Kentucky Downs Approved to Add Jockey Wager

Kentucky Downs will offer wagers this year based on how jockeys perform in the final seven races on the card, and that betting will benefit injured riders.

While the exact percentage is still being determined, Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen said some money from takeout on the wagers will be committed to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Bettors will be able to wager win, place, and show, as well as exacta and trifecta wagers on the riders they think will earn the most points, which will be awarded based on first-, second-, third-, and fourth-place finishes in those seven races.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission June 20 approved the wagers, for which tote company Sportech will devise software to total points earned through top-four finishes by riders to determine the top three for win, place, and show payouts, as well as exacta and trifecta payouts.

Each wager will allow bettors to select from 13 individual riders as well as a "field" of all remaining riders not included in the list of 13. The wager will be offered as "Race 11" for betting purposes.

The commission included some flexibility for Kentucky Downs, should the track decide to offer the wager for a different seven races—say the first seven on the card. For a change like that, track officials would only have to receive approval from KHRC staff. 

Johnsen said the wager is inspired by the former NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship contested at Lone Star Park from 1997-2004. That four-race rider competition offered a corresponding wager. Johnsen served as general manager at Lone Star and is in that track's Hall of Fame.

Track, tote, and KHRC officials will conduct dry runs during this year's Ellis Park meeting to ensure the software is correctly tabulating points earned and accurately paying out winning wagers.