Exactas approved for Derby Future Wagers

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has granted approval to allow

Churchill Downs to offer exacta wagering in its Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) 

pools. Churchill will not offer exacta betting in

Pool 1 of the 2009 Derby Future bet, which opens its four-day run on Thursday,

but Derby Futures Exacta betting will be available in the two remaining pools

scheduled to run March 12-15 and April 2-5.

The addition of exacta wagering in the field of 24 wagering interests is the

first change in the betting menu in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager since the

bet was introduced in 1999. To this point the pools in each Kentucky Derby

Future Wager have offered only a $2 minimum win wager. Starting with Pool 2 of

2009, the exacta wager -- also a $2 minimum bet -- will be part of the wagering

menu on the pool's field of 24 betting interests.

"We are excited to offer a new wrinkle in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and

hope the 'Futures Exacta' will be an attractive option for both veteran and

novice Derby Futures fans," said Jim Gates, general manager of Churchill Downs.

"There is potential for significant payouts on perfect tickets in the new Derby

Futures Exacta and we believe Derby fans will be intrigued by this newest

betting option as we look toward the 135th Kentucky Derby on May 2."

The Kentucky Derby Futures Exacta requires the bettor to select the first two

finishers in the exact order in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Those horses must be

selected from the 24 wagering interests in each respective pool. Those interests

include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field (#24) that consists of all other

three-year-old Thoroughbreds.

Fans may combine betting interests in boxes and other exacta combinations. In

the event of a finish in which multiple members of the "all others" betting

interest occupy spots at the top of the official order of finish, the

calculation of the $2 payout will be conducted in accordance with KHRC rules on

coupled entries. For example, if horses in the mutuel field occupy the first

five spots in the Derby's order of finish and #9 finishes sixth, the winning

exacta numbers will be 24/9. A finish of 3/24/24/24/7 would result in an exacta

payout on a 3/24 ticket.

The mutuel field (#24) can be used in only one position in the exacta. A

bettor cannot place a wager on 24/24, or "all"/"all."