FanDuel Racing is a name you’ll hear about more and more in Florida, as the parent company is bringing the sportsbook branding to life in the horse racing betting world.
The horse racing app, which in legal sports betting states connects to the nation’s leading sportsbook of the same name, is one of the best options for Kentucky Derby betting in Florida.
But with a familiar rival in the fold, FanDuel Racing also faces new competition in the FL horse racing betting market.
DK Horse new horse racing betting player on FL scene
DK Horse, an app operated by daily fantasy giant DraftKings, recently launched in a dozen states, including Florida, Kentucky and Virginia.
The app features familiar options for experienced horse players, including win, place, and show straight bets. There are also daily doubles; Pick 3 and Pick 4 contests; and exactas (first and second place), trifectas (first, second, and third) and even superfectas (requiring correctly choosing the top four horses for sometimes massive payouts).
The later three wagers can be “boxed” for an additional cost, meaning that you win regardless of the order of finish for your two, three, or four horses in your wager.
DK Horse means DraftKings duel with FanDuel continues
DK Horse will compete with FanDuel Racing. The DFS giants also offer sports betting and online casino and have added a fourth field of battle to their lists.
FanDuel Racing may have an early advantage in Florida since it is familiar to many gamblers as TVG, which launched in 1999.
The rebranding of TVG into FanDuel TV took place in the summer of 2022, so the “new” site already had a large built-in audience. Residents of Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas, and two dozen other states already had access to the TVG product before the name change.
Horse players can expect to find virtually the same wagering opportunities on either app, so DFS players’ preference for either DraftKings or FanDuel likely will influence which site is chosen.
Florida Derby winner Forte continues local FL connection
While parimutuel odds on horse races are subject to change until the horses leave the starting gate from their post positions, both Forte and Tapit Trice may feature odds of 5-to-1 or lower. Forte is the favorite and isn’t the first Florida Derby winner to earn that honor at Churchill Downs.
A second tier in the betting pecking order includes Angel of Empire, Derma Sotogake, Practical Move, Kingsbarn, and Two Phil’s.
Craving a longshot in the 20-horse field? You may see odds of 50-to-1 or higher on Continuar, Jace’s Road, Raise Cain, Sun Thunder and Reincarnate.
A middle ground could be tossing one longshot into a “trifecta box” play, because a surprisingly strong finish by your high-risk play could pay off in a big way.
Florida has raised six Kentucky Derby winners, but none in the last quarter-century: Silver Charm in 1997, Unbridled in 1990, Triple Crown winner Affirmed in 1978, Foolish Pleasure in 1975, Carry Back in 1961, and Needles in 1956.
All but three horses in this year’s field were bred in Kentucky, except two horses bred in Japan and one in Pennsylvania.
