How to Get a Kentucky Derby Press Pass

For more than 133 years, the first Saturday of May has signaled the "greatest 2 minutes in sports." Those 2 minutes happen to center around 3-year-old thoroughbreds in the first leg of the Triple Crown, better known as the Kentucky Derby. More than a horse race, the Kentucky Derby is an event to be covered. Follow these steps to get a press pass to the Kentucky Derby.

Instructions

1. Know that the Kentucky Derby always takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

2. Understand that as a public traded company, Churchill Downs has specific policies for communicating with the media that includes releasing information to national wire services for the widest distribution. Additionally, only designated spokespersons from the communications or management team speak on events held at Churchill Downs. So, using a press pass to get an exclusive from the people who run the show is entirely unlikely.

3. Assess your work situation. If you already work for a publication-newspaper, magazine, website--it's just a matter of talking your editor into allowing you to do a feature on some aspect of the Kentucky Derby.

4. Query publications if you're a freelance writer or photographer. Be sure to come up with a unique slant to a story idea in order to get the thumbs up for the assignment.

5. Ask for an assignment letter from whichever publication you plan to work for. An assignment letter assures the people at the Kentucky Derby that you have a legitimate reason for requesting a press pass.

6. Contact the Communications Department at Churchill Downs to request a press pass. Write to Churchill Downs Communication Department, 700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208, or call [phone].