Kentucky Derby Logistics Guide (What Tickets to Buy & Where to Stay)
This guide to the Kentucky Derby is brought to you by a 25-year-old former frat role player (wasn’t cool enough / party enough to be considered a former frat star).
Author Stats:
4 Derbies attended
3 Oaks attended
2 brain cells remaining post-Derby Sunday
1 Derby with negative betting ROI (Angel of Empire not getting up for 2nd last year screwed me)
Terminology
Thursday: Thurby
Friday: Kentucky Oaks (female Derby)
Saturday: Kentucky Derby
Frontside = anything outside of the oval
Derby and Oaks Day = all-inclusive land (“free” food and booze)
Infield = inside the oval
TICKETS
Option 1: Reserved seat for both days (> $1k)
You’re going to be spending over a grand on tickets alone if you choose this one, doesn’t matter the site.
Link: Reserved Seating | Seating experience | Kentucky Derby (Note: the pre-sale tickets are sold out, so you’ll have to navigate to another site to purchase)
Option 2: Frontside GA ($730 after fees)
New for this year. Get all the perks of the all-inclusive at a much more attractive price point.
Fact: I’ve had seats for the Oaks 3 times, and not once did I ever sit down. I’m sure it’s a different beast on Derby Day, but you should be able to sneak a view at many different spots.
Link: Frontside General Admission | My Churchill Downs AccountManager
Option 3: Oaks seat & Derby infield (approximately $263 total)
As of Feb 2nd, you can get a reserved seat for Oaks only for less than $150 (On TickPick) & $113 after fees for Derby infield.
This has been the go-to for the last few years. Reserved seating and all-inclusive for the Oaks and then join the chaos that is the Derby infield. Best of both worlds like we’re Miley Cyrus. Would be nice to have Miley Cyrus money, prepare to pay $15 per drink and another $15-20 on food in the infield.
As far as infield views, you’ll be able to see a little bit of the track at the first turn, but you’ll be primarily watching on the Jumbotron (which everyone with a seat does too tbh). The downside of the infield is the lines: food, booze, and betting are all challenging with the mass of people there. That same reason is also why it’s so much fun.
Oaks (I recommend TickPick, if you use this link to sign up we’ll both get $10): https://tickpick.page.link/UzRu
Derby infield: https://www.ticketmaster.com/150th-kentucky-derby-infield-general-admission-louisville-kentucky-05-04-2024/event/16005F6BED795F1C
Option 4: infield both days ($172 after fees)
You’ll likely end up spending $110 on booze and food in the infield on Oaks day, but this will be back to back chaotic fun.
Note: you also could buy an infield ticket for Derby only (see option 3 link)
Link: ISM | My Churchill Downs AccountManager
OTHER NOTEWORTHY
4th Street Live (a bar in downtown Louisville) does a concert Friday night, they haven’t announced who’s coming for this year yet, but stay tuned. Last year was Diplo.
WHERE TO STAY
Downtown works well if you’re going to be here for Friday night / Saturday night since the concert is right there on Friday.
The Highlands is a fun bar scene.
As far as safety, things around the track / west Louisville can get a little sketchy. The rule of thumb is the more Northeast you go, the less of a city / more of a suburb it feels. I live in St Matthews.
FAQ
Shoot us an email at firstrodoeracingllc@gmail.com if you have any questions!
