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Bet to Win at the Kentucky Derby Race
Published by Spencer Spellman, Writer
Country: United States 
The Experience
With its first run in 1875, the Kentucky Derby in Louisville Kentucky is one of the oldest horse races in the world. What started then as a simple horse race among the best breeds in the world, has now grown into one of the largest festivals in the U.S. The festivities go much further than just the race, with the opening event of the Kentucky Derby Festival occuring a few weeks before the race itself.
The Kentucky Derby Race gets kicked off every year with a bang during one of the largest fireworks displays in the world. Thunder Over Louisville, as it's called, is the opening event, two weeks prior to the race itself. The 30-minute show is broadcast around the world, featuring eight barges the fireworks launch from. This is the one event to attend for travelers who aren't going to the actual Kentucky Derby Race. Although Thunder Over Louisville can be seen around the city, visitors can get the best view by grabbing some blankets and lawn chairs and heading for the river.
Though the race only last two minutes at the end of the day, Kentucky Derby Race day is packed with other events and races leading up to it. Crowds start getting to Churchill Downs early Saturday morning and start setting up for the infield party, which is where most of the action takes place on race day. This is an all day party with drinks, food and game, leading up to the main event. As such, guests should dress more comfortably. Dress for the infield is typically very casual, as compared to seats in the bleachers where more formal attire and fancy hats are tradition.
Make sure to place a bet on one of the fine thoroughbred horses racing before 6:28 p.m., as everything comes to a halt for the main event. Shortly before the start of the Kentucky Derby Race, attendees begin to quiet down and turn their attention to the track as the horses make their way into the starting gates. As jockeys and horses get settled, the crowd comes to a silence until the shot is fired and the gates burst open. What seems like mass pandemonium breaks out around the stands and infield, as spectators cheer on their favorite horse until they cross the finish line. After the race, many spectators continue to hang around for the award presentation, but everything winds down at Churchill Downs by dusk.
When to Go to The Kentucky Derby
Odds n' Ends
For those who like to dress to the nines and get the best view of the race, the bleacher area is the best bet. Tickets start at USD$ 60 for the bleachers, and is where you'll find your grand hats adorned by the women and seersuckers by the men.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
More Experiences Nearby
- Get Out of Your Element and into Mammoth Cave
- There's really only one way to describe Mammoth Cave: it's a mammoth cave! So large in fact, that the cave is the longest recorded cave system in the entire world. Located in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky this landmark certainly doesn't lack the element of adventure. This is the kind of cave that as a child watching adventure movies like The Goonies, you dreamt of exploring, but never had the opportunity to. That is until now, unfortunately you won't have the company of Chunk and the gang, but you will have an expert guide. Since Mammoth Cave is so expansive, ...73 miles away.
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Elsewhere on the Web
Media References
- Cameras, Action and Even Lights Before the Derby - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- A Filly’s Chance to Rekindle Her Magic - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- One Eye on Crown, One on Crowd of Rivals - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Kentucky Derby - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
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