The Kentucky Derby

Amazing experience we’ll never forget! Add this to your bucket list! Try to hit the Turf club or The Mansion! Love people watching with all the great hats and people dressed up to the 9’s! Ladies bring flip flops to go look at the horses and you’ll need them by the me of the day!

What can one say about the derby that has not already been said. I grew up in the horse racing industry and have been to 6 Derbys in my lifetime.
The derby is iconic in a way that no other event on the planet can compare to. To quote a friend that went with me one year «The derby is sensory overload». No other event you ever experience will ever have a multitude of sights, sounds, smells and feel that the derby delivers. I always say to those that experience the derby for the first time, that if you are not completely exhausted (regardless of how many mint juleps you have) by the time you hit the pillow, that you didn’t do it right.
In terms of the mere basics: tickets on the grandstand side can run from hundreds to thousands based on where you want to sit. My recommendation is that you show up for the first race and enjoy the full day of racing. As the day moves on the betting lines get longer and longer as more people show up. Be prepared to wait in line for everything as the day gets longer, so I also recommend that you get things like souvenirs, food, and landscape photo ops out of the way early because it really does get tough to move around later in the day. My last 2 tips are to get your derby bets in early so you can be a part of all the pageantry around the race instead of waiting in a betting line, and my final tip is to be prepared to wait getting out of parking lots around Churchill Downs after the race as where people show up at various times throughout the day, everyone wants to leave at the same time. Yes, that’s 160,000+ people trying to leave the same event at the same time.

Went to my 1^st Kentucky Derby and it was definitely an eye-​opener! So… either you’re the type that have a list of fun/​new «to dos» in life and in that case, you do not want to miss this. OR you’re those who think everything is overrated then you may think this is overrated as well — you know who you are, so decide accordingly if this is something you like to do.
I went with a group of friends, one of them being from Louisville. We didn’t per se plan our visit, I simply followed suit, but I did have my outfit and fascinator selected (I am a firm believer in getting in the spirit of any events — Derby is known for its fashion, so please dress up! It’s not difficult or has to cost alot). We bought General Admission tickets at the door across from Gate #3 for $ 60 each ($ 5 more than online purchase price of $ 55) — yes, it’s pretty steep for «poor people» infield.
Truth is you can’t see anything in the infield — we were part of an even bigger group that hung out at Turn 2 (that was another story to tell — and sort of the highlight of the day; in short, people rent party buses as a group or in our case a big yellow school bus. That was fun, and crazy, as jello shooters were literally flying through the bus). Turn 2 allows a small glimpse of the track where you can see horses flew by for a split second. BUT there is a big screen along the back stretch (thank goodness).
SO — here are my TIPS for your Derby visit:
1. Read the website for what to bring and what to not bring — especially if it’s your 1^st time. I read it, but no one else did and no one listened to me. You CAN bring food and non-​alcoholic beverages as long as they are in clear container (and not opened for drinks). Paying $ 10 for lousy food was just a total waste of money. You can bring chairs but only through certain gates (#1 & 3) — NO cooler, but somehow you can buy ice once inside.
2. Walk around — just because we were «poor» didn’t mean we couldn’t get over to the «rich» side. Part of the experience is enjoying the sights. 2 of us walked over to the Paddock, saw Bob Costas, the actual race horses before their race, the tiny jockeys and lots of beautiful outfits (and some questionable ones).
3. Sunscreen!!! Or you will be like me and now spotting the oddest sun tan in the shape of my dress top. (to my credit I did put it on my face & neck)
4. Get your program AHEAD of the race — it’s $ 5.50 at local stores or $ 5 at the race, but you skipped the line. And bring yourself a pen/​pencil, or you will be paying for that as well.
5. Bet early — they have an official online site for betting (
) if your home state allows online betting & you want to skip that madness (and they typically have an offer code for new account). OR if you want that «I placed my bet at Churchill Downs» experience, bet EARLY and bet ALL the races you want to bet at 1 visit. Which brings back to #4 — if you have the program ahead you know who and what to bet (but then I guess you don’t know who will scratch)
I thought it was fun — definitely an experience. One day when I hit that jackpot, I will definitely get myself a seat/​box over on the Millionaire Row!

This was my seventh Derby and I have to say that a little of the polish is wearing off! The attendance is now up to a whopping 170,000, and I believe they have pushed way past their limit! This facility was not built to accommodate this type of mass of people!
Yes, I love everything about the Derby and the Oaks, but the lines are getting too long for everything. Betting, drinks, food and especially transportation wait times are almost outrageous!
We waited until after the race that followed the Derby to leave and still had to wait in line 55 min. to get on the bus to Papa John Stadium to get our car. The stadium might be 2 miles from Churchill Downs and that «short» ride took over another hour!!! Could have walked much faster, in fact many asked the bus driver to let them off bus, but we were told he could only open the doors at the drop off area.
Add to this $ 11 drinks, $ 8 hamburgers and $ 4 dollar waters and you could be in for a long very expensive day… Unless you win like I did!
Here is another issue I have! My seats are trackside just past the finish line. For some reason everybody decides to stand on their chairs to watch the big race. Why? Don’t people realize that when everyone stands on a chair they have the same view that they would have if they just stood in their box???
With this all said, I will be back! At least for now. The Derby is something special that all should get a chance to see in their lifetime! The history, beauty and tradition of this event is pretty amazing.

All I can say is I had a blast! If you’ve never been to the derby, you owe it to yourself to make a trip there. I went alone and met soooo many people, so don’t be afraid to do it alone if you have to. But if you have a group of friends, you’d have a blast as well. I bought my tickets from Churchill Downs and they mailed them out in April. My package for Taste of the Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby was close to 700 dollars. To get tickets from Churchill Downs, you’d need to signup online after every derby and they will send you a presale invite in November. And they mail out the tickets in April, a few weeks before the Derby. Other than that, you’d need to buy from a second party. If you can wait, go on Craigslist about a week from the Derby and even three days until the Derby, and people will have really good seats for dirt cheap! That’s if you want to wait that long and chance it.
I sat in section 227 which is one of the new areas. So you have stadium style seats which are comfy! You also have access to the new rooftop areas on the third floor which are really nice! They have all covered areas up there, benches to sit on, really nice, clean, fresh and new restrooms so the lines aren’t even crazy at all! There’s ceiling fans all over the rooftop area. It was very nice! Also you have foods like sliced brisket, pooled pork, lobster, etc in that area. So if you can, sections 227 – 228 are worth the tickets because those are newer areas and they have good views! Especially if you’re a tall girl like me, you won’t have any problems seeing everything! You can do sections 323 – 325 would be so worth sitting in as well, which is probably the next areas I’ll try sitting in when I return, if not section 312 which is on the finish line. You do see the first start in section 227 – 228 and the last turn to the finish! It’s all breath taking and exhilarating! I won my bet on the Derby race and a few other races, so my day was even more exciting! The betting lines do get insanely long so know who you will bet on and get those bets in fairly early and quickly so you don’t have to wait upwards of an hour or more to bet or cash in winning tickets, cause it gets insane! The famous mint juleps are so strong! But if you love bourbon you’ll love those! My favorite drink was the Lilly! It was so good! The drinks are 11 dollars and food averages out to about 9 dollars. So it can get pricey, but who’s counting! You’re at the Kentucky Derby!
Ladies all I can say about the shoes is don’t do stilettos and heels unless they are extremely comfy with shock absorption in it. The concrete will kill your feet! The first day I did ok in my chunky heels but for Derby day I nearly passed out because of standing too long and my blood wasn’t circulating right because my straps were too tight and the concrete was just killing me in the heels. I’ll have to find a really pretty and super comfortable wedge heel next time. You will love flats after this day is over! But make sure you dress to the nines! People will be snapping pictures left and right and will want to include you in all kinds of photos! I’m quite sure there were a lot of people who wished they’d dressed better! Lol. But pretty much close to everyone there were dressed really well! And the guys were extremely dapper! Trust me I’ll be back to the Derby, it’s a ritual now. My next stop is the Preakness and Belmont Stakes! I hope you guys have as much fun as I had going to the Taste of Derby, The Kentucky Oaks and The Kentucky Derby! It’s so worth going to each event. You won’t regret any of it. It’s worth every penny! Here’s to American Pharaoh, my winning horse for 141^st Kentucky Derby!!!

The Kentucky Derby is one of the greatest displays of humanity at its finest and at least finest moments (these moments usually occur later in the day as copious amounts of mint juleps are consumed). Being a northern Yankee who rarely ventures south of the Mason Dixon I have had the opportunity to attend the Derby twice.
My first visit was in 2010 with some college friends and consisted of us getting less than gentile in the infield with the thousands of other post-​collegiate douche-​canoes. My most recent visit was last weekend during the 2014 running and one where the fiancé and co were actually able to see track/​races from the grandstand. Although my Derby experiences were different based on both the weather and where I was there are a few things every Derby guy/​girl should know.
First, come ready to have fun and expect to have a considerable amount of down time in between the races. One of things I didn’t realize before attending in 2010 was that going to the Derby is an all-​day affair. Of course you don’t have to get trashy but with all the drinking/​debauchery going on around you it’s pretty hard not to… and besides who doesn’t love a good bourbon?!
Second, be sure to have an entry and exit plan as getting in and out of the Derby is a cluster. I’m pretty lucky to have a friend who lives a couple miles away from Churchill Downs so walking to the track has always been an option for me. There is parking at CD but it is very expensive and you will wait forever to get your car in and out of the lot. Moreover, there are various places near CD that allow you to park on their private lawns/​lots but I can’t vouch if those are legit.
Thirdly, like Emily H says, bring as much cash with you as possible as the ATM fees are expensive and most vendors only take cash. I was able to find a few places that took credit cards but the wait for those lines were really long and only reasonable to stay in in between races. Also, it should be common knowledge but the betting stations also only take cash as well.
Lastly, plan on eating something during your time at the races since, as I stated before, it’s an all-​day event. My friends and I were able to grab something to eat before heading to the track and also were fortunate to sit by some nice ladies willing to share their snacks with us! You can bring in small bagged food but I do not think they allow you to bring in outside drinks/​booze (although you can find creative ways to sneak them in). Running out of food at the end of the day is a common occurrence so if you’re craving a plate of Kentucky nachos don’t wait.
Going to the Derby has been a fun experience both times and a great way to check out the coolest (IMHO) city in the Commonwealth. If you ever have the opportunity to go, don’t hesitate, grab your finest threads, fanciest hats and prepare your liver for one of the greatest experiences of your life!

The Kentucky Derby! I’ve spent almost all of my life living in Louisville, Kentucky. I grew up knowing the first Saturday in May was a holiday. However, it wasn’t until 2012 when I finally got my life together and went to Derby; I bought general admission (paddock and infield) tickets. I returned this year for a second go-​round with actual seats in the grandstand. After two trips, I ask myself… WHY DID I SPEND SO MANY YEARS NOT GOING???
I’m honestly not even sure what to say in this review, because there are so many things to say. So I apologize if it’s all over the place. I also haven’t experienced every single aspect of Derby, so I can’t give you any reviews of millionaire’s row, etc. (SADLY!) in this review. So, I’ll just say a few things…
–There a variety of options when it comes to tickets. You can buy a general admission ticket for roughly $ 50. That doesn’t give you many opportunities to see horses, but one of the best parts of Derby is the people watching. Yes… the outfits, the HATS (If you don’t wear a hat to Derby, I’m mad at you immediately.), the madness… you’ll see it wherever you are. The infield has a reputation for being wild, but I wouldn’t say that’s everywhere in the infield, so don’t let it scare you. You can also buy tickets. If you plan far enough in advance, you can buy them through Churchill Downs. Get on their e-​mail list for tickets NOW, because that happens in November or so. (Yes, you must plan in advance.) You can always go through a reseller/​Craigslist/​etc., but it was really nice knowing I had my tickets ready for me this year.
–I already said this, but WEAR A HAT. There is NO other time when hats are such a requirement. Make a fashion statement, even if you’re normally not fashionable. Fellas, even you can look snazzy and wear a hat! It’s a good look! ;)
–Make a day of it. There’s a list of regulations and whatnot, but you actually can bring in food («boxed» lunches). Drinks will be expensive ($ 11 for a lily this year, and I believe the same for a mint julep…). Food will be expensive. Eat before you come and bring whatever you need to help you spend your money on the things you want – like gambling (which you should do responsibly!!). Speaking of money, bringing cash is in your best interest so you don’t have to deal with cards. You can also track all of the money you spend that way.
–The facilities are actually quite nice everywhere. Churchill Downs seems to be constantly expanding and adding services. The area I sat in this year recently added a number of restrooms; I didn’t have to wait in line longer than a few minutes at all this year! WOOHOO!
I’m a big bucket list girl and one of those people who travels to do fun stuff frequently. The fact such an amazing event was taking place literally just a few miles from my house every year and I didn’t experience it until I was in my mid-​twenties… I can’t believe it!!! If you’re from Louisville, Kentucky, or anywhere, it’s worth the trip. You really can’t experience Derby a «wrong» way, so make it how you want it to be, and make the most of it! (I still feel like I’m forgetting things to say, so if you have questions, feel free to message me!)

After six years of going to Derby, there is always something new to see and new memories to make.
I hope that after living in this city for several more decades, I still look forward to Derby as much as I do now.
But rather than write a poor imitation of Hunter S. Thompson’s «The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved» — yes, the fancy people can be found puking up their mint juleps if you look for it, and the infield can be a debaucherous mess full of bourbon Slip ‘N’ Slides — I’m using this review to share a few things I’ve learned about Derby.
So here are some tips to help you come out of Derby with (most) of your money, with all of the items you walked into Churchill Downs with and with a pleasant memory to look back on.
The first is kind of obvious but bears repeating: Don’t bet more than what you’re comfortable with. Whether that’s $ 2 or $ 2,000, know your limit, and look at betting on the Derby race, especially, more as a way to get in on the fun rather than as a payday.
If you’re a lady, come to Derby in a fancy hat at least once. The hats are my favorite part, I’ll admit, and I relish the opportunity to wear a big, colorful chapeau. Go out and find a hat that makes you feel special; you’ll feel special all day wearing it.
But even if you wear a fancy hat, don’t wear heels — or rather, don’t wear heels unless you have a private, inside box to walk around in barefoot. I’ve seen many ladies hobble out of Churchill Downs at the end of the day — and it wasn’t because of the mint juleps. They looked in pain, taking short little steps — definitely not chic. Save yourself by wearing flats or better yet, stow a pair of flip flops in your purse.
Grab all the cash you’ll need before you come. The ATM lines are a major time-​suck, and they carry hefty fees. But conversely, the women’s restroom lines look like they’ll take all day, but they really don’t. So when you get in line several hundred feet from the restroom, know that you’ll be back to watching the races very soon.
While the alcohol booths may all look the same, they aren’t. Yes, some specialize in expensive, Woodford Reserve mint juleps, while others have the Early Times variety. But even among them, there are good and bad bartenders. If you find a booth that is heavy on the bourbon, stick with it. It also seemed like some of the bartenders put their own spins on the alcoholic beverages — for better or for worse.
If you can at all swing it, buy a seat. Don’t do the GA pass for the infield and paddock. After a long hot day around Churchill, a seat to call your own from which you can actually see the track is priceless.
And similarly, spring for parking in the ‘hood around Churchill if you can. It can be worth the $ 20 or $ 30. The wait for the shuttle back to Papa John’s Stadium can take agonizingly long at the end of the day and the walk to the stadium from Churchill can feel twice as long as it really is, if you decide to forgo the shuttle — especially if you did not heed my advice above and wore heels. Parking in a random guy’s front yard that’s a hop, skip and a jump from the track will seem delightful come 6:30 p.m. — and that random guy might just be having a cook-​out and give you a free hotdog.
If you find a sale on rain ponchos during April, seize upon it, and grab a few. If Derby is rainy, you’ll be happy you saved some moolah from not having to buy a marked-​up, thin piece of plastic. And your pretty hat will be safe.
Learn the words to «My Old Kentucky Home» — or at least be sober enough to read them from the large screens around Churchill when they play it before the big race. It really helps get you into the Derby spirit.
Louisville is blessed to have the Kentucky Derby. Be smart about it, and you can have a great time at the track.