Each year, you can guarantee that those that live outside of America will be betting on the Kentucky Derby. Held each year in Louisville, Kentucky, separate betting pools are available for anyone that lives outside of the United States. However, there will be plenty of ongoing changes up and until the day of the Kentucky Derby. For punters in Asia, Africa, Canada, South America, Australia and Europe, understanding these crucial details will be essential. Listed below, facts that you need to know about Kentucky Derby betting in the United States for non-Americans are listed.

Know your time and date for the 2014 Kentucky Derby

Sadly, many gamblers outside of the United States do not place their bets in time for the Kentucky Derby. As one of the top international horse racing events of the year, what throws bettors off is the time zone. To keep your facts straight, remember that Louisville has the same time zone as New York City.

Take note of betting window closing times

In America, it is common for the betting window to close at Churchill Downs right before the race. However, depending on which website that you use to place your Kentucky Derby online bet, you may need to pay special attention to the specific time they will close your chance to place a bet. This may be time zone specific, and it may require a little bit of work to figure out which times zone the website is using.

Choosing websites that allow last minute bets

In some cases, online betting websites outside of America do not pay attention to the fact that the Kentucky Derby odds are constantly changing. For example, horses may have issues with their health before the race. In other words, do not place your bet for the Kentucky Derby too far in advance. To get the latest odds, check online for what Americans refer to as “Kentucky Derby points standings.” This list will also include any horse that is going to be left out of the top 20.

Kentucky Derby 2014 start times and dates

The Kentucky Derby is run on a bare dirt track, and it is common for there to be rainy weather on the day of the Kentucky Derby. This means that the time of the race can vary drastically because the water may need to be removed so that it is not a muddy mess. Nevertheless, you can usually expect it to start between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. In general, it starts at 6:24 PM, Eastern Standard Time. Each year, it is held on the first Saturday in May, and this year that Saturday falls on May 3. Also, do not forget that the Kentucky Derby includes many races throughout the day that you can place bets on. The same is true for the fillies-only Oaks Day event on May 2.