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The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled to go off just before 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening. But, before that, there will be a lot of reviewing of previous race results and then bets made. Jim Goodman is director of wagering development at Keeneland. He offered a few suggestions to Lexington Rotarians Thursday. Goodman explained there is one sure bet people can make.
“You go to the Derby and you just want to win. You just want to brag to your fellow….if you just want to win…do two dollars to win on all horses..40 bucks. Last year you would have gotten 168 dollars back. Cause he was 80 to one. Most years that doesn’t happen.”
Last year’s Derby winner was Rich Strike which struck with a big upset. And actually, a two-dollar bet on all horses in this run for the roses would total 38 dollars, since four horses have scratched.
After making his picks known, Goodman told a story about a mutual clerk who had her own successful strategy about a decade ago.
“She did a one-dollar superfecta box with her kids birthdays and won $105,000. And her son was 17 years old and it paid for his college. So, if you don’t like what we say, play your kids birthdays, do something crazy,” said Goodman.
Just for the record, Goodman told the civic group, the most likely winner of the Kentucky Derby, in his opinion, is favorite Forte’.
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