Best Exotic Props for the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Exotic Prop Betting Markets at the Kentucky Derby

There are over 40 prop betting markets available for the Kentucky Derby at BetOnline. We’ve hand-picked the very best options for you to wager on.

Which football player will be seen first?

• Aaron Rodgers (+150)
• Davante Adams (+200)
• Randall Cobb (+300)
• AJ Hawk (+350)

Any 2010s Green Bay Packers fans in the house? This one’s for you.

Rodgers has attended several runnings of the Kentucky Derby, typically in tandem with former members of the Pack. Oddsmakers believe he’ll be the first to make an appearance on the broadcast, followed by Adams, Cobb, and Hawk.

Rodgers, being the first player shown, would make sense. On top of being the biggest star of the bunch, he’s currently enmeshed in drama with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are awaiting his decision on whether or not he’ll return for the 2026 season. 

Which former athlete will be seen first?

• Tom Brady (-120)
• Rob Gronkowski (-120)

Brady and Gronkowski are known to frequent Churchill Downs, so BetOnline has grouped the former New England Patriots teammates at -120 apiece to appear first on the broadcast. 

There’s an argument to be made for both sides. Brady is the bigger name, but it’s worth wondering if he’ll stay in Las Vegas and continue mentoring the Raiders’ new No. 1 draft pick, Fernando Mendoza. 

On the other hand, Gronkowski is known to be attending the Derby alongside award-winning chef Bobby Flay on behalf of Sentient.

Who will be seen first?

• Dana White (-200)
• Sergio García (+150)

The last of the “seen first” props centers on a pair of celebrities who have already been announced for the 2026 Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala. 

White, the president and CEO of the UFC, is mentioned among a long list of high-profile stars that also includes García, a professional golfer and winner of the 2017 Masters Tournament. Also attending the gala: Chaka Khan, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, T.I., and Brian Quinn.

Any horse to poop on track on ride to gate?

• Yes (-150)
• No (+110)
• Win/Place/Show horse poops on track on ride to gate (+400)

This is actually two separate markets. One is the yes/no bet, but you can also take it a step further and declare that one of the win/place/show horses will poop on the track on the ride over to the starting gate.

It might seem strange to think about, but it’s not an uncommon event. Churchill Downs has plans in place regarding what to do with the “pounds” of fecal matter that are shipped off in semi trucks once Derby Week is over.

Two key stipulations here, per BetOnline: Only horses that are competing in the Derby count, and the act must be “clearly shown” on the broadcast. 

Saddlecloth number of first horse to poop?

• Over 10.5 (+100)
• Under 10.5 (-140)

The poop props keep coming. This one has to do with the number on the saddlecloth worn by the first horse caught going No. 2. 

Betting over 10.5 at +100 gets you 11 through 20. Bet under 10.5 at -140 and get 1 through 10. Why the price difference? When horses get scratched from the race, post positions are removed from the back first, essentially meaning the field slides down a spot to make up for the missing horse.

We’re starting with a 20-horse field, but if any of the colts scratch too close to race day, we may see fewer than 20 break from the gate. Betting under 10.5 is a safe way to ensure you’re protected, while the over signals your belief in a relatively healthy lineup. 

Length of the national anthem

• Over 89.5 seconds (-120)
• Under 89.5 seconds (-120)

The Tedeschi Trucks Band is performing the national anthem just after 5 p.m. ET. The blues rock group won a Grammy in 2012.

Derek Trucks recorded a performance of the national anthem for the Jacksonville Jaguars in September 2020 that came in under 89.5 seconds:

Susan Tedechi’s rendition of the national anthem at a 2009 Boston Red Sox game also wrapped up in under 89.5 seconds. Just saying.

First letter in winning horse’s name

• A to H (-150)
• I to Z (+110)

There are two ways to look at this prop. 

On one hand, we can focus on the favorites and find that four of the six horses with the shortest odds fall in the A to H range. Renegade (+500) and The Puma (+800) are the lone exceptions.

Alternatively, we can look at which range includes more horses. That is, definitely, I to Z, with 12. 

Scratches are still possible, so those figures can change between now and the race start. Ultimately, this comes down to whether you prefer to pick favorites or cast a larger net. The Derby is fairly unpredictable, though – a favorite hasn’t won since 2018 – so there’s something to be said for betting I to Z at +110. 

Starting gate number of the winner

• 1 to 9 (-190)
• 10 or more (+145)

Once again, we have a prop with odds influenced by scratch potential. Starting gates 1 to 9 will undoubtedly be filled at race start. Every gate from 10 to 20, though? That’s a much tougher projection to make.

It’s also worth considering which horses will break from each gate. Renegade, the favorite, drew Post 1. Commandment and The Puma are also in the 1 to 9 range. 

Will Secretariat’s record time be tied or broken?

• Yes (+1200)
• No (-5000)

Secretariat’s record time of 1:59.40 will be challenged for the 53rd time this year. So far, it’s gone 52-0. Not only has no horse beaten the record, but Secretariat is also the only horse to ever cross the finish line in under two minutes.

There are some fast horses in this field, but experts aren’t projecting any of them to come especially close to breaking Secretariat’s time. Toss a couple bucks on it at +1200 if you so desire, but don’t hold your breath. 

Will there be a photo finish?

• Yes (+500)
• No (-900)

The 150th Kentucky Derby delivered on the hype in 2024 with a three-way photo finish that saw Mystik Dan win by a nose. There have been other photo finishes over the years, but none more recent – or thrilling – than the one we saw two years ago.