The Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky is known as the greatest two minutes in sports. I was raised loving the Kentucky Derby because my mom went to University of Kentucky and my parents lived in Louisville when they just got married. My mom has been to the Derby several times and has it down to a science by now. This past week was my second time at the Kentucky Derby, with my first time being in 2019. It is a large event with over 147,000 people, usually bad weather, and a long day of drinking and betting. Here are some of my tips if you are planning on going.
Go To The Kentucky Oaks!
If you don’t particularly care about the Derby but want the experience you should go to the Kentucky Oaks the day before. The Oaks is the racing of female horses and is essentially the same experience with cheaper tickets. Just as female sports in college, they don’t get as much hype.
Stay At A Hotel Further Out
Don’t stay in downtown Louisville because it will be a literal nightmare with traffic and too expensive. We stayed at a hotel near the mall area and it was significantly cheaper.
Call A Taxi
Ubers are hard to get because everyone is trying to arrive and leave at the same time. Not to mention that Uber charges surge pricing so it is much more expensive. Calling a Taxi is much more effective because not everyone thinks of it. Then you can get the drivers direct number and call them to get you around the rest of the weekend.
Organize Your Tickets Ahead Of Time
Just like many sporting events and concerts, the Kentucky Derby has taken on virtual tickets that can be sent to your email and scanned as a QR code. Make sure that you sort through your email and download them ahead of time. There is nothing worse then trying to figure it out in the chaos of the line after you have already been drinking. Also, I do not recommend using StubHub to purchase your tickets because even if you have a confirmation of purchase, if you do not have the exact ticket for any reason, you will not be able to get in.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
The Kentucky Derby is all about fashion, but particularly the hats. No one cares about your shoes. You need to be wearing your most comfortable appropriate shoes. This is not the place for your tallest showy heels, you will die in those. I wore very comfortable low heels that I got off of Amazon, my friend wore Birkenstocks that were hidden by her long dress, and my other friend wore trendy tennis shoes with this suit.
Bright Colors and Patterns Are Everything
Pick out your most fun and colorful outfit! Everyone loves to go big or go home with floral, seersucker, and some crazy patterns. The hats are usually over the top too.
Research The Horses Ahead of Time!
Odds always change leading up to the race but it is a good idea to look up the horses, jockeys, trainers and odds before going to Churchill Downs. There is nothing worse than spotty wifi.
Download the TwinSpires App
The app is great if you want to bet directly from your phone instead of having to get up and wait in line to make a bet. There is a $5 credit card fee but depending how much you plan on betting throughout the day, this will be worth it.
Don’t Attempt To Go To A Restaurant After
Over 140,000 people are leaving Churchill Downs and looking for a place to grab dinner. Wait times at restaurants will be ridiculous if they are not already booked. However, there will be plenty of street food vendors to check out or you will probably end up at a fast food place. We ate dinner at Dave and Busters by our hotel which felt silly.
No Need To Sneak In Food Or Drinks!
In 2019, we managed to sneak in several shooters under my dress because they were plastic bottles with non metal caps so the metal detector did not notice anything. This saved us so much money because at the time, drinks were $15. Now, if you have a ticket that anywhere but the infield, the ticket comes with an all inclusive experience of food and drinks. They changed this to combat long lines and it is so convenient!
Bring A Light Sweater Or Rain Jacket
It is almost a guarantee that the weather won’t be perfect. Dress to be comfortable during these conditions and bring a sweater you can easily pack. Umbrellas are also extremely impractical so if you are expecting rain you will want a rain jacket.
Final Advice
Lastly, the best I advice can give you is to expect things to go wrong. Never bet more than you are willing to lose, don’t be upset by bad weather, and don’t let ticketing inconveniences ruin your day.
Oh and also, make sure you talk to the people sitting next to you or standing in line with you. Some of my fondest memories are making friends with random people who were just as happy to be there as I was. It truly is an incredible experience.
Some wonderful tips, the Kentucky Derby has always been a race I would absolutely love to attend
Thanks for your comment! You definitely should go!