How to Bet on the 2026 Kentucky Oaks Race

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks takes place on Friday, May 1, the day before the Kentucky Derby, and serves as the premier race in the United States for three‑year‑old fillies.

Held annually at Churchill Downs since 1875, the Oaks is one of the most prestigious events in horse racing - complete with its own traditions, including the “Lilies for the Fillies” blanket and the iconic Oaks Day fashion.

If you’re planning to bet on the 2026 Kentucky Oaks, you’ll need to use a legal horse racing app, not a traditional sportsbook. Horse racing is regulated separately from sports betting, meaning platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel, require standalone racing apps for Oaks wagering.

Below is your complete guide to betting the Kentucky Oaks, including the best racing apps, sportsbook bonuses you can claim alongside them, legal states, and how to watch the race.

Best Legal Horse Racing Apps for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks

Below are the top racebooks available in legal states - plus the sportsbook promos you can claim alongside them.

1. DK Horse (DraftKings)

What DK Horse Offers

• Full pari‑mutuel wagering
• Live odds, replays, and Oaks betting
• Standalone app (separate from DraftKings Sportsbook)
• Available in many racing‑legal states

DraftKings King of the Track Promo

Offer Details:

• Bet the Kentucky Derby Winner
• Get a share of $1,000,000
• Minimum $5 wager
• Straight single-horse win wagers only
• Reward issued via click-to-claim

Better Value: DraftKings Sportsbook Promo

Even though it cannot be used on horse racing, the sportsbook offer is far stronger:

DraftKings Promo Code: Bet $5, Get $100 Instantly How to claim:

1. CLICK HERE or visit DraftKings
2. Deposit $5+
3. Bet $5 on any sports market
4. Get $100 in Bonus Bets instantly

You’ll still need DK Horse to bet the Kentucky Oaks.

Where Is DraftKings Racing Legal?

As of April 2026, DraftKings Racing is live in nine states. DraftKings Racing uses a shared wallet with DraftKings Sportsbook, meaning you can move between sports betting and horse racing seamlessly in these states.

• Delaware
• New Mexico
• Rhode Island
• Florida
• Louisiana
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Oregon

In other states where horse racing is available, users will have to use the DK Horse platform.

2. FanDuel Racing

What FanDuel Racing Offers

• Full Oaks wagering
• Live streaming
• Shared wallet with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Available in 30+ states

FanDuel Racing Welcome Offer

Bet $5, Get $25 Racing Bonus

Better Value: FanDuel Sportsbook Promo

Bet $5, Get $250 (If Your Bet Wins) How to claim:

1. CLICK HERE or visit FanDuel
2. Deposit $5
3. Bet $5
4. If it wins → get $250 in Bonus Bets

Sportsbook Bonus Bets cannot be used on racing.

3. TwinSpires

TwinSpires is the official wagering platform of Churchill Downs, making it one of the most trusted places to bet the Kentucky Oaks.

What TwinSpires Offers

• Full Oaks wagering
• Live streaming
• Deep racing menu
• Available in most racing‑legal states

TwinSpires Welcome Offer

• CLICK HERE to Earn $100 bonus for every $400 wagered
• Up to $200 total
• Must wager $800 within 30 days

This is the most Oaks‑centric platform, but the bonus requires significant wagering volume.

How to Bet on the Kentucky Oaks (Win, Place, Show & Exotics)

All major racing apps offer the same bet types:

Win, Place, Show

• Win: Horse must finish 1st
• Place: 1st or 2nd
• Show: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd

Exotics

• Exacta: Top 2 in order
• Trifecta: Top 3 in order
• Superfecta: Top 4 in order
• Boxed and keyed versions available

Multi‑Race Bets

• Daily Double
• Pick 3
• Pick 4
• Pick 5
• Pick 6

These can produce massive Oaks Day payouts.

Where Is Online Horse Racing Betting Legal in the U.S.?

Online horse racing betting is legal in most states, but not all. Here is the full list:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Best Way to Bet the Kentucky Oaks 2026

If you want to bet the Oaks itself, you must use a horse racing app, such as:

• DK Horse
• FanDuel Racing
• TwinSpires

However, if you want the best welcome bonus, the sportsbook promos offer far more value:

• DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $100 Instantly
• FanDuel: Bet $5, Get $250 (If Your Bet Wins)