Kentucky Derby trip - tips?

[bayheart]

I figured there are bound to be a few seasoned Kentucky Derby goers here who can offer some tips/tricks for a first timer!

I have been to Churchill Downs before but never for the Derby and I’m sure it will be a whole different experience. My friends and I have General Admission tickets and have already been advised to get there very early to claim a decent spot with our caution tape. We are trying to do this on a budget, so any other advice would be great!

I’m especially curious about what you have found is better to carry in vs. buy and what to wear. (We aren’t set on dressing fancy but are considering casual dresses and rain boots)

We will also be there the day before and after the Derby, any cool (read: also relatively inexpensive) stuff we must see/do? I know we can’t possibly do everything in a small amount of time but this might help us prioritize what we want to do during this trip.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[danceronice]

Haven’t been but the one thing I’ve heard is wait and don’t leave right after the Derby because getting out is a zoo. (Besides it’s never the last race on the card.)

[bayheart]

Ah yes, that sounds like a great idea! Thanks

[danceronice]

Oh, and from every single track I HAVE been to, sunscreen.

[Daisyesq]

I will be attending for the first time also! Never been to Churchill Downs, and I’ve only seen TB racing a couple of times. Hubby said this is on our “bucket list”, so we’re going!
We have been invited as guests for a corporate event. Sweet!
So, here’s my questions: do I really have to wear a hat? What drink should I order if I don’t like bourbon?! Oh, and of course, pick a winner for me, COTH!

[Laurierace]

You don’t have to wear a hat but they are fun and most people will have one. Try a fascinator if you can’t stand the hat. I forget what it is called but the drink they sell for the Oaks is really tasty, something with grey goose in it. They also have drink stands that sell specialty drinks aside from the lighter fluid mint julep.

[Aspercel]

Even if you wait it is still a zoo trying to get out. If you don’t wear comfy shoes at least stick some flip flops in your purse. That’s my big tip.

[Texarkana]

Parking can be bad… prepare to pay.

Plan to hang out and be in no rush to get out of there-- one year I had catch a plane back that evening. Talk about a nightmare!

As far as general Louisville stuff, I am far from an expert, but I really like eating at Bluegrass Brewing Company when I’m there. It’s just upscale bar fare, but the food and beer are good! The Fourth Street area can be fun, too.

[bayheart]

Thanks for all the info and keep it coming =)

Daisyesq: I hope you enjoy your first Derby, too!

[GallopGirl]

I had an absolute blast when I went. We had a box right above the tunnel where the horses came out onto the track.

Hats - go to Dee’s. I had mine custom made to match my outfits, and they were a lot more reasonable than most of the pre-made ones sold. I think I paid $600 for both. They dropped them off at my hotel and picked them up the day after, then shipped them back to my house. I had them make my fascinators for the Breeder’s Cup the following year.

Here are the pics of my headwear from the Oaks and Derby, then BC the next year:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77962324@N07/sets/72157644353186784/

Parking - I love parking in people’s front yards who live near the track. I give them an extra $20 and tell them to keep my car at the front so I can just dash out.

Gear to bring - I brought a tote bag with an extra jacket, snacks (lines were impossibly long for food), water, sunscreen, and my Tory Burch flats. A little classier than flip flops, but saved my feet. The hats actually help with the sun. A camera is a must!

It’s a long day, so be prepared to be very tired at the end. I didn’t drink much because of that, but the yummy pink drinks you’re talking about are Lilly’s. They are named after the flower of the Oaks the day before. It’s pink and oh so yummy! They’re served in the same commemorative glasses as the mint juleps, so you really aren’t missing out. $10 a pop, so ouch!

You MUST go to Keenland while you’re there. It’s open to the public, so you can walk through the barn area, have breakfast in the track kitchen, etc. I know there are a number of stud farms that also offer tours. Didn’t do those, but sounded fun.

If you know some folks associated with the race (trainers/jocks/owners) make sure you get invites to all the parties. It’s the 2nd best part of the whole deal!!

[Heart_s_Journey]

I went back in '82 (Gato Del Sol and I picked him) and '88 Winning Colors (didn’t pick her) but a big group of us rented a motorohome and drove from South Fla. We didn’t have seats, so we were in the infield with 100,000 crazies… It was quite an experience, but I swore I wouldn’t go back again until I had a real seat…

We dressed very casually of course, and they check for liquor, so you have to be sneaky. We poured amaretto into a half gallon jug of milk (quite tasty), vodka into orange juice, and I put a bottle of rum in a box of Ritz crackers. We had coolers with food and drinks.

We parked on a locals lawn and arrived on Fri, left on Sun. There are all kinds of parties going on in the streets the whole weekend, so it’s quite an experience for the wild and crazy.

The 2nd time we went, one of the girls parents lived nearby so we camped on their property, Her step father had horses, so three of us went for a ride Derby Day. I was riding his App gelding who was his fox hunting horse and he jumped picnic tables! It was an absolute blast to be riding a horse in Louisville on Derby Day - we had people cheering us on as we galloped past them in the park we rode in.

I went back in '98 for Equitana and visited Clairbourne and the Ky Horse Park.

Have fun!!!

[Beaver_Breeze]

1988 was Winning Colors, not Lady’s Secret.

[Foxtrot_s]

Pack one of those little plastic capes in your handbag - the day we went there it poured with rain and we looked like little green turtles leaning over the fence.
It was wet, but not cold. (Wal-Mart, I think)

[Heart_s_Journey]

oops - corrected my post. Guess I got the 2 gorgeous grey fillies mixed up

[Mara]

Make sure you’ve set the DVR to record the race so you can see the entire thing once you get home. And have a blast!

[RockyStar]

I went to the Derby with my husband the year Animal Kingdom won. Attending the derby was on my bucket list since I was young, so when my hubby said “OK lets go!” I was beyond thrilled! I had an absolute blast!!! It was everything I imagined and more. We sat in the grandstands and had our own seats, and also had access to the lounges they set up on Derby Day. It’s a crazy atmosphere, but just take it all in!!! Some tips: Arrive early to beat the crowd if at all possible. Also be warned that the lines to the bathrooms are ridiculous and you WILL wait about 20 mins. Many women were actually using the men’s bathroom…I wasn’t one of them, but my husband told me that once while using the urinal a woman was standing right next to him. Awkward for him, not so much for her I guess. As for the shoes, wear something you can stand and walk in all day. There will be women there with extremely high heels and honestly I don’t know how they survive the day. If you do choose the high heel route, play it safe and pack a pair of comfy shoes in case your feet begin to scream. Take some sunscreen, wear a pair of shades and really just have a blast! Also, Do wear a hat! Enjoy the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home”, as it literally brought tears to my eyes! I’m telling you, there is nothing like being there in person…to see the crowd of people,hearing the cheers from the audience, the enthusiasm of everyone there, the horses…it’s just amazing!!

While we were in the area, we also visited the Museum located at Churchill downs. We did this the Sunday after the Derby and were able to meet the “Secretariat” team consisting of Penny Chenery, Ron Turcotte, and Charlie Davis. The museum is a must to visit while there! Also, if you have time try to visit some of the horse farms in the area. While there we were able to visit Claiborne, and Three Chimneys. We met the stallions and had a wonderful tour of the farms. Most of these you must make reservations for, and we visited the week AFTER the derby when it wasn’t so crowded. We also took a tour of the Woodford Reserve Distillery. I’m not a bourbon fan, but it was interesting to see how they make it! You may also like the Kentucky Horse Park…and definitely visit Keeneland. It was literally empty when my husband and I went there, but it was neat to see the horses exercising out on the track. There is so much to do! If you have a few days after the derby, try to sight see a little. Have a wonderful time and enjoy your visit!! Let us know how it all went!

[luvmytbs]

You need to check CD’s website on what you are allowed to bring in.
Since 9-11 they are very strict about it.

[dreamswept]

[QUOTE=luvmytbs;7558963]
You need to check CD’s website on what you are allowed to bring in.
Since 9-11 they are very strict about it.[/QUOTE]

I think it has less to do with 9/11 and more about controlling the fans and monopolizing on what they can and can’t do to get the most $$$ that CD can. The whole thing with not being allowed to bring DSLRs in the last 2 years is a pretty good example - they don’t want amateur photographers taking pictures with pro or semi-pro quality equipment even if it’s just for their own enjoyment without paying the bazinga bucks CD wants in royalties or whatever.

I went to the 2012 Derby! First one I’d ever gone to. A friend of mine had gone the year before and my dad said he’d pay for me to go the next year because I’ve always watched the Derby on TV and it was time I went. It was a unique experience, since I’d gone go the 2011 Breeders’ Cup (my first trip ever east of the Sierra Nevadas) when we had ok seats, but chose to go general admission for the Derby.

Those are 10 foot numbing hours on the walking ring rail I’d never forget, but it was fantastic! Partly because our horse … a horse I’d visited in the barn, been in previous winners circles with, really really knew and followed to the point it almost felt like we were part of the team (they called us good luck charms) won! So thrilling.

It was a great day, the crowds were crazy, but one of the coolest things about it was as we were leaving in a big herd of people and crossing Central Ave to go back to where we parked the car, we walked by a pile of broken commemorative mint julep glasses and one bumped by foot so I picked it up and put it in my bag. When we got back to the hotel, I looked and found it was in perfect condition. So that’s how I got my mint julep glass souvenir from Kentucky without paying $15 for it.

Oh, and if you park in the neighborhood near CD past Central Ave on someone’s lawn, the residents there have a block party where you can buy finger food like egg rolls and stuff to munch on the walk back.