How to Attend the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is considered by many to be the ultimate challenge and the highest honor in American thoroughbred racing. The race is held every year on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Tickets are hard to find but the celebrity sightings, the big hats and the mint juleps, along with the awe inspiring beauty of watching the finest 3-year old horses in the country run their hearts out, make this one of the most exciting live sporting events in the world.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Contact a ticket broker and book a ticket online. Expect to pay up to 10 times as much as the face value of the ticket when you buy from a third party.
2. Apply for tickets to attend the Kentucky Derby a year in advance (see Resources below). The best seats are often sold out, but you may be able to reserve Grandstand seats. Expect a response from the committee by November prior to the May race date. If you're in the Finalist Pool, you may receive a notification as late as February of the race year.
3. Join the Churchill Downs Twin Spires Club (see Resources below). Keep in mind that club members who earn points may increase their chances of getting selected over those members with no points.
4. Join the masses in the infield by picking up tickets on race day. Pack some beverages and a comfortable lawn chair, and expect to attend the race with up to 75,000 fans.
5. Pay for general admission tickets and find a place to stand behind the grandstand or the clubhouse. Be warned--you'll probably be watching the race from a television monitor due to overcrowding.
6. Get to the racetrack early--we're talking 6:00 am--and line up at gate number 10 for the best general admission tickets. If you're lucky you'll be able to attend the race from one of the coveted spots on the grass near the first turn.

Tips & Warnings

• Book a plane ticket to Louisville, Kentucky at least 3 months in advance.
• Book a hotel room up to a year in advance. Most hotels sell out early, and those that have availability will charge up to three times the regular rate during the weekend of the Kentucky Derby.
• Ticket scalping is illegal in Kentucky.