Kentucky Derby sees man win $75 000 off a $1 bet

Updated On May 10, 2017
Paige Williams Paige Williams Casino Writer
Fact Checked Reviewer Dave Cooper Dave Cooper Casino Expert

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The 143rd Kentucky Derby took place recently, and one lucky gambler managed to win a massive sum of money off a tiny bet. If ever a time machine would come in handy, this would be it. Thanks to the less than ideal conditions, with a wet track, several long shots were able to place higher than expected. If you were lucky enough to correctly guess the finishing order, you’d definitely walk away smiling.

Kentucky Derby Race 2017 - Big Winner

Kentucky Derby Superfecta’s huge payout

This is precisely what happened to one lucky gentleman, who correctly guessed the top four finishers, in what’s known as the superfecta. Correctly predicting the superfecta is always difficult, so it’s bound to pay out well. However, thanks to those wet conditions, several long shot horses placed higher than expected and made the Superfecta worth even more.

So, our lucky gentleman placed a $1 bet, guessing the top four finishers and against all odds, he was 100% correct. Because of the long shots placing higher than expected, his $1 bet became a massive $75 974.50 win. Just imagine for a second if he’d placed a $10 or even a $100 bet. Having said that, you still can’t complain about turning $1 in just under $76 000 in a little over two minutes. Sports betting can really pay off sometimes.

Kentucky Derby Finishing Order

The race took just over two minutes to run, and the winner was ‘Always Dreaming’, ridden by John R. Velazquez. ‘Always Dreaming’ was very much the favorite for the race, with bookmakers offering odds of 9-2. For winning the race, Always Dreaming won $1 240 000.

Finishing in second place was ‘Looking at Lee’, with ‘Battle of Midway’ in third place. For finishing in second and third, they won $400 000 and $200 000 respectively. ‘Looking at Lee’ and ‘Battle of Midway’ were both considered to be long shots, so finishing second and third definitely helped make the superfecta even more lucrative.

Paige Williams

Paige Williams

Paige Williams is the Editor-in-Chief at CasinoUS.com, where she leads the editorial strategy and content standards across the platform. She specializes in casino bonuses, promotions, and player reward programs, ensuring every guide is accurate, transparent, and designed to help players make informed decisions.

Editorial Statement: Casino US is your trusted source for timely industry updates, in-depth analysis, and honest operator reviews. Our editorial team brings years of specialized gaming industry knowledge to every story, holding ourselves to strict standards of accuracy and objectivity. We're dedicated to providing straightforward, unbiased, and reliable reporting on the US gambling landscape and beyond.