The Kentucky Derby 2024 card at Churchill Downs, where Mystik Dan won Saturday's run for the roses in front of 156,710 spectators, set a record handle of more than $320 million of wagering.
The total amount wagered on the Kentucky Derby Day program exceeded the previous record of $288.7 million, coming in at $320.5 million. A new record of $210.7 million was wagered on the Kentucky Derby by all sources, surpassing the previous mark of $188.7 million set in 2023.
The highest all-sources handle for Derby week was $446.6 million, surpassing the $412.0 million mark from the previous year.
In contrast to the previous year's record of $75.5 million, which included all settled future bets and affiliate wagering, TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, handled a record $92.1 million in wagering on Churchill Downs races during the Kentucky Derby day program. With all settled future bets and affiliate wagering included, TwinSpires' handle on the Kentucky Derby race reached a new record of $60.9 million, surpassing the previous record of $48.9 million.
All-sources wagering from their native country of Japan on the Kentucky Derby set a new record of $10.1 million, surpassing the previous record of $8.3 million in 2022, with Forever Young finishing third and T O Password finishing fifth.
“The Kentucky Derby is a testament to the enduring spirit of sportsmanship, unity and the power of tradition,” Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen noted. “We were honoured to debut our transformational new paddock as we celebrated this milestone 150th run for the roses. The new paddock has fundamentally enhanced the experience of all of our guests as they pass through our front gates and is a stepping stone to the next chapter of this time-honoured event.”