Kentucky Derby Info Request....
Apr 20th, 2005, 11:57 AM
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Kentucky Derby Info Request....
I posted a message on here a few days ago wanting Kentucky Derby insight and only got one reply. Surely, there are more persons out there who have been to the biggest horse race of the year.
How is the parking? Where do you park?
How crowded is it? (I know they say 140,000, but how crowded is that?)
What time should we arrive?
I'm not a partier, but I'm going to be on the infield. Any insight on where I should go?
Any other help would be appreciated.
Thanks
How is the parking? Where do you park?
How crowded is it? (I know they say 140,000, but how crowded is that?)
What time should we arrive?
I'm not a partier, but I'm going to be on the infield. Any insight on where I should go?
Any other help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Apr 20th, 2005, 12:02 PM
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Apr 20th, 2005, 12:25 PM
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The infield is a zoo, a mini-Mardi Gras, where drunkenness & debauchery rule the day.
Traditionally, college students flock to the third turn. If you're not a partier, do not go there. The first turn area is usually the most sedate, but if you end up in the biker area, move elsewhere.
I'd suggest arriving around noon, but, remember, the Derby itself isn't run until after 6pm, so it's a long day.
Also, there are separate entrances for people with chairs that have MUCH longer lines. If you don't take chairs, enter through the main entrance and you'll save a lot of time.
Enjoy!
Traditionally, college students flock to the third turn. If you're not a partier, do not go there. The first turn area is usually the most sedate, but if you end up in the biker area, move elsewhere.
I'd suggest arriving around noon, but, remember, the Derby itself isn't run until after 6pm, so it's a long day.
Also, there are separate entrances for people with chairs that have MUCH longer lines. If you don't take chairs, enter through the main entrance and you'll save a lot of time.
Enjoy!
Apr 20th, 2005, 12:34 PM
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I've never been but living a couple of hours from it and having many friends who have been . . . if you aren't a partier the infield may not be for you. From what I've heard, it is party, party, party. There are so many people, the chance is slim to none that you'll actually even see the race. Sorry I can't offer a more positive perspective. Hey, maybe I'm wrong, it is just second hand info. 
Apr 20th, 2005, 12:52 PM
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I've been to the infield, and I have question .... what race? Honestly, I had to sit on someone's shoulders to actually see a horse.
It has been a while, but here's what I experienced:
Long lines at the bathrooms- which were trashed a within a few hours of entry).
Terrible mint juleps, unless you like bourbon & icewater with a mint leaf stuck on top for looks.
Lots of pushing and shoving at the exits on the way out.
As previous poster stated, Mardi-gras type revelry (complete with women lifting their shirts over their heads upon request).
This seemed like a lot of fun when I was in college, but if I were to go again, I'd buy myself a nice hat and opt for the grandstand.
It has been a while, but here's what I experienced:
Long lines at the bathrooms- which were trashed a within a few hours of entry).
Terrible mint juleps, unless you like bourbon & icewater with a mint leaf stuck on top for looks.
Lots of pushing and shoving at the exits on the way out.
As previous poster stated, Mardi-gras type revelry (complete with women lifting their shirts over their heads upon request).
This seemed like a lot of fun when I was in college, but if I were to go again, I'd buy myself a nice hat and opt for the grandstand.
Apr 20th, 2005, 01:04 PM
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I've been to the Derby many times..went to the infield in college days,,, now I sit ummmm...higher up.
Parts of the infield can get raunchy, I know this still happens because we can see it, with binoculars, from where we sit now,
You can pay to park at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds or at Papa John's Stadium and then take a shuttle to the track.
You can walk to the track from Papa John's, too.
You can park in several parking garages downtown and then take a shuttle to the track.
People who live near the track sell parking spaces on their lawns...I don't recommend this for an out of towner who is not familiar with the area , because it would be easy to forget where your car is parked and there is always the possibility that your car might get blocked in by someone who arrives later than you do.
Do NOT bring any containers of any kind with you, this includes, liquor, beer, soft drinks and sun screen..they will be confiscated. You can purchase these things ( of course you can) inside the track.
The police have seen every kind of booze in disguise; so don't even attempt to re-bottle stuff.
All bags and purses will be searched.
I suggest you bring a broad brim hat and that you at least coat your self with sunscreen before you leave your parking spot. The sun can be brutal.
You can in bring food in clear plastic bags.
No matter how much territory you try to stake out with your blankets and lawn chairs at 8 AM by Noon it will be encroached on by late arrivals.
I believe there have been additional betting windows added to the infield area. You'll want to buy a program and maybe a racing form so you know a little about the horses in each race. There's also race info in the Courier Journal ( newspaper) .
If you plan to eat dinner in Louisville after the Derby, book someplace well in advance.
Parts of the infield can get raunchy, I know this still happens because we can see it, with binoculars, from where we sit now,
You can pay to park at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds or at Papa John's Stadium and then take a shuttle to the track.
You can walk to the track from Papa John's, too.
You can park in several parking garages downtown and then take a shuttle to the track.
People who live near the track sell parking spaces on their lawns...I don't recommend this for an out of towner who is not familiar with the area , because it would be easy to forget where your car is parked and there is always the possibility that your car might get blocked in by someone who arrives later than you do.
Do NOT bring any containers of any kind with you, this includes, liquor, beer, soft drinks and sun screen..they will be confiscated. You can purchase these things ( of course you can) inside the track.
The police have seen every kind of booze in disguise; so don't even attempt to re-bottle stuff.
All bags and purses will be searched.
I suggest you bring a broad brim hat and that you at least coat your self with sunscreen before you leave your parking spot. The sun can be brutal.
You can in bring food in clear plastic bags.
No matter how much territory you try to stake out with your blankets and lawn chairs at 8 AM by Noon it will be encroached on by late arrivals.
I believe there have been additional betting windows added to the infield area. You'll want to buy a program and maybe a racing form so you know a little about the horses in each race. There's also race info in the Courier Journal ( newspaper) .
If you plan to eat dinner in Louisville after the Derby, book someplace well in advance.
Apr 20th, 2005, 01:22 PM
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No matter what you do, be sure to park at the nearby Fairgrounds, and then take the shuttle busses to and from the track.
There are typically 2 or 3 races after the Derby itself and that allows/causes the crowds to leave at staggered points after the big race.
I assume you are going without reserved seats and are willing to just linger among the large crowds all day, is this right???
If that is the case, then I can report that I did just that, and arrived at about 9:30 in the morning (first race might have been at 11 or 11:30). There ARE little spots where you can sit down for a few minutes and rest your feet and your walking around area is pretty vast.
For the infield general admission area, you can remain anywhere in the public areas of the infield and you also have access to a tunnel that can get you to the area beneath the grandstand.
I was there on a very rainy day (not last year, FYI) and found that I could find cover most of the time.
The infield crowd will be like children at play, although with greater restrictions since 9/11 they are far less threatening.
IF you have to watch the race from the infield, I favor a spot next to the fence in the middle of the far turn, you can watch most of the race on BIG screen TV's mounted above the backstretch, and then see them scoot by on the far turn as the race begins to heat up, before turning back to the TV's to watch the stretch run.
My general feeling is that you could be comfortable with any size crowd they could possibly draw. There were 130,000 when I went in the rain, so a sunny day would be more comfortable in terms of having to make it through the day.
I arrived at 9:30 am and left the track near 7pm, and that makes for a pretty LONG day.
IF it happens to be raining, and you do watch the Derby from the vantage point on the last turn, that I mentioned, as soon as the Derby itself is over, there will be a MASS of humanity exiting the track at a tunnel very near to you. IF you are willing to stay in your spot (on cement, and out of harm's way) for perhaps 30 or 45 minutes, then you'll be fine, but if attempting to journey back toward the middle of the infield through a throng of elbow-to-elbow drunks all trying to get out of the track, then you'll be very uncomfortable.
If it is sunny and dry out, this won't be such a problem, because you could walk in the grass around the other way, but when your option is pure mud (trampled by 50,000 people for hours on end) then you'd better stay put for a while.
Let me know how into racing you are, or leave contact info if you want more specific racing data.
There are typically 2 or 3 races after the Derby itself and that allows/causes the crowds to leave at staggered points after the big race.
I assume you are going without reserved seats and are willing to just linger among the large crowds all day, is this right???
If that is the case, then I can report that I did just that, and arrived at about 9:30 in the morning (first race might have been at 11 or 11:30). There ARE little spots where you can sit down for a few minutes and rest your feet and your walking around area is pretty vast.
For the infield general admission area, you can remain anywhere in the public areas of the infield and you also have access to a tunnel that can get you to the area beneath the grandstand.
I was there on a very rainy day (not last year, FYI) and found that I could find cover most of the time.
The infield crowd will be like children at play, although with greater restrictions since 9/11 they are far less threatening.
IF you have to watch the race from the infield, I favor a spot next to the fence in the middle of the far turn, you can watch most of the race on BIG screen TV's mounted above the backstretch, and then see them scoot by on the far turn as the race begins to heat up, before turning back to the TV's to watch the stretch run.
My general feeling is that you could be comfortable with any size crowd they could possibly draw. There were 130,000 when I went in the rain, so a sunny day would be more comfortable in terms of having to make it through the day.
I arrived at 9:30 am and left the track near 7pm, and that makes for a pretty LONG day.
IF it happens to be raining, and you do watch the Derby from the vantage point on the last turn, that I mentioned, as soon as the Derby itself is over, there will be a MASS of humanity exiting the track at a tunnel very near to you. IF you are willing to stay in your spot (on cement, and out of harm's way) for perhaps 30 or 45 minutes, then you'll be fine, but if attempting to journey back toward the middle of the infield through a throng of elbow-to-elbow drunks all trying to get out of the track, then you'll be very uncomfortable.
If it is sunny and dry out, this won't be such a problem, because you could walk in the grass around the other way, but when your option is pure mud (trampled by 50,000 people for hours on end) then you'd better stay put for a while.
Let me know how into racing you are, or leave contact info if you want more specific racing data.
Apr 20th, 2005, 02:51 PM
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I was there last year, when the skies opened up about an hour before Derby-time. What a mess. I was actually taking a walk around the infield at that time, and was caught in the deluge as I tried to make my way back to my seat in the grandstand. The ground turned to soup and that tunnel from the infield was jampacked with sweaty, wet drunk kids. And here I was in my jacket and tie, trying to do the Derby in style! Again, what a mess.
But on the plus side, I eventually made it back to my seat and got to see Smarty Jones blow away the competition. So it all worked out.
But on the plus side, I eventually made it back to my seat and got to see Smarty Jones blow away the competition. So it all worked out.
Apr 20th, 2005, 02:59 PM
#10
Was it Go for Gin that you saw win in the slop NorthwestMale?
How early should you go to the infield on Derby Day at CD? On the first FRIDAY in May. It won't be as crowded and you will be able to see some good horse-racing (like the Kentucky Oaks, I think). I expect that you would be able to make advance wagers for Derby day. Then on Saturday just go to the infield to party and cash your winning tickets on the way out.
How early should you go to the infield on Derby Day at CD? On the first FRIDAY in May. It won't be as crowded and you will be able to see some good horse-racing (like the Kentucky Oaks, I think). I expect that you would be able to make advance wagers for Derby day. Then on Saturday just go to the infield to party and cash your winning tickets on the way out.
