Why you won't find Kentucky Derby bets on prediction platforms

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The biggest horse race in the country, the Kentucky Derby, takes place Saturday in Louisville. If you’re looking to make a wager on Kalshi, Polymarket or another prediction platform around the event — you’re out of luck.

There are no Kentucky Derby event contracts offered on the major prediction platforms, which host contracts on everything from sports outcomes to geopolitical events to reality TV show moments, but not horse racing.

Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs,

which owns the Kentucky Derby and the racetrack where it’s held, told CNBC it’s unlikely that horse racing will ever show up on prediction markets because the race track owners don’t want it.