Ky Derby Veteran? Please Advise!

General Admission gets you access to infield and paddock areas but not seats. so if you want to actually view the race you might want to get tickets Ticket prices can be a couple hundred to several thousand depending on how good a view you want. I doubt you want to spend time with Mrs. SMS in the infield with the drunk partying college crowd. If you want to get back to the backside barns (I guess this is horse racings pits) on Derby Day you need to have an Owner, Trainers license or work back there to get access. I have an owners license and have gotten back there before and also been turned away too. Not much to see there though except a bunch of stinking horse stalls and an occasional Baffort or Lucas sighting.

There are parties all over for Derby and Oaks (Day before derby) The Big Party where the stars go is the night before Derby it is the Barnstable/Brown Party you can find tickets to it online but they are expensive $1200+ a piece. It is a black tie party as well.

I would definitely recommend getting tickets to at least the grandstand area to have an enjoyable experience. Others may have better advice. Look around online maybe google derby parties. If you have any specific questions I or someone else from Louisville can probably answer them.

 

Infield is the way to go Does a guy ever get too old to watch a college girl expose her "friends" while up one some guys shoulders? Just because you're chained to the fence, doesn't mean you can't bark at the cars driving by. Nothing like going to the infield bathroom urinal and having a girl squat on the urinal next to you while you take a leak because the men's room line is shorter.

I think if you can get hold of some regular tickets, you can always venture into the infield to see the experience and then escape after a bit.

The celeb filled parties are generally invite only. Most bars will be charging covers just because derby and the crowds. The day before, Oaks Day is actually a very tame gathering with huge crowds but less craziness. The stakes races aren't as big still fun.

 

I will never go in the infield again. It's a bunch of red necks getting drunk looking for a fight. I prefer to get together with friends at their houses and having a party there. I like Thunder but will only go to the family crowds..you get the same thing downtown of a bunch of red neck drunks looking for a fight. Got my nose broken a long time ago at thunder. It just seems like certain areas you get more southend mentality people popping up more.

 

You know I could host a Derby Party for all F-chat members. Maybe do a cruise during thunder and I have a friend who would allow us to watch the fireworks from the river front with private parking.

 

I have both been to infield and had tickets to the grandstand on Derby Day. Both were positive experiences, but IMO the grandstand seats are the way to go. In the grandstand you can actually see the races, you feel more like you are at the Derby than at some Mardi Gras type party, which is how the infield gets. If I had to choose now between going to the infield and watching from home, I would stay at home. If I could get grandstand tickets again, I would certainly go back.

The Derby is a great event and the atmosphere at Churchill Downs that day is spectacular. If you can get a hold of some tickets, you would definitely not be disappointed. There is just a contagious energy there that makes the trip certainly worthwhile.

 

I actually haven't been to the infield in 9 years. It is just one of those things that you need to see once, like the Indy 500 infield, if you get the chance. If you get the grandstand or some box tickets, you can always go check it out and come back to the outside of the track. With 35-40 minutes between each 2 minute race, there is a lot of time to check things out.
Oaks day is a lot more low key, but the high stakes players are still there. The seats are all full of decked out people and the infield is more subdued with live concerts and other activities.

 

It is worth doing once, if only to see humanity at it's worst.

Read "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved" by Hunter S. Thompson.

That sounds 100X more appealing than the track.

 

"Pit Passes" at a Horse Race just doesn't sound like a good way to enjoy a day. Although, I suppose you could watch the horses trying to pass inspection. Checking aerodynamics, restrictor plates, etc. Make sure no one is cheating.


Family in Louisville goes, but never been myself, always catch it on the TV for the 2 minutes of the race, but nothing else. Are there multiple races happening? All before the main event? Anything after?

 

Sorry, sense of humor kicked in & I couldn't resist...Better what I posted than the visual of someone "checking fluid levels"...

 

There is an entire day of horse racing, the Derby race itself is the 10th race of the day and there are 12 total. In fact I would say that there is a whole week worth of events leading up to the Kentucky Derby, but it is more like an entire month starting with a large fireworks show called Thunder Over Louisville. During the week of the Derby race, there are Kentucky Derby Festival events going on everyday in Louisville.

The day before the Derby is the Oaks Race at Churchill Downs, it is like the Kentucky Derby but for fillies. It is a little more relaxed than Derby day, though it still gets around 100,000 people at the track.

 

Bill - The best ticket is to the Kentucky Oaks which is in effect Derby but for the "locals/regionals" and is the crown philly race on Friday which is a state holiday for all practical purposes. It has all the fanfare and prestige as does the Ky. Derby. In my opinion as an ex-horse owner the better of the two is the Kentucky Oaks. It has the prestige and as others will attest all the glitz, stars, world class racing and the best people watching in the world, second to none.

I've been everywhere at the track during Derby and Oaks - Millionaire's Row to the infield and points inbetween. Best bet is to pick up good tickets at the track day of ($200/seat), or I'll get you some good one's if you want. Arrive at track at least by noon and expect to be at the track until 6pm at least. From there she'll want to freshen up and then you'll need black tie for the Mint-Julip Ball which will cover dinner and dancing. I would plan on reserving a hotel room - but you'll have to do now and I can help you w/ that. Which means that most plan for mimosas and a country ham breakfast by 10am and don't wind up until late that night. If you want the abrievated experience you can either drive in and arrive at the track early afternoon either Friday or Saturday and then leave before the big race - it's the old "in-out."

Give me a shout and I'll get you set up either way.
S

http://www.kentuckyoaks.com/2008/

http://www.churchilldowns.com/visit_the_track/plan_your_visit/maps_and_directions/seating%20chart.pdf

 

That sounds like fun - he'll I can throw in with you. We're down on the river and can see all the jets from where I live - in their holding pattern. Getting downtown for the show is easy getting out is a little more difficult w/ some 700k people in attendance. That's why we watch from one of the parks on the river to the east of the city. We difinitely need to plan a run that Saturday though!

 

I have had some fantastic times at the infield, all when I was young (and inebriated). It gets pretty hectic for sure. To actually enjoy the racing and atmosphere, you can not go wrong with the Oaks. The F-Chat party sounds interesting also though... Maybe you could work out some combination of the two.