In 2025, horse-players experienced the return of the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge, pitting the best horse racing bettors in the world against each other, as they competed for an estimated $250,000 in prizes. For 2026, horse-players will benefit from this success with a $50,000 increase to $300,000 in available prizes including 2027 KDBC seats, 2027 NHC Seats and a 2026 BCBC seat!
Things to know for the 2026 KDBC:
- Buy-in for the event is $5,000 where $3,500 will enter the player’s bankroll and $1,500 to the prize pool.
- Maximum of two (2) entries per person.
- Players must wager all $3,500 of their bankroll across at least seven (7) races at Churchill Downs ending with the Kentucky Derby Race. Any races occurring at Churchill Downs after the Kentucky Derby race are NOT eligible for this tournament.
- Players must wager at least $250 in a race to count towards minimum amount of wagered races.
- Players can wager as much as they want, including the winnings from their bankroll.
- The following wager types will count as contest wagers: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Double.
- A Daily Double wager will count as a bet on one (1) contest race in the first leg of the Double.
- A player may not wager a Daily Double with the first leg as the Kentucky Derby since that is the last race eligible for this tournament.
- 100% of Prize Pool are paid out as Prizes with a guaranteed prize pool of $300,000 that includes both cash and one (1) seat to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, three (3) seats to the 2027 Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge, and two (2) seats to the 2027 National Horseplayers Championship.
- In order to be eligible to win a NHC Seat through the KDBC, the player must have an active NTRA membership (Join at Membership – NTRA) before the start of the tournament.
- Tournament wagers will not count toward TwinSpires promotions unless stated otherwise. Check the individual promotion for clarification.
- For any inquiries about the KDBC, please email [email protected].
- Online Registration will begin at 9:00AM ET on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
- Entries will be accepted up until 11:30AM ET on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
- Full Tournament Details located here.
Play begins on May 1 & 2 from Churchill Downs, during the 152nd Kentucky Oaks & Derby. Reserve your spot with a $5,000 total buy-in.
Churchill Downs Race Track is the home of the 2026 Kentucky Derby Betting Championship.
TwinSpires offers many types of tournament play for horse-players of all levels. Whether rookies and casuals or veteran and sharps, TwinSpires attempts to present the best tournament product on the market.
TwinSpires players can leverage winning Feeder and Qualifier level tournaments to ease the cost of a full Challenge with prizes in the form of Cash, Qualifier Seats like the KDBC, KOBC, NHC, BCBC and others. Formats can include Live, Win/Place, Bet and Set and more to come!