How to Play California Daily Derby

    $2 a play · Every day · 6:35 PM PT

    1. 1Pick the 3 horses you think will finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd, or ask for a Quick Pick.
    2. 2Pick a race time from 1:40.00 to 1:49.99 by filling in its last 3 digits.
    3. 3Each play is $2, and a ticket holds up to 3 plays.
    4. 4Play the same picks for 1 to 7 or 14 drawings in a row with Advance Play.
    5. 5Match the winning horse, the top 2 or 3 in order, or the race time to win.
    6. 6Match all 3 horses in order and the race time for the Grand Prize.

    You must be 18 or older to buy a ticket or claim a prize. Sales stop 5 minutes before each drawing. See every prize

    More Daily Derby rulesHow it works · Jackpot · Prizes
    How it works
    Pick 3 of the 12 horses to finish first, second and third, and a race time for the winner from 1:40.00 to 1:49.99. The horses are 1 Gold Rush, 2 Lucky Star, 3 Hot Shot, 4 Big Ben, 5 California Classic, 6 Whirl Win, 7 Eureka, 8 Gorgeous George, 9 Winning Spirit, 10 Solid Gold, 11 Money Bags and 12 Lucky Charms. A computer draws the finish and the race time.
    Jackpot
    The Grand Prize is 14% of the prize pool, plus what's left over from rounding the other prizes down. It grows each drawing it isn't won, and money from any other prize with no winners goes to the next Grand Prize too. Winning tickets share it equally, and it's paid in one cash payment.
    Prizes
    Every prize is pari-mutuel: each prize gets a set share of the prize pool, about 50% of sales, split equally among its winners, so the amounts change with sales and the number of winners. Prizes are rounded down to the whole dollar, but never less than $2. A play that matches the race time and the winning horse, or the top 2 horses, wins both prizes. The race is drawn by computer.

    Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.

    You can't change Daily Derby's odds.
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    More for Daily Derby Players

    When it’s drawn, where to cash a win, and how other games are played.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers about California Daily Derby rules

    How do you play California Daily Derby?
    Pick the 3 horses you think will finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd, or ask for a Quick Pick. Pick a race time from 1:40.00 to 1:49.99 by filling in its last 3 digits. Each play is $2, and a ticket holds up to 3 plays. Play the same picks for 1 to 7 or 14 drawings in a row with Advance Play. Match the winning horse, the top 2 or 3 in order, or the race time to win. Match all 3 horses in order and the race time for the Grand Prize.
    How much is a Daily Derby ticket in California?
    $2 a play.
    How late can you buy California Daily Derby tickets?
    The California Daily Derby cutoff time is 5 minutes before each drawing: 6:30 PM PT for the 6:35 PM drawing.

    Still have questions? Email our support team

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