Kentucky Derby Trip Planning

On the first Saturday of May each year, voices of over 150k fans unite to sing ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ in anticipation of the most exciting 2 minutes in sports – it’s Kentucky Derby time! Are you planning a trip to the Kentucky Derby? We’ve been fortunate to attend the Kentucky Derby 11 times (and counting) and have seen Derby weekend along with the facilities at Churchill Downs evolve over time. This post will provide you with all you need to know to plan a trip to the Kentucky Derby and tips to make the most out of your days at the track.

So It’s Just One Race?

Nope – there’s so much more! For those planning a trip to the Kentucky Derby, your weekend isn’t complete without attending two full days at Churchill Downs. Friday is all about the ladies on and off the track and features the Kentucky Oaks – essentially the Derby for female horses. Kentucky Oaks day has evolved to be as popular as Derby day and has a special and festive atmosphere to it. Along with the premier races on these two days, there is a full race card of over 10 races each day – many of which are high caliber stakes races. Need even more racing? Thursday at the track has become a popular outing and is called “Thurby” – this is for those wanting a more casual experience at the track and a great way to sharpen your handicapping skills before the big weekend.

Tickets

The ticket offerings for the Kentucky Derby change slightly each year, but this is generally how the process works and the options avialable:

• Ticket sales take place in November of the year prior to the Kentucky Derby. The best way to stay updated on the sale is to signup through the Kentucky Derby Website in the summer leading up to the sale to say that you’re interested – this will allow you to get access information sent directly to you.
• Though there are a few single day options available, tickets are generally sold as 2 day packages.
• All reserved seating options (i.e. everything but infield general admission) are now all inclusive! This started during the COVID years to help minimize contact and has continued on since then. Mint Juleps, food, pretty much anything you want with the exception of higher end items like bottles of champagne – all included!
• Ticket prices vary greatly based on what type of seating option you’re looking for and you’re best to explore these package prices through the Kentucky Derby website leading up to the sale as things vary each year.

Where to stay near Louisville, KY

Lodging for Kentucky Derby weekend, to put it bluntly, sucks. Even the 1-star, run down hotels will severely increase prices – think hundreds of dollars for what should be $50 per night. Typical hotel rates will run between roughly $300 – $500 with the more luxury hotels being much higher.

We normally opt to stay outside of Louisville to save on costs and have stayed South in Bardstown, KY (about a 45 minute drive) or father East in Shelbyville, KY. It really comes down to how much you want to save vs. how much driving you want to avoid.

Seating Options

When planning a trip to the Kentucky Derby, picking the right seats for you can be a bit intimidating since there is such a variety of options available. Here’s a breakdown of the types of options you’ll have to consider.

Infield General Admission

Infield General Admission is the cheapest option available. Looking for an outdoor party with a lot of entertainment? This option is for you! Want to see horses? This option is not for you. These tickets get you into the massive party happening in the infield of the track. There are video boards available to see the action on the track and you can have the first hand experience of betting on horses at the track, but you won’t actually be able to watch the racing action live.

Grandstand Bleacher Seating

Grandstand Bleacher Seating is a great option for those for a limited number of tickets (i.e. less than a 6 person box) and want to get close to the action. These bleacher style seats can be purchased individually and are located at ground level and the second level along the main stretch of the track. Though these get you close to the action, note that the stretch run at the track is long and depending on the section you are in there’s a good chance you won’t have a very good view of the actual finish line.

Rows start with Row A and increase as they get farther back. Each level starts the alphabet over, so the first row of the 200 level bleachers will also start with A. Seat numbers go from Seat 1 being towards the finish line all the way through seat 80 in some sections. There is also at least 1 aisle in each section meaning that Seat 40 is not the center of an entire section but you will have an aisle somewhere nearby.

One huge issue with these seats is that people stand on the bleachers before the big races. If everyone stayed on the ground, everyone would have a much better view but unfortunately, that never happens. As soon as one person stands up, the people behind them have to get up otherwise they can’t see and so on. It’s not so bad if you are in the first few rows but as you get father back, it’s very hard to see over everyone standing on the bleachers. Because of this, we usually try to get a closer row (Rows A – E) and sit farther away from the finish line instead of a further back row (like Row M) and closer to the finish line.

These are the cheapest of the reserved seats, though, and still get you close to the action for each race! They also provide easy access to facilities as well as food and drink options.

First Turn Grandstand Seating

Renovated for 2023, grandstand style seating is now offered after the first turn. This area is completely under cover and offers seats similar to the grandstand style mentioned above. Please note that the Row & Seating arrangements and directions may not follow the same structure as the Grandstand Bleacher Seating.

For the view you get, we cover the cons of this below (see “Pro Tip”) as 1 turn races will never pass this section. This means many races will not actually “race” past you and you will only see the horses after they cross the finish line.

Box Seating

Box Seating is available in a variety of different locations. The most common locations are in the upper grandstand levels (above the bleacher seating), along the finish line area of the track, and around the Clubhouse Turn. These box seats come with 6 seats within a given box and you typically have to buy all 6 tickets together as a single box. These do offer some better viewing options compared to the bleacher seats, but also come at a premium price. If you have a group of 6 it can make for a nice option to have your own flexible space to enjoy the races from. Note that these boxes are very small and primarily just fit 6 padded folding chairs with no other room to spread out.

• Pro Tip – considering a box along the Clubhouse Turn? This area of the track gets you close to the racing action with a great backdrop of the twin spires. You’ll have views of horses parading to and from the track and are close to the red carpet where celebrities arrive for the races. With that being said, this area is not ideal for those wanting to stay engaged in all races. 1 turn races will not pass this section of the track and so you’re left out of the action.

Parking

Parking options can vary based on whether you have reserved seats or general admission. We always recommend you verify details on the Kentucky Derby’s website incase there are any changes.

• Neighborhood Parking Near Churchill Downs
  • Some homeowners around the track offer parking in their yards. Some local businesses or churches do so as well. We have done this and have never had an issue but space is very limited as the neighborhoods are small. Also, you must access the neighborhoods outside of the main Central Avenue area. This road is closed to public traffic Derby weekend.
• Kentucky Expo Center Parking
  • The Kentucky Expo Center is the main parking lot for those with reserved seats. Anyone with a reserved seat ticket (not general admission) will have access to park here and take the shuttles to and from the track. One thing to note, this shuttle line to return to the parking lot at the end of the day is LONG. Be prepared to wait extended periods of time.
• L&N Stadium Parking
  • Public parking is available at the nearby L&N Stadium. You do not need to purchase this in advance and is $40 the day of. If you don’t mind walking this is a decent option, just take the pedestrian stairs to the top of the bridge. Once out of the parking lot, follow the crowds towards Churchill Downs. In the past, they did also offer a shuttle for an additional cost however, the website makes it seem like the shuttle is no longer an option.
• Ride Share Options
  • The typical taxi, Uber and Lyft ride share options are also always available. They operate a specific ride share area where you will queue when you are leaving to “order” your ride.

Things to Bring

• Sunscreen & sunglasses
• Powder bank to re-charge your phone
• Flip flops (for ladies) for the potential long walks to and from the track
  • More details recommendations for ladies footwear can be found in this blog post
• Cash for betting (so you don’t have to wait in the ATM line)
• Multiple ponchos for forecasted rainy days (umbrella are not allowed)
• Quart size baggies for saving mint julep glasses
  • If you are collecting mint julep or oaks lily glasses it’s nice to have baggies to store the glasses. This keeps the extra liquid from seeping on your other things and provides a little padding.
• A tote bag
  • *Each guest can only have 1 bag. Ladies bringing a purse may have to combine or have someone with you that can claim the tote bag as their own.
  • As long as the bag is not larger than 12 x 6 x 12 you can bring it in. We bring one for all of the extras such as sunscreen, battery chargers and more. This also provides a way to store all of the glass you collect over the day.
  • If you buy something at the merchandise tent when you arrive, they also provide nice tote bags too.

Rainy Weather

Unfortunately it rains more often than it doesn’t in our 11 years of attendance. If your seats have no cover (which ours never do) here is what we recommend.

• Lots of ponchos
  • No umbrellas allowed! You will not be able to bring them in.
  • If the forecast is for intense rain, you will want multiple ponchos. It’s nice to have one to wear, sit on, cover your legs and even cover your hat. Additionally, most people head undercover between races so your seat will always be wet when you return. Having an additional poncho is also great in this situation.
• Rain coats
  • Depending on the forecast, sometimes it necessary to haul your raincoats around all day. There have been years that ponchos just don’t cut it.
• Rainy weather footware
  • This one it tough. If it is going to pour all day, sometimes it’s better to leave the nice shoes at home. Additionally, it’s not uncommon to wear rain boots if it’s a soaker. We touch on rain boots more in this blog post.

Kentucky Derby Fashion

Women’s Derby fashion needs its own blog which you can find here!

For men’s Derby fashion, pretty much anything goes. To put it in one word, think “dapper.” We recommend a sports coat with slacks while you mix and match shirt and tie patterns. Consider lighter colors and fabrics – seersucker suits are always in style! Don’t be afraid to bust out the pastel colors.

For accessories, we recommend trying to liven things up. Bow ties are very common, you can even toss on a pair of suspenders. A fun pocket watch? Why not! And on Friday for Oaks, even men are encouraged to wear pink – and most do.

Don’t forget a hat! Boater hats and fedoras are very common. Again, consider lighter, straw type fabrics – avoid wool and heavier hats. If it’s hot or if it rains, the last thing you want is a soggy, wet wool hat on.

Check out our horse racing blog posts for more tips and inspiration.