The track has several special events planned throughout the meet.

What You Need To Know

  • Tickets on sale for Churchill Downs' Spring Meet

  • the track has several special events planned

  • Fans will be greeted with the newly renovated Paddock area

  • The new paddock will offer more views and seating for fans

Like it has always done, Churchill Downs will have several special events leading up to the Derby. They include:

  • Opening Night: Derby Through the Decades — Opening Night is Saturday, April 27 and for the first time, the post position draws for the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby will take place. The track says the draws will be staged between races.  

  • Dawn at the Downs Dining — For decades, racing fans have come to the track bright and early to watch the horses train while enjoying breakfast in the Stakes Room or Millionaires Row. Gates open at 7 a.m. Fans will be able to see Oaks (pink saddle towels) and Derby favorites (yellow saddle towels) train from 7:30 a.m.-7:45 a.m. Other horses will train until 10 a.m.

  • 502’sDay Celebrating 150 Years of Louisville Businesses — 502’sDay salutes Louisville’s area code and happens Tuesday of Derby Week. This is the second year for 502’sDay it celebrates the community. General admission will be just $5 and the day is dedicated to the 502. 

  • Champions Day: Celebrating Kentucky’s Champions — Wednesday, May 1 is Champions Day. It will celebrate not only Derby and racing champions but will also pay tribute to other Kentucky champions across all sports.  

  • Thurby presented by Old Forester — Thurby is May 2 and fans will find Bluegrass music in the Paddock Plaza, the bourbon and horse racing. This will be the 11th edition of Thurby. 

  • Taste of Derby — Later on Thurby evening, the annual Taste of Derby takes place. The culinary experience features food created by nationally renowned chefs and paired with wines from the Jackson Family. The event is 7-10 p.m. 

General admission tickets for Derby Week are $24 on Opening Night and Champions Day; $39 on Thurby; and a special $5 offering for 502’sDay. Reserved box seats range from $26-$39 for Derby Week and $49-$69 for Thurby depending on the location.

This year, guests will be greeted with the new and improved $200 million Paddock. It’s taken two years to redesign the paddock area, and the track says the area will “enhance the visibility of the iconic Twin Spires.” Churchill Downs says the new design will help guests get around easier and they’ve also upgraded the audio-visual experience for fans. The track has added 3,600 permanent all-inclusive seats to the paddock and added new guest spaces that include two premium clubs, reserved dining and rail boxes. There are also 3,200 standing room only tickets.

There will also be special Spring Meet events at the track. They include:

  • Twilight Thursdays — featuring $2 select domestic beer, live music and food trucks every Thursday, May 9-June 27

  • Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 12

  • Preakness Stakes Simulcast and Downs After Dark — Saturday, May 18

  • Stephen Foster Preview Day — Saturday, June 1

  • Belmont Stakes Simulcast — Saturday, June 8

  • Downs After Dark — Saturday, June 15

  • Father’s Day — Sunday, June 16

  • Stephen Foster Day — Saturday, June 29

With this being the 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs says it has seen “unprecedented demand” for tickets and says there are a few premium and luxury experiences available. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets online at one of three sites: KentuckyDerby.com, Derby150.com and DerbyExperiences.com or by calling 502-636-4447.

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