2023 Kentucky Derby Tickets

Held in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race. The event will be held on the 5th and 6th of May this year, marking the 149th edition of 'The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.' The ticketing seating plan for the 2-day event is primarily divided into four parts - Dining, Reserved Seating, GA, and Final Turn. Ticket holders will get access to an off-site KY Expo parking, food & beverages, and a race day fixture. Furthermore, the prices for these tickets range from $77 to $7900 for two tickets. They vary depending on the seat placements.

The different price ranges are as follows:

1. Infield general admission with no front-side access - $77-$87


2. Infield Final Turn GA with no front-side access - $216-$729


3. All-inclusive reserved and box seating - $689-$4995


4. Dining and Hospitality- $2394-$7900

Kentucky Derby Records

Though the race is dubbed 'the most exciting two minutes in sports', not many have been able to finish the race within the said time. To date, only two horses have been able to finish it within two minutes. The record was set in 1973 by the 'Big Red' Virginian racehorse, Secretariat. He continues to hold the record after clocking in at 1:59.4 that year. The second horse to come close to Secretariat's record was Monarchos. In the 2001 Derby, he finished the race in 1:59.97. However, even though he won the race that year, he did not manage to break the record.

American Jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack share the record for the maximum number of Derbies won. Arcaro won in the years 1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, and 1952 becoming the first one to win 5 Derbies. After him, Hartack has been the only one to reach the mark claiming them in the years 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, and 1969. Additionally, similar to the record for most wins by a jockey, there is a record for most wins by a trainer. Locked in at 6 wins, Ben A. Jones and Bob Baffert, both share the record. While Jones won in 1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, and 1952, Baffert won in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, and 2020.

A Derby winner's largest margin of victory is eight lengths. Since its inception, nearly sesquicentennial years ago, the record has been claimed four times by Old Rosebud, Johnstown, Whirlaway, and Assault in the years 1914, 1939, 1941, and 1946, respectively. Lastly, the win with the longest odds was recorded in 1913 as Donerail won at the odds of 91-1.

History of Kentucky Derby

The inception of the idea of horse racing can be dated back to the 18th century, 1784 to be precise. Horse racing formally began in Louisville, Kentucky in 1792. However, it wasn't until 1872, when Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. came around, that the sport underwent some major developments. After traveling to Europe, Clark pioneered the idea of jockey clubs. The aim of these clubs was to sponsor races and promote the champions in Louisville. In 1874, Clark put in place the first race track and held the first official tournament on May 17, 1875. He named the track Churchill Downs, after his uncles Henry and John Churchill, whose land he'd used to build the track.

Kentucky Derby is part of the Triple Crown, one of the most prestigious titles in the sport. The other two races include the Belmont Stakes and Preakness. Also known as the 'Run for the Roses', Kentucky Derby is organized every year on the first Saturday of May. Taking place since 1875, it is the youngest of the three races. Belmont and Preakness were inaugurated in 1867 and 1873, respectively.

The tournament starts with the Kentucky Derby, with only 3-year-old horses allowed to participate. The length of this intermediate race is 1 1/4 miles. Two weeks later, it is followed by the 1 3/16 miles race, Preakness. Lastly, the final phase comes on the third Saturday with the longest race of the trifecta, 1 1/2 miles, Belmont Stakes.

While the tournament has been running smoothly for centuries, there was a little hiccup in the mid-20th century. There were issues related to the commercial rights and advertising of the Kentucky Derby. Many feared broadcasting the races on television will reduce the physical viewership, thereby affecting the profits. However, contrary to those beliefs, broadcasting helped in boosting the event's popularity. It was first televised locally in 1949 and then nationally in 1952. The viewership of the nationwide broadcast is estimated to be around 10-15 million.

Kentucky Derby Traditions

The Kentucky Derby is no longer a mere horse race. Over the years it has developed into a cultural festival consisting of dinners, galas, and other social events. This has also given rise to several traditions. Some of these traditions include:

1. Garland of roses - A blanket of red roses is draped around the victor, honoring the nickname of the race, 'Run for the Roses.'


2. My Old Kentucky Home - Since 1930, Stephen Foster's song, "My Old Kentucky Home" is played when the horses make an entrance on the track.


3. Mint Julep - A concoction of bourbon, mint, sugar, and ice, named mint julep, is drunk by all.


4. Hats - All the female spectators wear ornate hats.


5. Infield Parties - Spectators gather around to party till their heart's content in the track's Infield.

Past Winners of Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby Activities

Every year, Kentucky Derby hosts a crowd of over 150,000 people. Forbes has dubbed it one of the "Greatest Bucket-list Sporting Events" in America. Additionally, it has ranked in the list of one of the most watched sporting events for over three decades. NBC holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the event. The Kentucky Derby has maintained a viewership of nearly 15.79 million viewers on NBC with an average rating of 7.7.

At times its viewership has also gone as high as 18.5-19.0 million. This hit rock bottom only during the 2020 pandemic and recorded 9.4 million views. However, it rose back up the following year, with an average viewership of 15.7 million in 2021. The Kentucky Derby is one of the longest-running horse races, which speaks volumes about its popularity and relevance.

Derby Galas

Every year, the thrilling Kentucky Derby race is followed by the Kentucky Derby parties. From A-lister celebrities to participants and locals, everyone gathers at the different galas to party the night away. People from across the globe travel to Louisville to attend the gallant cultural festival. The average age of the party-goers has been recorded to be around 65. However, the Annual Fillies & Stallions Derby Eve party attracts the younger crowd, usually between the ages of 25 to 45.

The celebrations of the Derby season begin a few weeks before the big race and continue up till the date leading to the race. The festival comprises 70 different events ranging from marathons to races to parades and parties. Some of the most awaited events from the festival are:

Thunder Over Louisville

It is one of the largest annual firework shows in North America and marks the unofficial start of the Derby season. They change the soundtrack and the theme of the show every year, giving the 500,000 spectators a new experience each time.

Fest-a-ville

Loved by the locals, Fest-a-ville offers week-long activities for families to enjoy at the festival. Beautiful views on the Waterfront, Chow Wagon, Waterfront Jam Concert Series, and Great Balloon Glow are some of the activities at the Kentucky Derby Fest-a-ville.

Taste of Derby Festival

The Taste of Derby Festival is the ultimate stop for foodies and explorers. It offers the best and most renowned culinary scenes of Louisville. Taste of Derby Festival houses the signature dishes of more than 50 top restaurants the sight of which is always mouth-watering for the spectators.

Great Steamboat Race

Since 1963, the Great Steamboat Race has been a highlight of the Kentucky Derby festival. Every year, steamboats from the cities surrounding the Ohio River come forward to compete against the Belle of Louisville. The race can be viewed from the Waterfront Fest-a-ville or the Big Four Bridge.

Pegasus Parade

The Pegasus Parade marks the official commencement of Derby Week. The parade honors the customs and traditions of Louisville and everything else that makes it unique. The parade, consisting of bands, colorful floats, and Kentucky staples, passes through several neighborhoods of the town, with spectators spread across the route.

Amazing Facts of the Kentucky Derby

Given below are 10 fun facts about the Kentucky Derby

1. Out of the 148 Derbies, only three have been won by female horses or fillies. These winners were Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988).
2. Late Queen Elizabeth attended the 133rd Kentucky Derby in 2007.
3. The rose blanket draped around the winner consists of 400 roses and weighs 40 lbs.
4. The slowest winning time to finish the 1.5 miles race was recorded in 1891 by Kingman clocking in at 2:52.25.
5. The event recorded its largest physical audience in 2015 with 170,500 people in attendance.
6. The weight of the desired Kentucky Derby trophy is 3.5 lbs.
7. 27 is the maximum number of horses ridden by a jockey, Mike Smith, in the event's history.
8. The oldest Kentucky Derby title winner was 54-year-old Bill Shoemaker, who won in 1986.
9. In 1892 and 1905, only three horses competed in the Kentucky Derby.
10. Every year, 120,000 glasses of mint julep, the traditional drink, are consumed during race day.

Kentucky Derby Dates in Chart