Where to watch and bet the Kentucky Derby in the Philly area

It’s the fastest two minutes in sports, but it’s still an all-day party and not just at Churchill Downs. Casinos and off-track-betting locations in the Philadelphia area have a full day of fun planned for the Kentucky Derby, whether fans are in it for the mint juleps or are there to study the Daily Racing Form.

Where to watch and bet on the Derby on Saturday in Philadelphia and beyond:

Pre-pandemic, Harrah’s Casino Philadelphia welcomed the most guests during Derby day. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted and a schedule of entertainment and racing, Harrah’s hopes that Saturday will break attendance records.

“It attracts every customer segment of our business,” said Chris Albrecht, Harrah’s Philadelphia’s general manager, of the Kentucky Derby. “Everyone knows what the Kentucky Derby is. It might not be our biggest gaming volume day, but it’s our largest day for our attendance.”

Derby day is the only Saturday when there is live harness racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Post time is 12:40 p.m. and races run to 4 p.m. Customers can bet on harness races and the Kentucky Derby at self-service terminals and with live tellers. Also, Harrah’s will have “bet-and-go” kiosks at the valet area for bettors to drive up and place Derby wagers.

If fans choose to stay, the all-ages party at the racetrack starts at 1 p.m. with strolling entertainers dressed in their Derby finest plus a DJ, a photo booth, and the opening of a beer garden. It’s likely the only place in the world where you will find both a Kentucky Derby hat contest and a cheesesteak eating contest.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and a day full of live racing starts at 12:05 p.m. The Derby will be displayed on a big TV in the infield. An all-ages party in the picnic area will have live music, pony rides, and a hat contest.

Fans can also place Kentucky Derby wagers at two Parx-operated off-track-betting locations. The South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook is one of the last remaining authentic turf club experiences in the area. In the western suburbs, you can place your Derby wagers at the recently opened Parx Casino’s Race and Sportsbook inside Chickie’s & Pete’s Malvern.

At TVG Network (TVG.com), fans can watch and bet on live horse racing. TVG is owned by FanDuel and it’s offering promotions for the Derby.

The Borgata Race and Sportsbook is the only place you can bet on horse racing in Atlantic City, so plan accordingly.

There are 14 races at Churchill Downs scheduled for Derby Day. But if you are only betting on the Kentucky Derby, which goes to post at 6:57 p.m., you can get your bets in at the Borgata on Friday. Usually, the line starts to grow during the afternoon on Saturday and the casino will have dedicated windows for just Derby wagers.

Borgata will use the Central Conference Center as a wagering and viewing area for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday. However, there is currently a waiting list. Seating at the bars/lounges to watch the races are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Borgata Race and Sports Book director Tom Gable compares the Kentucky Derby to the Super Bowl in the sense that it’s the only time during the year when certain people bet on horse racing because they want to have action on the big event.

Zandon is the 3-1 favorite, followed by Epicenter (7-2), and Messier (8-1). Zandon also has the benefit of the No. 10 post position, which has produced the most Derby winners.

But it doesn’t mean anyone should rush to bet the horse.

“In my opinion, you can’t bet that price,” said Gable of Zandon who pointed out that American Pharaoh and Justify went off at 5-2. “There is no way Zandon should be 3-1.”

Gable said Epicenter has attracted “decent” money in the future pools. The horse drew a not-ideal No. 3 post position, but he is still one of the top horses.

“I really like Taiba if you can get 10-1 or better. I’m going to be using him on top in a number of tickets. He is the son of Gun Runner and runs just like him. He’s a [Bob] Baffert horse who got moved to Tim Yakteen’s barn due to Baffert’s suspension, so you’ll be getting Yakteen prices on Baffert horses, which is also a plus.”

Katie Kohler is the managing editor at Play Pennsylvania, where she writes about sports betting and casinos.