So you’re ready to get Kentucky Derby tickets. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it. The best way to buy tickets is direct through Churchill Downs (with Ticketmaster) and if you’re ready to commit ahead of time, it’s the cheapest way to do it. You get a multi-day package for half the cost of a single day on the second-hand market. But it’s not as easy as just going to Ticketmaster and searching tickets.
When and where to get Derby tickets
In order to buy direct from Ticketmaster, you must first register. In the fall you can go to either Churchill Downs‘ site or Kentucky Derby‘s site and they will provide the link and instructions. Tickets go on sale early November. A few days before the sale, as long as you’re registered, they will send you a code. On the appointed day, normally around 9 ET/10 CT, the sale begins. Type in that code and frantically search seats.
Anything that is reasonably affordable sells out in about 10 minutes. The first year I bought tickets I tried to browse seat options. I turned down the first section to look for a bit and then the whole event sold out for a frantic three minutes. Finally someone dumped the three tickets I needed (and got). I didn’t make the same mistake again. Snag the first option presented and you will be as close as you can be to the spires and finish line.
You can only buy 6 tickets total, no matter how many orders you make. If they figure out you ordered and bought more, they refund all your money and you get 0 tickets. They probably will figure it out, too. The steps to ensure you are getting the proper tickets, all the way down to an ID at delivery, are no joke.
Which Churchill Downs sections are for you
Most of us will be sitting in the first or second level grandstand (450ish pp for 3 days). These are reserved, bleacher seats and most are not covered (a few on the second level are). These seats are along the home stretch. For those of you that might want to spend more, the First Turn section is a good option. It has covered, stadium seats, all you can eat and drink, and private bathrooms at double the grandstand ticket costs (800ishpp for 3 days). If you are sitting in the reserved boxes you don’t need any advice from me!
There is also an infield option and it will be enticing. These tickets go for around $50 and are readily available. The catch is that it’s like paying $50 to attend a frat party. That’s been crashed by drunk children. And there’s no free keg access. The infield is a mess of corporate sponsors’ big hospitality tents on the rails, rows of port-a-potties, and concessions. There is VERY limited access to see the finish stretch of the track; you will be viewing most of the races from the big screen in the middle of the infield.
Two tunnel access the infield. They get very grid-locked as the day goes on. (It is quite fun to have the seats overlooking the tunnel, excellent people watching.) There will be several entertaining fights between boys dressed in Vineyard Vines. If you want to party and be at the racetrack, this might be your thing. Just watch out for vomit puddles.
Buying second-hand tickets
You can always buy second hand but you get more bang for your buck if you plan a bit and buy direct. If you are going to buy second hand, wait until within a month of Derby when ticket sellers start to panic and start dropping the prices closer to market value. If you’re really willing to roll the dice, go closer to a week before. Make sure the ticket can reach you in time! Don’t forget, if you use Rakuten, you can go to Rakuten, access the ticket brokers, and get a percentage back on your tickets (and get money back from hotel sites too!)
It’s so worth the trip, even if you are not an outright fan of horse racing. Register now and be ready to click, click, click!
May the road rise up to meet you, travelers, and may your Derby hat be fabulous.
(Down and Derby: get more tips on getting tickets, lodging, what to wear, and navigating the big day in the rest of the Down and Derby series.)
