Strong wagering product yields healthy returns for Churchill Downs September bettors

Horsemen are competing for $12.3 million in purses during the 12-day September meet, and lucrative purses attract competitive fields at Churchill Downs. That results in good payouts for bettors in mutuel wagers like the exacta.

Through Sept. 29, Churchill had the highest average payout, $95.72, for $2 exacta wagers at all North American tracks in September. Churchill easily led the way, with Remington Park ($86.87) ranking second.

The exacta, which is available in all races at Churchill, requires bettors to select the first two finishers in exact order. The minimum denomination used to be $2, but Churchill offers $1 exactas for bettors boxing two or more horses, or playing a part-wheel utilizing multiple runners.

It’s a popular bet. Straight pools (win, place, and show) have the largest betting handle, but the exacta pool typically leads all other wagers. More than $100,000 in exacta wagers was handled in 18 separate races at Churchill Downs last week.

The excellent wagering fare at Churchill provides more bang for your buck.

Bettors have a multitude of options, including trifecta, superfecta, daily double, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 bets. Churchill Downs also offers the best jackpot wager in horse racing, the Derby City 6.

Jackpot wagers have a carryover provision. Barring a single winning ticket, only a percentage of the pool is returned to all bettors with a winning ticket, and the rest of the pool carries over to the next live racing day.

Bettors love the 20-cent Derby City 6, which requires selecting six consecutive winners, because it combines the highest payout to winning tickets (90%) with the lowest takeout (15%).

The exacta is an easier task, but selecting the winning numbers remains a challenge. During the September meet, the reward has been worth the risk for exacta players at Churchill Downs. Check it out!