Planning ahead - Ky Derby 2007

[DerbyCat]

OK, next year I'm going to Kentucky for the First Saturday in May and I could use some help. Can anyone recommend the best/safest place to get tickets as well as a good hotel to stay at? If anyone has any recommendations for the best way to experience the Derby, I'd love to hear them. FYI, I'm not looking for the "infield experience" since I'm 40 and no longer enjoy getting so drunk that I can't remember where I am/where I left the car/where I left my underwear. I'll probably fly in either Tues/Wed before and leave the following Monday... any help is greatly appreciated.

[pdrift1]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

OK, next year I'm going to Kentucky for the First Saturday in May and I could use some help. Can anyone recommend the best/safest place to get tickets as well as a good hotel to stay at? If anyone has any recommendations for the best way to experience the Derby, I'd love to hear them. FYI, I'm not looking for the "infield experience" since I'm 40 and no longer enjoy getting so drunk that I can't remember where I am/where I left the car/where I left my underwear. I'll probably fly in either Tues/Wed before and leave the following Monday... any help is greatly appreciated.

stay in lexington its a hell of alot cheaper and nicer then louisville and only a hour away and set up some appointments to the stud barns and head to the horse park to see john and cigar. old friends has a get together the day after the derby. but the stud farms you should have fun at some can be sticklers but most are very good as long as you give them a heads up. except three chimmneys , if you go there resev early or you wont get in but they do have a ope house on wednesday only and bring iout all the stallions. have fun

[pdrift1]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

OK, next year I'm going to Kentucky for the First Saturday in May and I could use some help. Can anyone recommend the best/safest place to get tickets as well as a good hotel to stay at? If anyone has any recommendations for the best way to experience the Derby, I'd love to hear them. FYI, I'm not looking for the "infield experience" since I'm 40 and no longer enjoy getting so drunk that I can't remember where I am/where I left the car/where I left my underwear. I'll probably fly in either Tues/Wed before and leave the following Monday... any help is greatly appreciated.

also do the derby museum and movie since its your first time and the grave sites right next to the museum inside the white gate, there is also a parade but cant remeber what day parade is downtown louisville

The farm tours are a must. I would actually stay in Frankfort. That way it will be an easy drive to Louisville. I would park at Papa Johns Stadium and take the shuttle to the track. Museum is a must.

[paisjpq]

I agree with Euro that you will probably have better luck and better pricing if you stay in Frankfort...and the drive isn't bad. Farm tours are an absolute must...I don't know if they are open to the public but try to get into Winstar...place is great, both the stallion barns and the training section and the foaling barns. Hands down my favorite farm in the area. Three chimneys, Ashford, Juddmonte, Gainsway, are Lane's End are also must sees. And make sure you check out keeneland even thought they won't be running. The library there is incredible.

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I agree with Euro that you will probably have better luck and better pricing if you stay in Frankfort...and the drive isn't bad. Farm tours are an absolute must...I don't know if they are open to the public but try to get into Winstar...place is great, both the stallion barns and the training section and the foaling barns. Hands down my favorite farm in the area. Three chimneys, Ashford, Juddmonte, Gainsway, are Lane's End are also must sees. And make sure you check out keeneland even thought they won't be running. The library there is incredible.

You don't wanna stay all the way out there. Piss on that. You'll spend the whole day driving. On the outskirts of the Lousiville metro area on Hurstbourne Road you can get a room at a reasonable price without having to commute that far each day.
Skip Lexington, its as boring in that town as watching paint dry or watching grass grow. Used to stay there years ago and its a drag.
Lots of things to do in Louisville Derby week. If you like baseball head on down to Slugger Field and check out the reds Triple AAA farm club take on the Yankees triple AAA farm club(they always schedule the yanks farm team to be in town that week knowing it draws in visiting northeasterners), its a spectacular ball park.
Hit Jeff Ruby's for drinks and dinner one night, its on West Main Street downtown.
Head on out to works in the morning, which will be hard if you are all the way out in Frankfort, grab a room on Hurstbourne instead.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by oracle80

You don't wanna stay all the way out there. Piss on that. You'll spend the whole day driving. On the outskirts of the Lousiville metro area on Hurstbourne Road you can get a room at a reasonable price without having to commute that far each day.
Skip Lexington, its as boring in that town as watching paint dry or watching grass grow. Used to stay there years ago and its a drag.
Lots of things to do in Louisville Derby week. If you like baseball head on down to Slugger Field and check out the reds Triple AAA farm club take on the Yankees triple AAA farm club(they always schedule the yanks farm team to be in town that week knowing it draws in visiting northeasterners), its a spectacular ball park.
Hit Jeff Ruby's for drinks and dinner one night, its on West Main Street downtown.
Head on out to works in the morning, which will be hard if you are all the way out in Frankfort, grab a room on Hurstbourne instead.

...but if one has never been to KY the farms cannot be skipped. They are ultra impressive and any fan of the game should thoroughly enjoy seeing them.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by oracle80

You don't wanna stay all the way out there. Piss on that. You'll spend the whole day driving. On the outskirts of the Lousiville metro area on Hurstbourne Road you can get a room at a reasonable price without having to commute that far each day.
Skip Lexington, its as boring in that town as watching paint dry or watching grass grow. Used to stay there years ago and its a drag.
Lots of things to do in Louisville Derby week. If you like baseball head on down to Slugger Field and check out the reds Triple AAA farm club take on the Yankees triple AAA farm club(they always schedule the yanks farm team to be in town that week knowing it draws in visiting northeasterners), its a spectacular ball park.
Hit Jeff Ruby's for drinks and dinner one night, its on West Main Street downtown.
Head on out to works in the morning, which will be hard if you are all the way out in Frankfort, grab a room on Hurstbourne instead.

This may change now that columbus is no longer the yankee's farm club. i think scranton is now their AAA club?

[Revolution]

[quote=oracle80]Skip Lexington, its as boring in that town as watching paint dry or watching grass grow. QUOTE]

Are you talking about Saratoga Springs or Lexington, KY? There is plenty to do in Lexington, way more than you can do in the sticks up in NY. Must be real exciting up in Saratoga Springs. Atleast in Lexington their in UK basketball and horse farms.

What are you guys doing in Saratoga Springs? Watching Skidmore basketball.

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I agree with Euro that you will probably have better luck and better pricing if you stay in Frankfort...and the drive isn't bad. Farm tours are an absolute must...I don't know if they are open to the public but try to get into Winstar...place is great, both the stallion barns and the training section and the foaling barns. Hands down my favorite farm in the area. Three chimneys, Ashford, Juddmonte, Gainsway, are Lane's End are also must sees. And make sure you check out keeneland even thought they won't be running. The library there is incredible.

Yeah...my folks stayed behind after the BC and went to Winstar, Ashford and Lane's end and got to see: Tiznow, Rock hard ten, Ap Indy, Giant's Causeway, Mine shaft, Blue grass cat, Distorted Humor and even Aragorn.

They said it was an awsome experience.

Don't get me wrong, Lexington has it's place
just not during derby week

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

OK, next year I'm going to Kentucky for the First Saturday in May and I could use some help. Can anyone recommend the best/safest place to get tickets as well as a good hotel to stay at? If anyone has any recommendations for the best way to experience the Derby, I'd love to hear them. FYI, I'm not looking for the "infield experience" since I'm 40 and no longer enjoy getting so drunk that I can't remember where I am/where I left the car/where I left my underwear. I'll probably fly in either Tues/Wed before and leave the following Monday... any help is greatly appreciated.

Definitely try and get down there for the Post Position draw. It was pretty cool how they had it this year in the open air on 4th Street.

Elizabethtown is definitely a good option if you are looking to keep the price down. It is a wicked easy commute into Louisville, 30-40 minutes, all highway driving. Also E-town is already half way to Mammoth Cave if that sort of thing interests you on the Sunday after.

Don't sweat it if you can't get tickets. You don't have to go to the infield. We went general admission last year and there is a section of lawn around the first turn that is nothing like the infield and you can actually see things. They also bring all the horses past you before and after the race so you wind up getting a much better view of them there than you get in the crowded paddock. Here are some of my pictures from last year to give you an idea of how close you can get down there:

http://www.finalturngallery.com/Sniper-s-Pictures

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Definitely try and get down there for the Post Position draw. It was pretty cool how they had it this year in the open air on 4th Street.

Elizabethtown is definitely a good option if you are looking to keep the price down. It is a wicked easy commute into Louisville, 30-40 minutes, all highway driving. Also E-town is already half way to Mammoth Cave if that sort of thing interests you on the Sunday after.

Don't sweat it if you can't get tickets. You don't have to go to the infield. We went general admission last year and there is a section of lawn around the first turn that is nothing like the infield and you can actually see things. They also bring all the horses past you before and after the race so you wind up getting a much better view of them there than you get in the crowded paddock. Here are some of my pictures from last year to give you an idea of how close you can get down there:

http://www.finalturngallery.com/Sniper-s-Pictures

Agree that the post draw party is a great idea to catch.

Disagree with a lot of what is being posted here. Derby is a party in Louisville, so if you don't like Louisville and you don't like good times, choose another time to visit the farms in Lexington, Mammoth Cave, and the Derby museum. Those are all nice, but not what my group of 20 goes for (mostly 30 somethings). Lighten up and spend a few late nights on the town.

Shepherdsville, KY is only about 10 miles south from the track and there are a couple of reasonable lodging options there. Taxi ride only $30 or so from there.

We bought tickets for $125 outside the gates last year, and there were numerous ones floating around.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

Agree that the post draw party is a great idea to catch.

Disagree with a lot of what is being posted here. Derby is a party in Louisville, so if you don't like Louisville and you don't like good times, choose another time to visit the farms in Lexington, Mammoth Cave, and the Derby museum. Those are all nice, but not what my group of 20 goes for (mostly 30 somethings). Lighten up and spend a few late nights on the town.

Shepherdsville, KY is only about 10 miles south from the track and there are a couple of reasonable lodging options there. Taxi ride only $30 or so from there.

We bought tickets for $125 outside the gates last year, and there were numerous ones floating around.

It all depends on whether or not you have a driver. If you have someone to drive or aren't planning on drinking too much that you can drive then being 30 minutes away isn't a big issue. You can certainly go out in Louisville and stay 30 minutes away.

Is the party in Louisville really that raging on Sunday afternoon?

[pdrift1]

lol i wonder if some of you even read the posts