The prestigious Kentucky Derby in May signals the beginning of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Nevertheless, horse racing enthusiasts in West Virginia have the opportunity to place bets on races throughout the entire year.
If your passion lies in horse racing, then the Kentucky Derby is undoubtedly your cup of tea. And if you happen to be a fan of the Kentucky Derby, chances are you have placed a wager on the enthralling race, perhaps even with a group of friends. Well, here’s some exciting news for you! The Mountain State also offers Kentucky Derby betting opportunities.
In West Virginia, it is permissible to engage in horse racing betting at any of the five local casinos, along with the option to participate through online platforms and mobile betting applications.
You can locate Kentucky Derby betting options in West Virginia at:
- The Greenbrier hosts the FanDuel Sportsbook.
- The sportsbook located at Hollywood Casino in Charles Town Races.
- The Casino and Resort of Mardi Gras
- The establishment is known as Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack.
- The Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort is home to a state-of-the-art Sportsbook.
Mardi Gras Sportsbook and Wheeling Island Sportsbook in West Virginia have temporarily halted sports betting. However, they are continuing to accept bets on simulcast horse races, which is great news.
How to watch the Kentucky Derby in WV
On Saturday, May 4, this year’s Kentucky Derby will be celebrated nationwide, marked by the indulgence of mint juleps and the adornment of extravagant hats, in honor of the iconic Run for the Roses.
The live broadcast starts at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN and then transitions to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET. The actual event will commence at 6:50 p.m. ET.
The Kentucky Derby is not just a single race; rather, it encompasses an entire week of festivities. Commencing with the opening night on April 27 at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby Week offers a plethora of races and events for everyone to enjoy.
- Dawn at the Downs
- Derby Week Racing
- Thurby
- Champions Day
- Taste of the Derby
- Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Derby mobile betting in WV
In case the WV sportsbooks are not easily accessible to you, fret not! You can still enjoy the excitement of betting on the Kentucky Derby and other horse races through mobile betting alternatives.
RaceLineBet.com
RaceLineBet.com is an online and mobile application that simplifies the process of depositing funds and placing bets on various tracks across the globe, including the prestigious Kentucky Derby. As an added incentive, the platform offers a generous $100 signup bonus exclusively for new users.
TrackInfo.com
TrackInfo.com is an internet-based platform and mobile application that provides a comprehensive wagering service along with live streams of horse racing and greyhound racing events held in tracks across the United States.
TVG.com
TVG.com serves as the authorized betting platform and application for TVG, the prominent horse racing cable channel. Tune in to TVG to catch the thrilling races while conveniently placing bets through the TVG app. The website provides access to horse racing events from various tracks nationwide. As a bonus for newcomers, there are enticing rewards such as a 100% match on deposits up to $100 and a complimentary opportunity to participate in the exhilarating Super 8 $100,000 competition.
TwinSpires.com
TwinSpires.com stands as the authorized betting platform for the renowned Kentucky Derby, yet its offerings extend far beyond this prestigious event. With a wide range of tracks available throughout the United States, TwinSpires.com simplifies the process of making deposits and rewards new users with a generous $100 Sign-Up Bonus.
Bets.DRF.com
The official betting app for the Daily Racing Form is Bets.DRF.com. This platform provides a wealth of horse racing and wagering information, making it the go-to source for horse racing research. With betting options available for tracks across the US, Bets.DRF.com offers a comprehensive betting experience. Additionally, new players are welcomed with generous incentives, such as a 300 percent deposit match on their initial deposit of $50 or more.
NYRABets.com
The official betting site and app of the New York Racing Association is NYRABets.com. It allows bettors to place wagers on races from over 250 race tracks across the globe. New players are eligible for a $200 signup bonus, along with other enticing offers. Additionally, players have the opportunity to receive daily bonuses.
West Virginia’s long tradition and love of horse racing
The state of West Virginia has a rich and dynamic heritage when it comes to horse racing. Its legal inception in the modern era dates back to 1931 when the West Virginia Racing Commission was established to regulate all racetrack activities.
- The Charles Town Turf Club, a historic and still functioning venue, initiated horse racing in the year 1933.
- In 1937, a thoroughbred race track called Wheeling Downs was established, only to shut down its operations in 1976.
- In 1951, Waterford Park, now recognized as Mountaineer Park, was inaugurated, boasting the sole one-mile track in West Virginia.
- Shenandoah Downs in Charles Town was established in 1959, but unfortunately ceased operations in 1975.
For the subsequent four decades, horse racing thrived.
In 1987, a significant milestone was achieved when the West Virginia legislature approved a bill allowing the installation of Video Lottery Terminals (commonly known as slot machines) at Mountaineer Park.
In 1994, the Racetrack Video Lottery Act was passed, allowing video lottery machines to be installed at all racetracks in West Virginia.
Despite not being directly linked to live horse racing, the legislation mandated that a portion of the gaming revenue must be allocated towards the prize money for live racing. This provision has greatly benefited the horse racing industry in WV, leading to an impressive increase of nearly $1.2 billion in prize funds between 1997 and 2016.
WV horse racing continues to grow
Prior to the introduction of Video Lottery Terminals, racing purses were only in the thousands of dollars. However, nowadays, these purses have significantly increased to reach hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars. For instance, the West Virginia Derby now offers a purse of $750,000, while the Charles Town Classic boasts an impressive purse of $1,250,000.
Over the past two decades, West Virginia has consistently allocated an average of $20 million per year towards breeding efforts. This investment has directly contributed to a remarkable surge in registered racing foals, escalating from 174 to an impressive 671 in 2007.
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