Trend lines: Gambling in the Kentucky Derby is far up

Welcome to Trendlines, your weekly edition of what is in trend and what tends in sports.

This week we are talking about the 151st run of the Kentucky Derby, the most famous horse race in the world.

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Journalism – yes, that is actually the name of a horse – is the favorite, but the truth is that we really don't know which horse will end first.

We Do Know which people will win on Saturday, and that starts with our trend.

Tendency – money took place on the derby in 2024: up to 111 million US dollars from 2004

The bookmakers have a field day when it comes to Churchill Downs. Last year, more than 200 million US dollars were played on the main event last year. If you add all other races, more than 300 million US dollars were used.

A little less than 100 million US dollars were played on the main event in 2004.

Of course it is easier to play than ever. It only takes a few clicks on your phone.

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Nevertheless, only a little more than 50 million US dollars were played at the next race of the triple crown of Horse Racing (The Preakness).

The derby is unique under the horse racing because it is a top 10 gambling event in the USA.

Tendency – Americans who say that horse races are watching their favorite sports are 90% from 1937.

The fact that the derby is so popular is surprising in view of the general condition of the horse race. When surveys ask for people's favorite sport to watch them, most of them don't even contain horse races.

Less than 1% offered Horse Racing than their favorite in a Washington Post survey from 2017. Horse races took 14th place. In 1937 Horse Racing National took fourth place.

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The thing about the derby is that it is much more than just a horse race. I can't imagine any other sport event that has its own fashion that is not related to anything that the athletes wear.

Yes, you too can wear a sea sugar suit or a crazy hat.

Tendency – Americans who google coin -Julep Google in May: 600% from 600% by 600%

If you speak of things that are unique for the derby, can you imagine another sporting event in which the alcoholic drink is something that is not a beer?

The mint Julep had a long history in horse racing. Some winners even received sterling julep trophies for certain horse races.

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One of the main ingredients for a mint -julep is bourbon. Kentucky is the state, which far produces the most bourbon (supposedly 95%) of the country.

MINZ -Juleps are therefore a marketing gold mine for those who are connected to the derby.

My only fear is that if I drink too early on the Derby Day, I will not be able to stay awake for the race, so excuse me when I have a virgin julep.

It gets powerful, somehow like the race on Saturday around the Whomen, who can actually choose the winning horse.

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