Kentucky Derby: Bluegrass State Has Most Interest In Hometown Race In 2023

Fact Checked by Thomas Leary

The crown jewel of horse racing, and hypothetical Kentucky sports betting, returns to its customary course in the heart of Louisville on May 6, when the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place.  

It should be of no surprise to residents of the Bluegrass State that Kentucky has the most interest in this year’s race, given Churchill Downs’ biblical stature in the region.  

With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, BetKentucky.com utilized Google Trends to look at the highest search volume of the term “Kentucky Derby” in the United States over the past 90 days. After gathering data on April 19, we determined the states with the most interest in the upcoming event compared to other topics.

What we found is of little surprise to anyone that’s lived in Kentucky during the first Saturday of May, but still shows how special the Derby is in the state. 

Keep it here at BetKentucky ahead of derby day, where we'll be home to the best Kentucky sportsbook apps once the state fully passes legislation.

States With Most Interest in 2023 Kentucky Derby

RankState Level of Interest in Search Terms
1Kentucky100
2Indiana37
T3 Kansas29
T3 Ohio 29
T5 Wisconsin 27
T5 Wyoming 27
7 West Virginia 25
T8 Minnesota 24
T8 Connecticut 24
T10 Pennsylvania23
T10Missouri23
T10Michigan23

Kentucky Derby Holds Special Place In Home State

The sheer volume of search traffic for the 2023 derby and related terms in Kentucky shows how much of an impact the first leg of the Triple Crown holds in the state.  

Overall, Kentucky’s interest in the Derby was nearly triple that of the next closest state (Indiana, at 37) and well ahead of the other eight states in the national top 10.  

Two states, in Kansas and Ohio, finished tied for third nationally, at 29, while Wisconsin and Wyoming rounded out the top five at 27.  

One thing that seems certain is that come May 6, the entire state of Kentucky will turn their collective attention to the 10 furlongs of raceway that 20 horses will rush through in the early evening hours on the outskirts of Louisville.  

Ahead of the race, check in with our rankings of the best jockeys in Kentucky Derby history, and the best horse racing apps for wagering.

We also recently broke down which ownership groups have won the race most often.

Triple Crown season is upon us and make sure to check out the latest Preakness Stakes Odds and Belmont Stakes Odds to place your wagers.

 

Author

Christopher Boan

Christopher Boan is a staff writer for BetKentucky.com. He has covered sports and sports betting for more than seven years and has worked for publications such as ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.

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