The biggest horseracing event of the year, the Kentucky Derby, is set to take place on Saturday, May 4 as part of the Triple Crown of racing events. The race, known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” is available on horseracing betting platforms which differ from traditional sports betting sites.

Horseracing betting is available across more states than other forms of sports betting across sports betting states. As such, you can find horseracing apps with welcome offers just in time for the 2024 Kentucky Derby.

Our preferred platform is TwinSpires, which is directly partnered with the Kentucky Derby. The welcome offer provides up to a $400 sign-up bonus, earning $100 in bonus for every $400 wagered on the platform.

Here are the top six horseracing betting apps and welcome offers for the 2024 Kentucky Derby.

TwinSpires offer code: HANDLERACING

TwinSpires offers new bettors a bonus based on how much you wager on the platform. You can maximize the promo by wagering a total of $1,600 within 30 days, earning $400 in bonus cash.

TwinSpires deposits the bonus cash in increments of $100 for every $400 wagered. Additionally, there’s no wagering restrictions so you can place a win bet, a win-place-show bet, an exacta, trifecta, superfecta, etc.

Since the bonus cash is deposited in increments of $100, you must meet at least $400 in total wagers to earn the $100, so $100 wagered doesn’t earn $25 since the bonus cash doesn’t trigger until the $100 increment.

FanDuel provides two different offers that depend on your state. You won’t need a promo code but can activate one of the following offers by clicking the corresponding module.

In a sportsbook state, new and existing customers can access the offer while a different offer is provided for new customers only in horseracing states.

(AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY)

Whether you’re new or an existing customer, these states can find a $20 No Sweat Derby Bet. This acts as bet insurance when you place a win bet on a single horse to win the Derby.

Only a single win bet will qualify as part of the promo. If you win the bet, you profit the cash while a miss is recouped up to $20 in racing credit from FanDuel Racing.

The racing credit will hit your account within 72 hours and lasts until June 10 to use within the FanDuel Racing platform.

(AR, CA, DE, ID, FL, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, WA)

New customers in horseracing states can find an elevated No Sweat First Bet up to $500 in racing credit. It works the same as the other offer mentioned but with less restrictions on your bet. It’s also only available to users who haven’t bet on any FanDuel product.

You can place a real-money wager on any race and any track, including Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, and get a refund up to $500 in racing credit if your bet doesn’t go your way.

This promo works the same in that a win doesn’t earn racing credit but profits cash that can be withdrawn or used on another race. Meanwhile, only a losing wager can earn the racing credit to cover the stake.

If you earn the racing credit, it hits your account within 72 hours and lasts for seven days to use within the FanDuel Racing app.

100% Deposit Match up to $250

DK Horse, DraftKings’ horseracing platform, provides a deposit match offer just in time for the Kentucky Derby. You earn 100% of your deposit up to a maximum $250 bonus.

The bonus is deposited as a 2x playthrough so you’ll need to play the cash from your deposit in order to earn the bonus. For example, let’s say I make a $100 deposit and earn $100 in bonus.

Every $50 in total bets I make, $25 of the bonus is released as withdrawable cash. This is unique to offers in that it is actual cash not just bonus funds to play within DK Horse.

So, while I earned $100 in bonus from my deposit, I will need to make $200 in total cash bets to earn the actual $100 of withdrawable cash bonus.

$200 Instant Deposit Match

DRF Bets, another giant in horseracing, offers a simple welcome promo. You can make a first deposit of exactly $200 to earn a $200 deposit match bonus from DRF Bets.

You’ll have seven days to use the bonus funds within the DRF platform on horseracing events such as the Kentucky Derby.

100% Deposit Match up to $150 

AM Wager offers another deposit match promo with some slight differences. You can earn up to $150 in maximum bonus with a $150 deposit and betting $150 or more in total bets within 30 days of sign-up.

Essentially, AM Wager will match your deposit but you must also wager the same amount. If I deposit and bet $50, I earn $50 all the way up to $150.

If you deposit only and don’t wager the amount, the bonus is forfeit. Additionally, once you meet the betting requirements, the credit will hit your account within seven days and must be used within 30 days.

$100 First bet insurance

TVG, owned by FanDuel, is a popular option among horseracing bettors. TVG offers a similar promotion to the FanDuel racing promos mentioned above where you can earn up to $100 back if your first bet doesn’t win.

The first bet insurance works essentially the same in that the wager must be on a single horse, such as Fierceness 5-2, to win outright. If your horse wins, you profit cash while a losing single horse win bet is covered up to a maximum $100 in bonus.

All you need to do is set up a TVG account and place your first bet on any horse running in the Derby to win outright.