Kentucky Derby Tips: How To Attend and What To Expect

If you’re going to the races, you’d better prepare in advance. Based on our experience when we decided to attend the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, in May 2018, we can safely say that even if you’re going to the races as a spectator, there are nuances you should know about.

You’d be surprised, but even tons of guides online offer advice on what to wear. So for those who are new to this kind of sport, we decided to create a guide, after reading which you will:

• learn how to plan your ticket purchase;
• find out how to choose the right seat;
• decide on appropriate and comfortable clothing;
• discover what an important item you should take with you!

With this information, you can easily relax and enjoy the race entirely.

 Top 5 Kentucky Derby Tips

1. If you want to save money and buy a ticket, find out when the pre-sale starts. Usually, it happens at the end of October or the beginning of November. On the official website, you can subscribe to the presale notification. By doing so, you can choose the best seat and save money.
2. Next, start monitoring flights to buy tickets in advance. This way, you can save a couple hundred dollars because the earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will be. Often tickets are cheaper during the week, late at night or early in the morning.
3. In order not to worry and not to waste time looking for a good hotel, and not to deal with transportation and the Internet, we advise you to order a package through Derby Experiences. Managers of the company will take care of your vacation and help with everything. In addition to tickets, hotel, and transportation, they will also guide you to parties, arrange a tour, and help with the choice of clothes and seats; in short, they’ll do everything for your comfort.
4. A word of advice for girls: Check if you have a hat that you can take with you to the races. If not, buy yourself one that fits your look.
5. To fully immerse yourself in the horse racing atmosphere, try a mint julep, the official drink of this popular social event. And of course, place bets on the races, and see if you get lucky.

What to Know Before Attending the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is not just one race. First of all, there are several of them, and secondly, in addition to the races, there are various events to entertain the guests.

So, every day, there are from 11 to 14 races of varying lengths:

• Thursday is the Terby. It’s basically a community event.
• Friday is Oaks Day. It’s a race for the mares.
• Saturday is the event everyone is there for, which is Derby Day.

To keep tourists entertained, locals organize festivals, fireworks, parties, parades and even fashion contests. You can also visit the Derby Museum.

Below is a photo of the Thunder Over Louisville festival in 2023.

95% of Tickets Are Sold in the Fall

Therefore, in order to have time to buy a seat and rent a hotel, you need to buy tickets already at the end of October or early November. Of course, even closer to the Derby you will probably have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the race, but you are unlikely to be happy with your choice, because the worst and most expensive options will remain.

If you don’t choose an all-inclusive package, you risk being left without a place to stay or money. Since a huge number of tourists are coming, all the hotels will be full and prices will increase several times. So do it ahead of time!

Already in September when we started planning our trip it was hard to find a suitable option, imagine what happens in the city in spring!

Buy a Plane Ticket First

Even if you haven’t bought tickets to the races yet, buy a plane ticket! We decided to buy our ticket in the winter, we thought there was plenty of time left. The ticket was $1,300 at that time, but in September it was $600! We didn’t think that the difference would be so big! Moreover, we had to fly to Dayton first! Don’t make the same mistake we did.

To save money on the flight, you can not fly directly to Louisville, but fly to Cincinnati or Indianapolis first and then rent a car and drive to Louisville.

Trust Only the Official Website

If you see discounts somewhere or find companies that organize tours for too favorable a price, make sure that they can be trusted, and it is better to book only on the official site. On emotions you may pay to scammers and end up missing the races and losing money.

You Probably Don’t Want Infield General Admission

It’s most cost-effective to buy a general admission ticket to the field for $95. However, you will have to stand among thousands of people for three days. Moreover, you are unlikely to see the races properly. That’s why we advise you to buy a seat to enjoy the event to the fullest, especially if it’s your first time!

Don’t Overthink Your Seat Selection

When we started planning our trip, we had no idea which are the best seats to choose. But we knew for sure that the usual entrance ticket was not for us. Having never been to Churchill Downs or a horse race, choosing seats felt overwhelming.

There are so many factors to consider—price, location, type of seat—that it made our heads spin. We even considered giving up on picking seats altogether!

But you definitely can’t go wrong with the Jumbotron! It’s huge! So you’ll see the finish line 100% wherever you sit. Determine how much you’re willing to spend on a seat and buy a ticket. Don’t try to pick the perfect seat, everyone has their own one. Choose a seat where you feel comfortable.

We ended up in Section 328, in the Wicker Garden area. These open-air seats on the far left of the grandstand gave us a great view of the race starts but almost no view of the finishes. However, when we think back to our Derby experience, we don’t regret the seats at all. Your seating choice will likely have little impact on your overall enjoyment of the day.

One area I’d personally avoid is the new paddock seating. For me, not being by the track to watch the races would be a bit of a disappointment.

Bet on Races

For the first part of Oaks Day, we avoided the wagering windows at Churchill Downs. However, after reading the “How to Wager” guide in the official program, we gained some confidence, and we decided to place a bet on Midnight Bisou.

We kept our wagers small, sticking close to the $2 minimum, which made it feel more like a fun game. It’s a shame we didn’t figure out earlier what are the best ways to bet, and in general, who is the best to bet on. Placing bets on the site not only gets you emotionally involved in each race, but also encourages you to discover more about the horses and their chances.

What Clothes To Wear?

Nowadays, you may not be so concerned about dressing up, but you should dress like you’re going to a social gathering. No one will judge what brand of clothes you are wearing, but there are general dress code rules:

• men should wear a suit.
• women – dresses that cover the knees and shoulders, or classic pantsuits. An obligatory attribute is a ladies’ hat.

Flat Shoes Are Perfectly Fine

After seeing someone in Crocs, we realized that there really isn’t a strict shoe dress code. If you’re not used to wearing heels, don’t feel like you need to. You’ll be on your feet for over 8 hours, so prioritize comfort.

Wear Pink for Oaks Day

Oaks Day on Friday is dedicated to the fillies’ races, and the tradition is to wear pink. Everyone participates, so be sure to have something pink in your outfit for this day.

Comply With Purse Size Restrictions

Backpacks and bags should be up to 12x6x12 to ensure safety. It is better to choose a shoulder bag to be more comfortable and bring water, hand sanitizer, wipes.

Also carry the race program with you everywhere! This will make it easier for you to navigate and you won’t have to keep asking people what’s going on, when and where to go.