, with the "field" favored at 4/5 and Breeder's Cup Juvenile champion Ted Noffey listed at 10-1. The second pool closed on November 23, 2026, with the "field" favored at 9/5 and Ted Noffey listed at 6-1.

The current future odds list includes 38 individual selections, plus a "field" of indesignated fillies, and a "field" of undesignated colts & geldings. With wagering ready to start, the beginning odds have been posted on each of the available selections. Since the wagering is being done in a parimutuel pool, the odds will change with each wager. The final odds of each pool will be issued to the media the day after wagering concludes. Here is a partial list that includes the first 12 selections according to oddsmakers:

The fourth pool is scheduled to run from Friday, February, Friday 13 until Sunday afternoon, February 15. The preliminary odds should be posted at least a week before the wagering is set to begin.

Each win wager will need to be for $2. In addition to the win odds pools, there will be separate pools for Exactas (first place and second place Derby finishers) and Daily Doubles, matching horses in the Kentucky Oaks (May 1, 2026, for three-year-old fillies) and the Kentucky Derby.

According to the rules, all future odd wagers are final. No refunds will be issued if a selection fails to make it to the starting gate. This risk accounts for the lucrative odds that are available as three-year-olds progress through a series of Derby preps.

At this point, Ted Noffey is expected to carry a lot of favoritism as the undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion. He was impressive in all of his victories and is expected to stay at the top of the heap until he tastes defeat or gets hit by an injury. The field is favored in anticipation of a talented, newly turned three-year-old stepping into the fray.

Note: Ted Noffey is scheduled to make his initial start of 2026 in the February Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.