JoBuis

The infield is crazy. Lots of college kids - drinking, partying, pretty much not ever watching a race. A fun party if that's what you want. Very long lines if you want to bet something. If you're going to dress up a bit, and pay general admission, much better to hang out by the paddock area. There you can see the horses in the paddock and maybe even some celebs - not bad for general admission. Just can't see the track and a long day with no place to sit.

Mayhem. The tickets are almost all sold as legacies to those who purchased them the year before, so NO ONE evey lets them go unless there is a death. Large travel companies own huge blocks of tickets so unless you want to deal with the insanity of the infield (and never see the race to boot) I would watch it on TV. Better yet, visit that track during the Fall meeting so you can really set it. I went to K Derby museum and met Pat Day that way.

This is a little known fact, but arazi is the current record holder for longest shirtless belly slide on a rain soaked Kentucky Derby day Churchill Downs infield.

vistit churchill downs or the kentucky derby website. If you have never been start prepping now. Certain areas require certain dress when you get into the suite areas etc...as far as grandstand and general admission there is no dress code. If you want to actually see the races, you need to at least get grandstand seats. The infield is mainly just a chaotic party and you can't see anything. Also find info on their website about what you can and can't bring. For instance if you get a paddock ticket, you won't have a seat and I think they only allow certain kind to be brought in. Study the site well in advance and call customer service if you need info. The closer it gets to Derby the more busy they get and less helpful. If I'm not mistaken, tickets may already be on sale, so you may want to look into it if you want actual seats.

even the Breeder's Cup is getting ridiculous. I had box seats the first several years and then the lottery came up, Joined the TOBA to bypass it and it just got too expensive

last year I talked a newbie family OUT of the visit there and IT rained. I got them to go to Del Mar instead and I don't know how many times they thanked me for getting away from that Zoo.

for grandstand seats??? those go on sale each and every year. Boxes are a different story. I've known several people that have routinely bought grandstand seats. Call 1-800-28-DERBY and they will tell you the same thing. Humphrey...the person who knows everything, yet knows nothing..lmao

waste of time if you want to watch and wager......Experience getting shoved around and having all matter of foodstuffs landing on your person, guessing where the horses are etc. AH what abmiance....You will see the race better at a hotel up the street

IF you are able to get a ticket, YOU will be the absolute first person able to do it in over 30 years of various friends of mine trying...GOOD LUCK

It is amazing the glossed over UNrealistic ideas the grandstanders have as regards the race track. Read Barich's Laughing in the Hills to get an idea what really happens at the track and not some idealized, at arms length baloney that many sources portray..Well I guess they must since they never experiene the track as it really is either. Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit is another source of reality and not the mythical baloney I see all the time.

What in the hell is your last post even about??? lol!!! The boxes that are owned are on the 2nd and 3rd levels then you get into suites...how is a grandstand seat horrible. You can literally get a seat right next to the rail?? How is that as ridiculous as sitting behind a post?? You are ridiculous.

those seats are as ridiculous as sitting behind a post as many of the people who have received them have mentioned to me personally.....if you are NOT in a group section OWNED by a travel agency of legacy, it is not worth the trip, PURE and SIMPLE

planning?--hmmm. Unless you want infield or gen. admission, you won't find tickets -other than paying stubhub or craigslist- ridiculous premium. The home-stretch runs from about sections 112 thru 119. Last year I scored 4 seats when Churchill downs web-site ran a "first time ever" lottery on the internet. 3000 tickets were sold, 120,000 hits the first hour to buy these few. The previous 37 years I have watched on TV, at another track or OTB.

Call 1-800-28-DERBY...the lottery is not for all seats. You can get grandstand seats.