Churchill wagering options; superfecta minimums return to $1
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When the rescheduled Kentucky Derby was run last September with the pandemic at a peak, and the vast majority of horseplayers were placing their wagers via phone or computer, Churchill relented on longstanding policy by allowing 10-cent increments on all superfecta wagers.
But with larger ontrack crowds returning here and elsewhere as the pandemic begins to subside, the track is returning to a $1 minimum. Management has long maintained that dime increments using an increased number of wagering combinations tend to clog betting lines, potentially causing great inconvenience, both at Churchill and other brick-and-mortar sites. The policy applies to all races Friday and Saturday.
Other wagering opportunities this weekend include a two-day $2 pick six linking selected races on Oaks and Derby Days; a 50-cent pick three combining the Oaks, Old Forester, and Derby; and the $1 Oaks-Derby double, a staple since 1996. Also, the 20-cent Derby City pick six with a rollover jackpot provision will be offered both days, ending with the Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday.
◗ Field Day earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure in his last-gasp triumph in the William Walker, the meet-opening feature, run under the lights Saturday night. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for Brad Cox, the Richard Klein homebred overcame a sluggish start in winning the 5 1/2-furlong turf race over seven other 3-year-olds.