Travel Sporting Events: Kentucky Derby

Where?

Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky

 

When?

The first Saturday in May.

 

Significance:

At two minutes, the race itself is likely shorter than your travel time. Parking, walking to the track, and finding your seat will take longer. However, size isn’t everything.

This is an event rife with tradition of pricey hat-wearing horse-race aficionados sipping mint juleps while placing their wager on their favorite horse. This is truly an all-day event and the race itself promises excitement and drama. Yes, there are other races, but the Kentucky Derby is the main event of the day and the racing season.

Whether you are a casual equine enthusiast or a hardcore fan of the sport of kings, this is a premier sporting event to attend.

Funny Cide, 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winner by Lisa Andres

 

 

Who attends?

Fashion is not what it used to be at the Kentucky Derby. From well-dressed to nattily attired, the crowd can resemble a fashion show. There are those who forsake tradition and choose the t-shirt and shorts route. Some decide a bare-chested au naturel look is for them. The free flow of alcohol and money for gambling makes this an adult gathering.

Even with Churchill Downs’s capacity of 51,000, Derby crowds can reach 165,000. Even though the annual event is always a sellout, don’t lose hope, infield tickets are often available on race day. VIPs are in the clubhouse while fans on a more limited budget fill the infield and grandstand.

 

 

Tickets:

It is possible to attend the Kentucky Derby by general admission on race day. Those tickets approximately forty dollars per person) are unlimited and only sold on Derby Day. No advance sales are available. Seating is unlikely as the tickets are for Standing Room only.

For secondary ticket access, and your best bet (no pun intended) for this event, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.

2345 Waukegan Road, suite 140
Bannockburn, Il 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
e-mail: sales[at]gotickets.com

If you choose to live the life of a Churchill Downs VIP, third-floor clubhouse seats, a few sections off the finish line in sections 315 and 318, are available for a couple thousand dollars on the secondary ticket market.
The best value for a ticket, simply put, are the first-floor grandstand seats. If you want the best ticket period, no pun intended, get ready to “pony” up the dough. Millionaires Row (4th, 5th, and 6th level clubhouse on the finish line) will set you back several thousand dollars. For the best deals check with a GoTickets representative.

Race in action by boboroshi

 

 

Accommodations:

Horseshoe Casino Hotel Southern Indiana

11999 Casino Center Drive southeast
Elizabeth, In 47117
Fax: (812) 969-6780

Toll-Free: 1-866-676-sHoe

Note: Right over the border in Indiana, it is only about a half hour from the track. With a casino on site, it offers those who don’t get enough gambling at the track some more opportunities.

 

Holiday Inn Louisville Downtown

120 West Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 582-2241
Fax: (502) 584-8591
Toll-Free: 1-877-863-4780

Note: A good value for Derby week. Nothing too fancy with this standard Holiday Inn located downtown.

 

Galt House Hotel

140 North 4th street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 589-5200
Fax: (502) 585-9029
Toll-Free: 1-800-THe-GalT

Note: This historic hotel is the official host hotel of Churchill Downs. A lot of history has taken place at this hotel, including the original meeting to form the Kentucky Derby.

 

 

On-site Hospitality:

Churchill Downs does not rest on its historical laurels when it comes to hospitality. Every year, more impressive options crop up for fans.

Marquee Village: spacious chalets, available in varying sizes, will accommodate larger groups, offering private patios with umbrella tables for open-air dining. Each chalet includes reserved grandstand seating on Churchill Downs’ first turn. Marquee Village is literally a mini village of corporate tents set up in a private area. It is not for everyone. You need a pass to get in. There is also a betting area in the village that is less crowded than the public lines in other sections. A short walk to the grandstand is another perk.

Infield Suites: Glass-enclosed suites down the homestretch provide a unique viewing perspective of the track. Sitting in this area, you actually face the grandstand and clubhouse
sections, giving you the feeling of being right on top of the action.

Section 111 Suite: These are double-decked suites on Churchill Downs’ famous first turn. The best suite option for the price, although it provides the worst view of all the suites.

Finish Line Suites: leave your binoculars at home. Positioned between the winner’s circle and the finish line, this area provides an incomparable view of the Kentucky Derby. Located right on the finish line, not only does it give you a great view of the race, but an up-close seat to watch the winning horse receive the coveted garland of roses in the winner’s circle.

Trackside Village: spacious accommodations for large groups of people. This provides the best option for groups of over 100. Each glass-enclosed unit features two floors and a sizeable patio with a panoramic view of the track and grandstand. Upscale style and comfort with lavish buffets, a premium bar, closed-circuit TVs, patio or rooftop decks, and exclusive access to pari-mutuel windows or self-betting machines.

Derby Day 2006 by MCHart

 

 

Travel Packages:

If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed here have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must see sporting event.

Premiere Corporate Events

14 Penn Plaza, suite 925
New York, NY 10122

Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
e-mail: requests[at]tseworld.com

Premiere Sports Travel

201 shannon oaks circle, suite 205
cary, nc 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
e-mail: sales[at]sportstravel.com

Premiere Sports Travel has a terrific assortment of hospitality options available with their Kentucky Derby packages. Both of these companies offer individual hospitality options for consumers as well as add-on options like horse farm tours and private meet and greets with celebrity jockeys, trainers, and handicappers.

 

 

Dining:

Irish Rover

2319 Frankfort avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: (502) 899-3544
Fax: (502) 899-7977

Note: True to its Irish roots of raising community and relaxation to an art form. This “social center” is a place for friends and family to meet, talk over the issues of the day, and enjoy authentic Irish food and homemade wine. Great atmosphere and a great place to meet people.

 

Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant

150 south 5th street
louisville, kY 40202
Phone: (502) 580-1350
Fax: (502) 580-1355

Note: Best value in town for a quality meal.

 

Mark’s Feed Store BBQ

1514 Bardstown Road
louisville, kY 40205
Phone: (502) 458-1570
Fax: (502) 458-9492

Note: Do not let the name fool you. This is a very high-quality meal. The ribs are their specialty.

 

 

Airport:

Louisville International Airport (just ten minutes from downtown Louisville)
600 Terminal Drive
Louisville,KY 40209
Phone: (502) 367-4636

Sports Travel insider’s edge:

by MCHart

 

 

Best way to watch the action:

All totaled, the horse races last less than a half-hour. You have another six hours to keep yourself occupied. Without the luxury of a hospitality suite, you may want to find an individual spot in the Marquis Village hospitability tents. Those can be purchased through private hospitality companies. Add to that the option of a seat in the third floor clubhouse sections (315 to 318) to watch the race. No money for seats? The 100 level is on the first turn. It is close to the Marquis Village and provides a unique view of the race.

 

 

Best place to get up close:

The paddock area will show you the horses before they are led out to the track. There is a special viewing section roped off to get an up-close view of the jockeys, horses, and trainers. Crowds tend to gather there, so make sure you get out of there early enough so that you do not miss the race.

 

 

Best travel tip:

Leaving right after the Kentucky Derby race is unwise at best. Approximately 75 percent of the crowd is looking for the exit. Patience is key. Let the crowd thin out and you will find it much easier to leave Churchill Downs after all the races have been run. Maybe even place a wager on a post-Derby race to make up for any money you lost on the main race.

 

 

Notable Quotes:

“Until you go to Kentucky and with your own eyes behold the Derby, you ain’t never been nowheres and you ain’t never seen nothin’!”—Irvin S. Cobb, American author and columnist

“It’s the sport of kings, it’s the greatest two minutes in sports, and it’s the greatest horse race in the world.”—Steve Nunn, former Kentucky state representative

“This is the aspiration of anybody and everybody in the horse business. It’s just overwhelming.”—Jim Tafel, horse owner and breeder

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Tuchman is the Sports Editor for Wandering Educators.  This is an excerpt from his book, 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live.

 

 

Feature photo: Mike's victory dance, 2005
Mike "raises the roof" on Giacomo after winning the Derby, by  Boboroshi

 

All photos used under flickr's creative commons license.