The Kentucky Derby is the most well known horse race in the United States, if not the world. Also known as the "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Run for the Roses", the Kentucky Derby has taken place every year since 1875. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown, and is followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. It is also the most attended horse race in the US, famous for women in fancy hats and mint juleps. The Kentucky Derby should be on the bucket list of any live event enthusiast, and TickPick has the cheapest Kentucky Derby tickets since we never charge any service fees!
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting events in sports every year. While it’s still exciting to throw on the television and have a Derby party at home, it’s a lot more fun to throw on a fashionable hat and sit in the stands yourself.
But after hidden fees are added at checkout, it can be hard to afford the cost of tickets from most resellers. That’s why TickPick doesn’t charge hidden fees, giving you the ability to see even more for less. Learn how you can save up to 10% on cheap Derby Tickets.
The history of the Kentucky Derby’s thoroughbred racing competitions started in 1872 when Meriwether Lewis Clark (of the famed Lewis and Clark) went to Europe and attended a well-known horse race called the Epsom Derby. Inspired by his travels, Clark was determined to create a similar spectacle when he returned, which later became part of the American Triple Crown.
You can learn more about this early stage of the Derby’s creation at the Kentucky Derby Museum.
After securing a racetrack from his uncles, Clark had the resources necessary to start the Louisville Jockey Club. The track and clubhouse opened its gates in 1875 and sponsored the very first Kentucky Derby. That first Saturday began with fifteen three-year-old thoroughbreds racing with a crowd of 10,000 spectators.
Since then, the distance of the track has been shortened, crowds have grown, and traditions have been introduced — but the excitement has remained the same.
For those who want to see even more horseracing, the nearby Kentucky Oaks race is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby.
As far as seating options go for these sporting events, there’s no bad seat in the house — just go to check a Derby weekend off your bucket list.
But with that said, horse racing is unique in that the best general admission seats tend to be farther away from the track. This is because it allows you to get a bird’s eye view of the entire track. Grandstand seating at the Derby is all bleacher seating, with the exception of box seating at the 300 level. For more info on the seating chart, here are some helpful tips to know.
If you’re deciding what to wear to the Kentucky Derby, you might need to keep your sweats for another day.
The venue specifies that you can dress business casual, where jackets are preferred, or smart casual, where collared vests or blazers are appropriate. Generally, you can’t wear jeans, shorts, athletic wear, tennis shoes, or tee shirts. There’s also track casual, where you can wear dress jeans, and blazers are optional.
The type of clothing you need to wear is dependent on where you’re seated at the venue.
All onsite parking at Churchill Downs needs to be reserved in advance. These spots are available for pre-purchase from February through April for as long as spots are remaining. If you don’t get a spot at Churchill Downs, parking is available at the Kentucky Exposition Center, where parking is free, and shuttles will take you to the track free of charge.
Ready to experience the most exciting two minutes in sports, live and in-person? Here are some answers to your burning questions before you head to Churchill downs.
Most major ticket resellers will charge convenience fees at checkout, which can blindside you before you purchase. You might see low prices on the website, but when you’re about to buy, you’re hit with a small fortune of added fees and dues.
TickPick doesn’t charge hidden fees — ever. So you can rest assured that the price you see on our site is the price you’re paying. This also means you can save up to 10% on every ticket compared to our major competitors.
No hidden fees means that the prices you see for your Derby tickets are the prices you pay. Plus, even though we’re not charging extra fees doesn’t mean our tickets are phony. In fact, our BuyerTrust Guarantee ensures that you’re getting valid, real tickets 100% of the time.
If you somehow find a cheaper authentic ticket from a competing site for the same date and seats, we’ll give you 110% of the difference in the form of a TickPick credit — that’s how confident we are in our low prices.
Saving more on tickets means you get to experience more yourself. Get KY Derby tickets at a low price today.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting two minutes in sports, and while it’s invigorating to see from your home, there’s nothing quite like cheering your favorite jockeys from the grandstands. When the Derby winners cross the finish line, it’s one of the most exhilarating experiences you’ll ever see.
When you couple in the cost of travel, food, lodging, gas, and parking, your day at the Derby might run you a small fortune. So why not save where you can? TickPick can save you up to 10% on tickets compared to major resellers and the box office, giving you the ability to see more for less money.
With no hidden fees, a price match guarantee, and a BuyerTrust Guarantee, you can feel confident and secure knowing that your tickets are inexpensive and authentic. Click here to get Kentucky Derby no-fee tickets today before they sell out for the new year.