2008 Kentucky Derby: Odds, post time, weather and more

2008 Kentucky Derby: Odds, post time, weather and more A few hours left until the start time of the 2008 Kentucky Derby and we are here to answer the most asked questions today, such as start time, weather, odds and picks. First, let's begin with what time does the Kentucky Derby start. The 2008 Kentucky Derby post time is at 6:04 pm EST. Where to watch the Kentucky Derby - preferably at Churchill Downs, but if you couldn't make it to Louisville, you can watch the race on TV on NBC, their Derby program will start at 4:00 pm EST.

What's the weather going to be for the Kentucky Derby? Well, this will be the biggest unknown entering the race today. According to the Weather Channel there is about 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms over Louisville from 4:00pm until 7:00pm local time, which could muddy the track for the Derby post time. If the track gets damp, keep an eye on Cool Coal Man, Visionaire, Smooth Air and Denis of Cork, all of which have won on wet tracks before, as well as Pyro, who finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at muddy Monmouth Park. Colonel John will race on dirt for the first time and mud is quite different compared to wet synthetic. Big Black Jack is in the same position as Colonel John.

Now to the 2008 Kentucky Derby betting odds and off-track betting. Currently at the online bookmaker BodogSports the odds are still in favor of Big Brown, who is listed at 3/1 to win the Kentucky Derby. Keep in mind that we know very little about this 3-year-old, other than the hype his trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. is trying to create. Post No.20, possible wet track, inexperience and the betting trends (only three favorites have ever won the Kentucky Derby) all work against Big Brown, but the odds makers think he has the best chance of winning the race, considering his five-length victory in the Florida Derby leaving from the outside post, thus his odds are at 3/1. Colonel John holds second best odds at 4/1 and for him the biggest variable is the dirt track. If he can manage to run on dirt as good as he runs on synthetic - Colonel John certainly has what it takes to win the race, including good No.10 post position. And finally we come to Pyro, the Louisiana Derby winner, whose 10th finish in the Blue Grass hangs over his head like a bad spell with the bookmakers at BodogSports, who have him with odds 6/1 to win the Kentucky Derby. One thing to keep in mind, however, when it comes to Pyro - the Blue Grass at Keeneland was the first time Pyro ran on synthetic, it just comes to show you the difference between the tracks' covers. All things considered, our pick to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby is indeed Pyro.

About the Derby - The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. The race is one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds. The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and typically draws over 150,000 fans. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Published on 05/03/2008