Every year, when it’s time for the Kentucky Derby, thousands of people flock to Churchill Downs to watch the most exciting two minutes in sport. They also spend million placing bets on their favorite horses to win the race so why not learn how to pick a winner at the Kentucky Derby before jumping in?

Tagg trained 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, who became the first New York-bred horse in history to win the Kentucky Derby. Tiz the Law will try to become the second. Post time: Saturday. The Arkansas Derby and Lexington races both take place in mid-April. If you missed the earlier races, it is usually possible to watch them later on horse racing websites like DRF (Daily Racing Form). On the opposite side, you can also use the Kentucky Derby as a learning experience. The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the Triple Crown Series. After a year of an entirely new setting for the Triple Crown Series, the Kentucky Derby is back on its regular schedule. There’s a lot of anticipation with the upcoming race this following weeks, a lot of good and potential horses to run the course, and famous trainers and jockeys will also grace the competition. But what’s more exciting is the fans and the community of horse racing.

If you are new to the Kentucky Derby and haven’t figured out how to bet on the horses, we will give you some tips to help you pick a winner at the Derby.

The most important thing to do before placing a bet is to do as much research as possible, which means you should make sure you read the program thoroughly. The program is filled with a lot of useful information that will help you make smart bets. This is why when it comes to learning how to pick a winner at the Kentucky Derby research is a must.

Information like which horses are the favorites, their previous races and jockey information are provided in the program.

Another important thing to do before placing your bet is to watch the horses. Horses are like other athletes, and you can learn a lot from their body language.

How To Pick A Horse For The Kentucky Derby

For example, if a horse’s ears are pricked or standing up, it means the horse is aware of his surroundings and ready to race.

Placing Kentucky Derby Bets

Muscle definition is also a good indicator of how well a horse will perform. Look for horses with good muscle definition around the rib cage area and chest because it means the horse isn’t overweight or carrying a lot of body fat. Horses that have good muscle definition in the chest and rib cage area tend to do well in their races.

Hair is also a good indicator of how well a horse will perform in a race. If the horse’s hair is shiny, it means the horse is in good condition, if the coat is dull, the horse likely isn’t well groomed and likely won’t run well.

Nervousness is also a good indicator of how well a horse will perform. While you don’t want to pick a calm horse, you also don’t want to pick one that is too fidgety or sweating too much because they are expanding too much energy before the race.

If you follow these simple rules, you should be able to pick a winner at the Kentucky Derby.

March 13, 2018 by Big Boss Bas: Posted in 2018 • 1 Comment
© Provided by CBS Sports

Next stop after the Arkansas Derby -- Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Not only will Tiz the Law try to keep his hopes for the Triple Crown alive on Saturday in the 2020 Kentucky Derby, he'll also attempt to redeem himself on the track on which he suffered the only loss of his career. After winning his first two starts, the three-year-old finished third at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 30, three-quarters of a length behind Silver Prospector. Tiz the Law has gone on a winning streak since then and seeks his fifth straight victory in the Kentucky Derby 2020 on Saturday. He is a 5-8 favorite in the latest 2020 Kentucky Derby odds from William Hill.

The top contender to upset Tiz the Law is Honor A.P., who is listed at 6-1 in the latest Kentucky Derby odds 2020. Authentic (8-1) and Thousand Words (12-1), who are prepared by two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert, also are high on the board. Before the horses go to post at 7:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, look at the 2020 Kentucky Derby picks from SportsLine's resident horse racing guru, Jody Demlng.

A fixture in the horse-racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2020 Kentucky Derby on a major heater on his horse-racing picks. He has picked the winner in six of his last seven races: the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes. At the Belmont, the first Triple Crown race of 2020, Demling called Tiz the Law the class of the field, and he pulled away for a convincing victory.

This is the same handicapper who hit the Oaks-Derby double at Churchill Downs nine times in the last 11 years. That means he held a ticket with the winners of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby all but twice in his last 11 tries. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Demling has analyzed the entire 2020 Kentucky Derby lineup and released where he believes every horse will finish. You can only see them here.

2020 Kentucky Derby predictions for Authentic, Tiz the Law

How To Pick A Horse For The Kentucky Derby 2021

One shocker: Demling is fading Authentic, even though he is one of the favorites at 8-1. In fact, Demling says the Baffert-trained horse barely cracks the top five. Authentic has won four of his five career starts, but his most recent victory in the Haskell Stakes was a close one, as he beat Ny Traffic by just a nose. Prior to that outing, he finished second to Honor A.P. in the Santa Anita Derby.

Both of those races were 1 1/8 miles, the longest distance in Authentic's brief career. With the Kentucky Derby being 1 1/4 miles and an outside draw, Demling is 'not sure Authentic wants the added distance' and recommends avoiding the horse in your 2020 Kentucky Derby bets.

Demling has locked in his 2020 Kentucky Derby picks for Honor A.P., who is among the favorites at 6-1. Honor A.P. has begun his career with an interesting trend, as he's neatly sandwiched a pair of victories between three second-place finishes. The tendency suggests a victory on Saturday, and he will have the perfect man for the job sitting in his saddle in Mike Smith.

A Hall-of-Fame jockey and the all-time leader in Grade 1 wins, Smith has won a total of seven Triple Crown races, leading Justify to victory in all three legs in 2018. The 55-year-old also teamed with Honor A.P. trainer Shirreffs to guide Giacomo to the winner's circle in the 2005 Kentucky Derby.

Tiz the Law (5-8) enters Saturday as the reigning Belmont Stakes champion. His lone loss in seven career starts came in his only race at Churchill Downs last November. The three-year-old colt finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club, three-quarters of a length behind Silver Prospector on a sloppy track.

The conditions will be better on Saturday, as the 2020 Kentucky Derby weather forecast is calling for sunny skies. Tiz the Law has reeled off four consecutive wins since his first appearance on the track, each coming by at least three lengths. His most recent was a 5 1/2-length victory in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 8.

How to make Kentucky Derby 2020 picks

Demling is revealing his exact finish positions for Thousand Words, Tiz the Law, and every other horse in the 2020 Kentucky Derby field. He's especially high on an epic long shot who 'will be running in the end.' He's using him prominently in his exactas, trifectas, and superfectas, and so should you. Find out who it is, and get his full 2020 Kentucky Derby picks, only at SportsLine.

So which horse wins the 2020 Kentucky Derby? Where do Tiz the Law and Honor A.P. finish? And what massive long shot does Demling say contends? Visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, and find out.

2020 Kentucky Derby odds

Tiz the Law 5-8

Honor A.P. 6-1

Authentic 8-1

How To Pick A Horse For The Kentucky Derby Day

Thousand Words 12-1

NY Traffic 16-1

Money Moves 18-1

Max Player 20-1

Enforceable 24-1

Sole Volante 35-1

Attachment Rate 45-1

Storm the Court 45-1

South Bend 50-1

How To Pick A Horse For The Kentucky Derby Today

Major Fed 60-1

How To Pick A Horse For The Kentucky Derby 2019

Mr. Big News 80-1

Necker Island 85-1

How To Pick A Horse For The Kentucky Derby Winner

Winning Impression 100-1