There are days horse-racing fans don’t want to miss.
And there are days they simply cannot miss. Saturday is one of them.
Pennsylvania residents can be right in the middle of the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion at Parx Racing in Bensalem this Saturday, Sept. 21. Parx commands center stage of the horse-racing universe with a 14-race card awarding nearly $4 million in purses, tops in the entire industry.
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Elite competition in both the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion
Keys to the card are the $1 million Cotillion Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby races, each featuring elite competitors.
Thorpedo Anna, favored at 4-5 early-line betting odds in the Cotillion, is the top filly in the country. She also came within a whisker of becoming the first filly to win the $1.25 million Travers against the boys since 1915.
Seize the Grey, the winner of the 2024 Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, is one of the Pennsylvania Derby favorites.
The track celebrates with a family-friendly racing card starting at 11:35 a.m. Every event has at least a $100,000 purse and many have big fields.
There will be some big payoffs.
The Cotillion has an estimated post time of 5:20 p.m. and the Pennsylvania Derby is 6:10 p.m. Times may change slightly. Betting a little early helps being shut out.
Family fun on PA Derby Day
The track will feature pony rides, face painters, and a moon bounce in the Picnic Grove. There will be live music, souvenir merchandise, food and beverage specials, and free commemorative hats while supplies last.
The picnic grove features three shaded pavilions, a wagering pavilion, a gazebo bar, outdoor bathrooms, over 100 tables with umbrellas, and a playground for the kids.
Saturday overview
Here is an overview for Keystone State residents enjoying the biggest day of the year for PA horse racing. Parx rarely runs on Saturdays; it hasn’t hosted a Saturday card since the June 8 Belmont Stakes.
Saturday is expected to be perfect with temperatures hovering around 71 degrees. That follows three days of expected rain and brings the handicapping element into play.
If there is heavy rain on those days, the Saturday track may be listed as “good,” or tiring. This would benefit horses running from off the pace. Check earlier races to see whether this pattern holds.
If rain isn’t heavy, normal “fast” conditions will apply to the track.
How to prepare for The PA Derby Day at the races
It’s wise to pick up the Daily Racing Form one day earlier and check past performances on horses.
You may wish to handicap races Friday night and compare conclusions with Saturday’s early results before going beyond a light bet.
This won’t be an easy handicapping day. Many races have double-figure entries, some as high as 14. That means many mid-range and some longshot winners will come through.
There is a plethora of high-quality horses.
Here are some popular bets to make this weekend
Win: Horse to finish first
Place: Horse to finish first or second, smaller payout than the win bet
Show: Horse to finish first, second or third, with higher chance to cash a ticket and a lower payout.
Exacta: The first two finishers in exact order. It’s usually best to box them. A 2-4 box, for example, returns a winner if the finish is 2-4 or 4-2.
Trifecta Wagers: Top three finishers in exact order.
Superfecta Wagers: Top four finishers in exact order. Extremely difficult to hit, but payouts can be monstrous.
- NB: Always bet your favorite horse to win. If you don’t like the odds, you can make an action bet. But if you can select the winner, you should cash a ticket. And, take at least one stab at a superfecta. You could hit big and it may not cost much. In a big field of 12 horses, for example, one can take a 10-cent superfecta covering half the field for $12.
Good luck, and enjoy the day when the Keystone State holds the keys to the horse-racing industry.
