Kentucky Derby Post Positions 2012: How Starting Slot Will Alter Odds

Post position is vital at the Kentucky Derby. The huge field ensures this.

With a packed track, navigating all the traffic is vital for success in this race, and that is going to be different from each spot in the starting gate. 

A good portion of the gates are going to be neutral factor in the betting odds. For the most part, these are the middle gates. But there are definitely a few gates that will play a huge role. 

You can view post positions on the Official Kentucky Derby Page when they become available.

Odds Killers

Gates No. 1 and 2

Being slotted in the first two gates will be a death knell for most horses. Since 1964, just two horses have won from the first gate, and a horse has not won from Gate No. 2 since 1978. 

The problem is that horses starting from these slot are going to get locked in and sucked back in the pack, or they will be forced to burn off too much energy be storming out to an early start, and then fade as the race goes on. 

It takes a truly dominant horse to win from this position. 

Gate No. 20

Just one horse has won the Kentucky Derby from this gate since 1920. The reason is obvious, isn't it? The horse in Gate 20 has to go the furthest to get to the finish line. 

The only realistic shot for the horse on the outside is to get off to a quick start and get quickly over to the rail, and as is the case with the inside gate, only an amazing horse will have both the speed and stamina to pull this off. 

Odds Enhancers

Gates No. 15 and 16

These are two gates that will boost the odds on most horses. Both of these gates are close to the gap that connects the auxiliary gate. That added space makes things easier and less jumbled after the get off. 

This leaves horses in a good position to settle into a comfortable position from the start. Since 1990, seven winners have come from these gates. 

Gate No. 5

There have been just two winners from this position since 1991, but it is a quality slot.

Horses are close enough to the rail, that they don't have to make the long trek over from the outside, and just far enough away that they are not susceptible to being caught in the traffic of horses jockeying for that inside position.