The Kentucky Derby is a revered horse race for any jockey. Engulfed in tradition and history, it is synonymous with excellence in horse racing. If that’s not all, the Derby is also one of the longest-running sports events in the United States. Hence, it is no surprise the sport keeps attracting fans from other domains. But what does this annual horse race have to do with NASCAR, you may ask? In one of the latest videos uploaded to NBC Sports’ YouTube channel, we see the Hall of Famer jockey Jerry Bailey have a chat with Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Coming from two forms of the same racing spirit, the duo winds up an interesting discussion.

Talking to Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jerry Bailey Clears The Air Around Betting Odds

Dale Jr took upon himself the task of asking Bailey a question most fans have got. The NASCAR legend enquires, “As viewers, we all talk about the horses. We talk about the odds, of the horses. Does the jockey care one bit about the odds of that horse?”

Jerry informed him, “I make no more money if my horse is a 150 to one as I do if he’s two to one. That’s for the bettors.”

Well, the odds do not end up meaning anything on the course. He explained, “The only difference for us regarding the odds is when you go in as a heavy favorite. All the other competitors know you’re the favorite, and you have a target on your back.”

“But If you are fifty to one, you are under the radar completely, and nobody cares about you, and nobody thinks about you.”

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The odds seem to have their way of affecting the jockeys and the race. Most certainly, they can act as a measure of the fans’ expectations.

Experts Name Their Favorites for The Kentucky Derby

Horse racing enthusiasts have already geared up for the derby. Predictions, research, and odds, they have them all. But surprisingly the predictions on the defending two-year-old champion, Menez, see him struggling in the race. This is quite surprising as has six wins in seven career starts, with $2.4 million in career earnings, i.e. nearly double that of any other horse in the 2023 Kentucky Derby field.

The doubts that have been raised are about his speed and that too in a longer race. Even though the odds as of now stand three to one for him, it is to be seen how it fares.

The list will also see Tapit Trice and Angel of Empire have 5-1 and 8-1 odds respectively.

In what definitely is going to be an enthralling two minutes of adrenaline, the suspense stays around as to who will take the victory.

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