Churchill Downs Sees Record Handle as Sovereignty Wins Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) announced Sovereignty as the winner of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. In addition to that, the company noted that this year, a record-breaking $394 million has been wagered on the event.

Sovereignty Prevailed at the Main Race

In its official announcement, CDI confirmed that Sovereignty has claimed the Garland of Roses at the latest Kentucky Derby. Owned and bred by Godolphin, trained by William Mott, and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the horse was the first to pass the finish line, cementing its place in racing history.

Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby before an audience of 147,000 horse racing fans and brought its lifetime earnings to $3.7 million. The horse won by a length and a half at odds of 7-1, according to CDI.

Bill Carstanjen, CDI’s chief executive officer, congratulated Sovereignty and its connections on the win. He was particularly excited about the run and the Kentucky Derby, praising the race’s continued growth.

We congratulate the connections of Sovereignty on an impressive win over a very talented field of horses. We are thrilled with our performance following the 150th milestone year in 2024 and we will grow the Kentucky Derby in the years to come.

Bill Carstanjen. CEO, CDI

Racing Fans Wagered Record-Breaking Sums

In the meantime, CDI reported that the latest Kentucky Derby Day has set a new handle record. According to the company, the 151st running of the race saw racing fans wager a collective total of $349 million, up from $320.5 million in 2024.

CDI added that all-source wagering on the Kentucky Derby race likewise beat last year’s record ($210.7 million), reaching a new record of $234.4 million. All-sources handle for the Derby Week, on the other hand, reached $473.9 million, setting another new record and exceeding last year’s record of $446.6 million.

CDI also reported that TwinSpires, the Kentucky Derby’s official betting partner, likewise reported record-breaking handle figures. According to the report, the sportsbook’s handle for the derby rose to a record-breaking $108 million, up from $92.1 million in 2024.

TwinSpires’ handle on the Kentucky Derby race itself swelled to $73 million, marking yet another record. For context, the race recorded $60.9 million in handle last year, which was, at the time, a new record.

Thanks to the impressive performance during the 151st Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs now expects adjusted EBITDA to reach one of the top two results in its history. However, Churchill Downs predicts that EBITDA for this year’s race will be lower than the EBITDA recorded during the previous run.