Kentucky Derby 2015
I attended the 141st Kentucky Derby for the first time with my husband and daughter a few months ago. We had a fantastic time! Tips from bloggers helped so much when preparing for the Kentucky Derby, that I wanted to share our experiences.
My Top 10 tips include some suggestions that have not been mentioned anywhere else! I hope that you find the top 10 tips helpful for your Kentucky Derby experience.
Top 10 Tips for Attending the Kentucky Derby
1. Bring Food
You can bring food into Churchill Downs. I didn’t realize that this was a NECESSITY, not just an option. The only exception is if you are in a hospitality suite where the food is catered. Food options are limited inside Churchill Downs and are not appealing at all. A lady who sat by me brought in Bourbon Balls along with pretzels! Think small or think big. But – bring food! I could see the “Papa Johns University of Louisville Stadium” from our seats, but couldn’t buy a Papa John’s pizza at Churchill Downs. That’s so wrong! There are limited food choices and the food is not very good. You will thank me for this #1 tip.
2. Shoes
Leave the cheap, flimsy flip flops at home. If your feet hurt from wearing heels, the worst shoe you can change in to is a flip flop. Flip Flops have no support and will just make your feet tired. Some ladies wore comfortable sneakers with their dress and hat! But PLEASE, do NOT go barefoot! It’s nasty and you could step on glass. We saw several women walking in their bare feet.
3. Bathrooms
The bathrooms at Churchill Downs in the grand stand were great! They were air conditioned and had an attendant. I visited the bathrooms near Section 222 in the upper and lower levels. Tip the attendant too!
4. Parking
Park at the Papa Johns Stadium and take the shuttle. Be patient and enjoy people watching! We arrived at the Papa Johns Stadium parking lot around 10:30 am and had no problems with traffic or parking. Waiting to leave Churchill Downs until the last race is over did not improve the shuttle or traffic experience.
5. The Elderly
While not detrimental to your Kentucky Derby experience, it’s nice to know that older people do not move fast on a shuttle bus. Give them a chance to sit and then move their feet under their seat. Yes – WAIT until they move their feet! The elderly people on the shuttle bus will thank you. I had not thought of this prior to the Kentucky Derby! Be mindful of the elderly on the shuttle bus!
6. Children
There were several elementary aged children and just a few toddlers. The Kentucky Derby is a long event and this is not the place for very active children!
7. Fashion
Hats were worn the entire time. I did not see anyone taking their hat off. Some couples dressed in similar colors. Unless the colors are very unique and pronounced, it was hard to tell that the couples were matching. A great example of obvious matching is one couple who wore bright yellow and purple (think LSU colors). The lady wore a bright yellow dress and matching yellow hat. The man wore a bright yellow suit and yellow hat. I could definitely tell that they were matching!
8. Seat Cleanliness
Don’t wear an outfit that will show dirt and stains easily. Many people cleaned the bleachers before they sat down. Having clean seats in an outdoor venue is difficult so plan your outfit accordingly.
9. Seat Selection
Select seats based upon what is important to you! Sitting as high as we could under a cover was important to me! I purchased seats in Section 222 on Row M. Being out of the sun during the afternoon was great. BUT – we could NOT see the horses run the Derby when everyone stood up! No kidding – there was NO WAY to see the track. I’m 5’ 10” and couldn’t see, much less my daughter who is 5’ tall. If you want to see the horses, I should have bought front row seats in section 222 or maybe seats in the 300’s section.
10. Smoking is Allowed
Smoking is allowed throughout Churchill Downs – at least from what I could tell. You will also see cigars – and women smoking Cigars too! The lady who sat by me smoked her first cigar. The smoke was a little annoying, but didn’t last very long. My advice is to accept the atmosphere of the Kentucky Derby and it’s minor annoyances!
Extra Tip #11 – Over 170,000 People
If you have been to an SEC college football game, then more than likely you have experienced the pains of being at an event with over 100,000 people! There will be problems with traffic, walking around, bathroom lines, etc. I told my family to be prepared for crowds similar to Mississippi State University football games!
In conclusion, the Kentucky Derby was a wonderful experience for my family. Keep in mind that there will be lots of people in a small space which means patience is needed! We are so glad that we went to the 141st Kentucky Derby!! Please ask any questions in the comment section.
