Registration is now open for the third annual TwinSpires.com Kentucky Derby Betting Championship (KDBC), which will take place on Kentucky Oaks and Derby Days, May 4-5, at Churchill Downs.
The KDBC features a $12,000 buy-in and offers handicappers the choice of playing online through KentuckyDerbyBettingChampionship.com. The buy-in for the live-money handicapping tournament is divided into an $8,000 live bankroll and $4,000 going into a prize pool. The prize pool for the 2018 KDBC is estimated at least $400,000 with a top prize of $180,000. There is no takeout.
“The Kentucky Derby Betting Championship has proved popular among horseplayers, and we’re excited to see it grow more with its highest-ever prize pool,” TwinSpires.com President Ian Williams said. “The ability to play on track or via TwinSpires.com allows players to customize their Derby betting experience, making this one of the top live-money tournaments on the circuit.”
“It has been thrilling to welcome the best contest players to the most exciting two minutes in sports the past two years,” Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said. “The Kentucky Derby is all about the best of Thoroughbred racing, and having a big-money live tournament to the mix enhances the race’s brand as the premier week in the Sport of Kings.”
In addition to the top prize, the 2018 Kentucky Derby Betting Championship will also offer seven Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) entries as part of the prize pool. TwinSpires.com has partnered with Breeders’ Cup to offer online play of the BCBC, an option that helped grow that contest to record levels the past two years.
To make the tournament even more lucrative, IOA Insurance Services is offering KDBC players who win a Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge entry the opportunity to purchase a $5,000 annuity that would be worth $1-million if s/he also wins the 2018 BCBC.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup is November 3-4 at Churchill Downs.
“We are excited to partner with TwinSpires.com and Churchill Downs to give Thoroughbred racing’s top handicappers the chance to make a life-changing score,” IOA Managing Director John Unick said.
Registration for the Kentucky Derby Betting Championship is open at KentuckyDerbyBettingChampionship.com. The website also includes this year’s rules, prize structure, and information on playing live at Churchill Downs.
