Myeress rallies to win inaugural Kentucky Derby Betting Championship

The inaugural winner of the 2016 Kentucky Derby Betting Championship (KDBC) sealed his victory with a bet on Nyquist. The two-day Championship came down to the final race with 53 players vying for the $100,000 first prize.

Ron Myeress bet $9,400 to place on #13 Nyquist, and the $22,560 return propelled the semi-retired 59-year-old accountant to victory in the first-ever Kentucky Derby Betting Championship with a bankroll of $42,752. That total, plus the $100,000 first prize and $10,000 entry to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, brought Myeress’s combined winnings to $152,752.

“My first thought was that Nyquist would finish second, so I played some big exactas with him in second, but then I saw the place pool and figured he’d pay pretty good to place for a 2-to-1 favorite, so I bet him to place thinking that would cover me if he won,” said Myeress. “I know a lot of people didn’t like Nyquist, and I knew the closers would have a hard time, so I was pretty confident that he’d finish at least second.”

Overall, Myeress approach was one of extremes. He balanced huge low risk bets such as the $9,400 to place on Nyquist with higher risk bets like a $400 tri wheel in the Eight Belles Stakes on Friday, using winner Carina Mia with “all” in the second position and Nickname in third.

Myeress bested a field of 53 handicappers who each paid a $20,000 entry fee to contest the KDBC. The entry fee included $15,000 for wagering, $4,250 toward the $255,000 prize pool, and $750 toward Kentucky Derby & Oaks tickets for each player and a guest. TwinSpires.com & host Churchill Downs kicked in an extra $30,000 to cover costs of the BCBC and National Handicapping Championship seats.

“From the TwinSpires.com welcome event in The Mansion to a Gold Room experience during the races, it was a pleasure playing host to the inaugural Kentucky Derby Betting Championship,” Churchill Downs Race Track President Kevin Flanery said. “Betting on the Kentucky Derby is as much a part of the pageantry of the event as the blanket of roses or mint julep, and we look forward to the KDBC being a part of the tradition for years to come.”

“The Kentucky Derby Betting Championship was a great experience for horseplayers, Churchill Downs, and TwinSpires.com,” said TwinSpires.com President Ted Gay. “TwinSpires.com is about experiencing the thrill of horse racing, and to bring that thrill to the live-bankroll contest environment at the world’s greatest race and racetrack is something we are glad to be a part of.  We would like to thank all of the players, as well as the TwinSpires.com and Churchill Downs team members, who made the inaugural KDBC a resounding success.”

Garret Skiba finished second with $39,619, and won an additional $65,000 plus a BCBC seat. Bill Chenvert finished third with $35,884 and won an additional $35,000 plus a BCBC seat. Kevin Smith, Frank Mustari, and Michael Caposio finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively, and each qualified for the National Handicapping Championship. Overall, the contest generated $1.3-million in on-track handle.

“On days of mayhem and madness, the Gold Room provided a tranquil atmosphere that seemed far from the maddening crowd,” said veteran contest player Tommy Massis, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge.

TwinSpires.com is the official wagering site of the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup, and the Churchill Downs Inc. family of tracks. Players who wager with TwinSpires receive free handicapping information from the official data source of the Kentucky Derby, Brisnet.com. To open an account, visit TwinSpires.com, call 1-877-SPIRES-1 (1-877-774-7371), or download our app from the Apple Store.

Looking for more Kentucky Derby betting options? Check out the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge for a chance at a big dream bet!