Cue the bugle: The 2023 Kentucky Derby is almost upon us.
Virginia sports betting fans may wonder: Where can I bet on the Derby? And where can I watch it live? We’ve got you covered for all that crucial info and more.
Here’s a look at what you need to know about betting on the Kentucky Derby, which takes place May 6.
Where to bet on the Kentucky Derby online
Virginia allows online horse race betting for anyone 18 years or older. There are two apps available for horse race betting in the state: DK Horse and TVG. Both have great options for betting on the Derby and many other horse races.
About DK Horse
DK Horse is a relatively new horse race betting app for Virginia bettors. It’s operated by DraftKings and Churchill Downs, Inc. Churchill Downs hosts the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky.
Note that DK Horse is a separate app from DraftKings Sportsbook, so you’ll need to download it outside of the existing app and create a new account. This is both a benefit and a drawback. Sure, it’s a tad inconvenient to have a separate app. But it’s also completely dedicated to horse race betting, so your experience won’t be bogged down by bets and odds on other sports.
DK Horse also live streams races. I’ll touch on that more in a bit.
When you sign up for DK Horse in Virginia, you get a 100% deposit match up to $250 with code HORSE.
About TVG online horse betting
TVG is a longstanding horse race betting app for Virginians. However, it may not be long for this world, at least in its current format. Though you can get the app now, it may soon become something different. FanDuel purchased TVG. While the app remains, TVG’s broadcasts have been rebranded FanDuel TV.
For now, you can access TVG and bet on horse races within the app. Currently, the site offers a $200 bonus if your first bet loses using promo code 200TVG.
Can you live stream the Kentucky Derby with Virginia horse racing apps?
Both DK Horse and TVG allow you to live-stream races as you’re betting. It’s an excellent feature that makes it easy to see whether your bet is a winner.
But what about the Kentucky Derby? That’s a bit more complicated. While day-to-day races are available via live stream in the horse race betting apps, the Kentucky Derby broadcasting rights are murkier. TVG, for example, says in its Derby FAQ that you’ll need to sign in with a TV account to watch the race.
DK Horse doesn’t say outright whether it will live stream the Kentucky Derby, though it may be possible considering the app is operated in partnership with Churchill Downs. It’s worth checking, but there’s no guarantee you can live stream the Derby via DK Horse, either.
How to watch the Kentucky Derby live
The Kentucky Derby will air on NBC. It will also be covered on NBCSports and Peacock.
FanDuel TV (formerly TVG) is also expected to cover the race.
Is FanDuel Racing live in Virginia?
FanDuel Racing is — you guessed it — a horse race betting platform from FanDuel. It’s not yet available in Virginia.
Right now, TVG is the FanDuel-run app. You’ll notice at the top of the TVG app that it says “Powered by FanDuel.” FanDuel purchased TVG, so it’s a solid option for VA horse racing enthusiasts.
It’s possible that FanDuel Racing will sunset the TVG brand eventually and relaunch in Virginia, but there’s no confirmation whether that’s going to happen soon. If it does, expect it to be after the Kentucky Derby, which is a big money-maker for horse race betting apps.
