Churchill Downs

Louisville KY USA

2023 Kentucky Derby Packages

Premium Kentucky Derby Viewing Options

Want to take your Kentucky Derby experience to a whole new level? Then you’ll want to check out our premium viewing options below.

Millionaires Row
Located on the 4th Floor, the prestigious Millionaires Row offers premium indoor dining room seating (tables of 8) that offers fantastic views of the full track including the finish line. This full service option also includes a gourmet buffet, private wagering stations and CCTV coverage.

Stakes Room
With spectacular views of the track, the paddock, and the famous Twin Spires, the Stakes Room offers premium indoor dining room seating in tables of four, six or eight. Its extensive amenity list includes a premium option bar, gourmet buffet, private wagering stations, CCTV coverage and celebrity appearances.

Homestretch Club
This brand new hospitality experience provides a luxe contemporary atmosphere located in the homestretch of Churchill Downs. The Homestretch Club is an ideal place to retreat to between races, with a variety of upscale seating and dining options, available for groups of 2 to 12 people. All seats in the Homestretch Club offer prime views of the homestretch, as well as the big board and the Winner’s Circle.

Kentucky Derby Schedule

Kentucky Derby weekend is packed with fun activities and social events in addition to the racing. To help you get the most out of your Kentucky Derby experience, we’ve detailed some of the weekend’s highlights below.

Thursday, May 4

Thurby, the official start of Derby weekend takes place at Churchill Downs. Featuring racing, live music, and, of course, bourbon, Thurby is not only a whole lot of fun, it’s a great time to explore Churchill Downs while the crowds are typically smaller than they are on Friday and Saturday. Thurby runs from late morning to early evening.

Thursday evening offers a couple of great social events. The Mint Julep Sunset Social includes a memorable farm-to-table dinner at the picturesque Hermitage Farm, preceded by a tour of the gorgeous property. For something a little more upscale, Taste of Derby allows guests to mingle with horse racing VIPs while enjoying incredible regional dishes prepared by nationally renowned chefs, with live music to cap off the evening.

Friday, May 5

Friday is a big day in Louisville. The day begins with the Kentucky Oaks, the premier horse race for 3-year-old fillies. The gates at Churchill Downs open mid-morning and there are races all day until early evening. The day is a celebration of racing, fundraising for women’s health issues, and fashion. Speaking of which, the event includes a fashion contest if you’re so inclined. The color of the day is pink, so be sure to include as much of it as possible when planning your outfit for the event.

In the evening, join celebrities and other VVIPs at the hottest party of the weekend: The Barnstable Brown Gala. This exclusive black-tie gala is the place to be seen on Derby eve. It’s been dubbed as one of the top 10 parties in the world by Condé Nast and each year it attracts some of the biggest names in film, sport, and music.

Saturday, May 6

Saturday is the day all of this has been leading up to: the Kentucky Derby. Plan to spend a full day at Churchill Downs enjoying the racing and taking in the electric atmosphere. The racing begins mid-morning and keeps going until well into the evening. The main event usually takes place between 6:00 and 7:00 pm, with pre- and post-race ceremonies bookending the race itself.