Make the most of your first visit to the Derby!
They don’t call it the most exciting two minutes in sports for nothing! The
Kentucky Derby is, hands down, one of our favorite trips to plan for clients and to attend ourselves.
Of course, horse racing is the centerpiece of the event, but the pomp and circumstance (and parties!) surrounding the race are just as exciting. If it’s your first time attending the Derby, keep reading this Kentucky Derby guide for ways to make it a memorable event!
Do your research
There are many different ways to experience the Derby – you can sit on Millionaire’s Row and hob-nob with the celebrities and glitterati or get bleacher seats in the infield closer to the real action. The Derby doesn’t just have to be one day either — you can get tickets to a number of pre-Derby events and parties (like our exclusive Thursday night kickoff concert!).
Thurby, the Thursday before the Derby, has also become a can’t-miss celebration of Kentucky’s culture, food, and racing. This year’s event will feature folk/R&B band Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. You can also attend the Kentucky Oaks, the premier and most lucrative race for 3-year old fillies (female horses) held each year on the day before the Kentucky Derby. When you book your Kentucky Derby travel packages with Superior, tickets to the Oaks are included.
There are a lot of components to attending the Derby, and with over 45 years of combined travel planning experience, we would be honored to help you plan an unforgettable and top-notch trip!
Dress to impress
The Derby is a terrific opportunity to try out a debonair look — gentlemen typically wear pastel-hued colors, seersucker suits, saddle shoes, and bow ties. Here is a round-up of some great sartorial options from Town & Country Magazine. As for the ladies, we certainly recommend donning an attention-grabbing fascinator hat; unless you’re invited to a royal wedding, it’s likely one of the few times you can wear one and fit right in.
Try a mint julep
Each year, almost 120,000 mint juleps are served during Derby weekend. And, as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the mint julep is light and refreshing but also packs a Bourbon punch. The mint julep pairs nicely with the fine fare available at Churchill Downs and in Superior’s luxury suites.
Place a bet
Even if you’re not much of a gambler, there’s no better time or place to get lucky than the Kentucky Derby! And you don’t have to be a high roller to win big, either — the minimum bet is typically just $2. Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta? Huh? The betting terminology can be a little confusing, but, fortunately, the good folks at Churchill Downs can get you up to speed in no time.
Hear from past attendees
Want to know what it’s really like to attend the Kentucky Derby with Superior? Hear from past Derby travelers in our new Customer Conversations video!
Superior Executive Services has been helping people experience the Kentucky Derby firsthand for years, and we’d be honored to help you as well! Contact us today at (608) 665-9070 or send us a message to start planning!
