Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 Closes Sunday Ahead of 2026 Virginia Derby
- 15 hours ago
- 1 min read
Only 50 days remain until the Kentucky Derby, and the race to secure starting spots is tightening as new contenders emerge from prep races each weekend.
The 2026 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on Saturday will provide another key look at the three year old crop ahead of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. With the Virginia Derby and 100 point prep races scheduled the following week, late surges and strong finishes in these events are expected to shape the final Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
Racing fans have another chance to act on their opinions through the fifth pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and the lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which open Friday at noon and close Sunday evening. These advance wagering pools allow bettors to lock in odds on potential starters weeks before the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are run at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Churchill Downs is also promoting on track attendance for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, emphasizing that Derby Week offers two full days of racing, fashion, and tradition at the track rather than a brief viewing experience on television.