Kentucky Derby Post Time: Last-Second Info on Placing Bets

Numbers are everything in sports. Odds and percentages are usually pretty accurate when describing an NBA team's chances of recovering from a 0-3 series hole or a golfer's chances of roaring back into contention on Sunday at Augusta. 

The same can be said for horse racing, and specifically the annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is arguably as unpredictable as the NCAA tournament, but the oddsmakers have their reasons, and so do I.

Read on to score some last-second information on things to consider before placing your bets this Cinco de Mayo.

2012 Kentucky Derby Post Time: 6:24 PM ET, NBC

Always Consider Post Position

Post position is vital to a racehorse's chances of winning the Kentucky Derby. Historically the No. 1 and No. 5 posts have produced the most winners at the 1 1/4-mile track. But posts No. 8 has been pretty successful over the past decade. 

Daddy Long Legs (23/1) will start from the No. 1 post, closest to the rail on Saturday, while Dullahan (10/1) will start from the No. 5 post. Creative Cause (11-1) will start from post No. 8. Remember that no horse has ever won from posts No. 17 or No. 19 dating back to 1900.

Look For Winning Horses

It's important to do your research before picking a horse in the Kentucky Derby. In the case of Union Rags (9/2), one of the favorites to win on Saturday, the colt failed to finish first at the Grade I Florida Derby and Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile despite going in as the favorite. 

Instead of being blinded by the hype, look for a horse with a winning past like Hansen (13/1) or Take Charge Indy (10/1). Hansen won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs last November, while Take Charge Indy, ridden by jockey Calvin Borel (who has ridden three of the past five Kentucky Derby winners) won the Florida Derby last March. 

Follow Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more on Horse Racing.