KSR Explains: How to Read a Horse Racing Program

The Run for the Roses is almost here. Millions will place wagers on the Kentucky Derby. In 2024, the track took more than $320 million in bets on the Derby Day racecard. You might know some of the names in this year’s Kentucky Derby, but what about the other races? Today, we’re going to show you how to read a program to help you make some money at the track.

There is no exact science behind horse racing handicapping. Picking names and colors can be just as a profitable as spending a day buried in the program.

A horse racing program can be an intimidating read. It’s covered in numbers that illustrate a horse’s past performances. With the help of Steven Peake, allow me to make sense of what it all means by highlighting a few parts of the program that can make you a smarter gambler before the horses reach the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby.

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If you aren’t able to make it to the track to get a program in your hands, don’t worry. You can find all of the information when you play the ponies with our friends at NYRA Bets. Labeled as past performances, or PPS for short, these are free if you place a wager with NYRA Bets.

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A Photographic Breakdown on How to Read a Program

That video might be a lot to take in. Here is a clean-cut look created by our friends at Keeneland that depicts all of the figures you will find in a horse racing program.

More Kentucky Derby Profiles

Each year, Kentucky Sports Radio takes a deep dive to try to get to the heart of what makes horse racing so special in this state. The Kentucky Derby isn’t just for the fanatics. These previous profiles try to shine a different light on the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.

Only 20 horses reach the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby. How do they get there? We took a trip to Gainesway Farm to show you where their journey to the Kentucky Derby begins.

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