Kentucky Derby 150 guide to everything you need to know for Oaks and Derby Days

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The historic Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs puts Louisville at the center of the thoroughbred horse racing world on the first Saturday in May.

The Run for the Roses is the crowning event for the most elite horses, jockeys and trainers in the world. All eyes will be on our city as the "most exciting two minutes in sports" marks the milestone.

The spring meet opens with a week of events and racing leading up to the Derby including Friday's pink-out for the Survivors Parade and the Kentucky Oaks, which crowns a filly with a silver trophy and a Garland of Lilies.

Welcome to the most exciting two weeks in Kentucky! We put together this guide to cover the fashion, food, gambling, bourbon, celebrity galas and of course, the horses.

Happy Derby, everybody!

Watch WDRB Mornings live from the track

The WDRB Mornings team is live Derby week from the Churchill Downs backside from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. each morning through Friday's Kentucky Oaks morning.

Join Candyce Clifft, Sterling Riggs, Jude Redfield, Keith Kaiser and the whole team on Kentucky Derby morning from 6 a.m. to noon. We will be getting you ready for the event talking to trainers and spotlighting the fashion, food and history of the 150th Run for the Roses.

The full day of broadcasting will be on our WDRB.com website, the WDRB News app, the WDRB+ TV anywhere app for your phone, and the WDRB+ streaming app on your Fire, Apple or Roku TV.

Here's a link to learn how to download the apps. Click here.

Churchill Downs unveils $200 million paddock

After two years of construction, Churchill Downs unveils a $200 paddock redesign that will stun race fans.

The highlight is a horseshoe-shaped area that surrounds the stalls where Kentucky Derby connections will prepare for the race. Observation decks will allow people to look down where the horses will be paraded on their way to the track.

To read more about the renovation, click here.

IMAGES | Inside Churchill Downs' $200 million paddock expansion before 150th Kentucky Derby

Get to know the Derby contenders

The road to the 150th Kentucky Derby took many horses across the United States. From New York to Florida to California and in between, trainers gear up their horses in prep races to build up points and qualify for a trip to Churchill Downs.

Here are videos of the most prominent Derby prep races with results and full replay videos. And to see the real-time Derby points standings, click here.

Watch all the prep races in the story below:

Watch all the replay videos of Kentucky Derby 150 prep races on the road to the roses

The road to the 150th Kentucky Derby takes many horses across the United States. From New York to Florida to California and in between, trainers gear up their horses in prep races to build up points and qualify for a trip to Churchill Downs.

Derby week schedule at Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby Day presented by Woodford Reserve

Saturday, May 4
- Gates open at 9 a.m.
- Races begin at 10:30 a.m.
- National Anthem by country legend Wynona Judd at 5 p.m.
- Riders Up by Martha Stewart
- My Old Kentucky Home - University of Louisville Marching Band
- The Kentucky Derby is race 12.
- Post time is 6:57 p.m.
- Race schedule for Derby Day, click here.

Kentucky Derby Day hits the 150th milestone with the best three-year-old thoroughbreds battling for the first jewel of the Triple Crown. Grab a mint julep, sing "My Old Kentucky Home" and get ready to watch history beneath the Twin Spires!

On Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days only a frontside ticket, not an infield ticket, will grant you entry to the parking lots at KEC with complimentary shuttle service to and from the Black Lot and Paddock Gate at Churchill Down.

Shuttles begin running at 7:30 a.m.

Taxi or rideshare pick-up and drop-off will take place at the Bronze Lot at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.

There is paid parking available at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium beginning on Oaks.

This option is for guests to park and walk to Churchill Downs. Parking is paid day of via cash or credit card. There is not any pre-purchased parking.
Pricing is planned to be as follows: $40 for a car or truck; $150 for an RV or similar; and $200 for a bus.

Parking Derby Week, Oaks and Derby

Parking won't be easy around Churchill Downs unless you have advance tickets. You'll have to plan to get to the track even if you do have tickets.

All onsite parking at Churchill Downs is reserved in advance and the deadline has passed. If you do not have pre-purchased parking, you will not be able to purchase it onsite.

Each day during Derby week has different parking rules you should read ahead of time. Click here.

Shuttles

There are free shuttles beginning at 10 a.m. from the Kentucky Expo Center on Opening Night, 502’sDay and Champions Day. They begin at 9 a.m. on Thurby.

On the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days, if you do not already have onsite parking, but have reserved seating with frontside access, there is parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center which is included with your ticket. Shuttles start running at 7:30 a.m. on Oaks and Derby.

RideShare and Taxi info for Wednesday's Champions Day

There is no offsite taxi or rideshare pick-up and drop-off on this day.

All taxi or rideshare pick-up and drop-off will happen onsite at Kentucky Derby Drive between Queen and Thornberry

There is no parking at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on this day.

RideShare and Taxi info for Thurby, Oaks and Derby

Taxi or rideshare pick-up and drop-off will take place at the Bronze Lot at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.

There will be no mobility assistance from Churchill Downs to L&N Federal Credit Union stadium.

Guests utilizing ride share should plan to ride a shuttle to the Kentucky Exposition Center for pickup or drop-off.

Parking for Thurby

There is paid parking available at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium beginning on Thursday/Thurby.

This option is for guests to park and walk to Churchill Downs.

Parking is paid day of via cash or credit card.

There is not any pre-purchased parking.

Pricing is planned to be as follows: $40 for a car or truck; $150 for an RV or similar; and $200 for a bus.

Road closings and no parking areas

Louisville Metro Police posted a long list of no parking areas and road closings around Churchill Downs. Here are links to the official list:

2024 Oaks and Derby No Parking Areas

2024 Oaks and Derby Street Closures

Churchill Downs has gone cashless

Bring your credit or debit card, if you plan to spend money at the track. Churchill Downs has gone cashless except for wagering.

The track is encouraging guests to have a credit card available as all food and beverage is now a cashless service. During the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby guests with frontside access will have an All-Inclusive Experience.

Security measures at the track

Everyone visiting the historic horse racing track in Louisville during Derby week will go through metal detector scans before entering admission gates. People are encouraged to arrive early to accommodate the search procedures.

Guests will also be required to return any prohibited items to their vehicles or discard them before entering Churchill Downs. There is no re-entry after exiting the facility.

People are reminded to call 502-636-4526 if they see something unusual.

Prohibited items at Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs will enforce a strict bag policy from Saturday, April 27, through Derby Day on May 4. Each guest is permitted one bag that isn't larger than 12" x 6" x 12".

Prohibited items include:

Air Horns
Alcoholic beverages
Backpacks
Bags larger than 12" x 6" x 12"
Balloons and inflatables
Balls
Banners and/or signs, unless pre-approved
Cameras with detachable lenses, or equipped with a lens that is 6” or larger
Canopies
Cans (any size or type)
Collapsible Chairs (Please see below exceptions for Infield Gate Only)
Collapsible Chairs without canopies
Confetti
Coolers
Chains
Duffel Bags
Drones and remote controlled aircraft
Firearms
Fireworks
Food (Opening Night -- Thurby) *see below exceptions
Frisbees
Glass Bottles or containers
Grills
Hoverboards, skateboards and scooters
Illegal Substances
Knives
Laser lights/pointers
Luggage
Mace
Noise Makers
Pepper Spray
Personal music players without head-phones
Pets, except for trained service animals
Poles or sticks of any size
Portable speakers/sound systems
Projectile Items
Seat Cushions that are larger than 15" X 15" that contain metal arms and/or backs, zippers, pockets or flaps
Selfie Sticks
Tents
Thermoses
Tripods
Umbrellas of any size
Wagons
Weapons of any kind
Any items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate

Baby bag and diaper bags, if accompanied by a child, are allowed in the frontside gates. Strollers are also allowed if accompanied by a child.

Churchill Downs said guests with specific dietary needs or restrictions may bring boxed lunches or food items in clear plastic bags or containers that do not exceed the maximum size. Boxed lunches or food items must fit in the guest's bag or one-gallon clear Ziploc-style storage bag.

Items you can bring into the Infield

There are some exceptions allowed in the infield gate, including:

Boxed lunches or food items in clear plastic bags or containers that do not exceed the maximum size (12" X 6" X 12"). Boxed lunches or food items must fit in the guest's bag or one-gallon clear Ziploc-style storage bag (no trash bags). Guests are restricted to one bag only – additional bags for food will not be permitted.
Bottled water that is in a sealed, clear and unopened plastic bottle- limit of two 24 oz. bottles per person
Collapsible camping chairs without canopies (must be removed from bag during search)
Tarpaulins ("Tarps") and Picnic Blankets that are smaller than 10’ x 10’. Once inside the gate, tarps may not be secured to the infield fence or any other permanent structure.

"My Old Kentucky Home"

Whether you're from the Bluegrass or are visiting for the race, the state song plays an emotional part of Kentucky Derby Day. Many people get a little misty when the chorus starts with "Weep no more, my lady!"

The song is performed by the University of Louisville Marching Band for the crowd to singalong. It was written by Stephen Foster during the years before the Civil War. The original lyrics were changed in 1986 to what is performed today. Here are the lyrics you'll need to sing the song with the crowd of 150,00 at Churchill Downs.

My Old Kentucky Home by Stephen Collins Foster

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,

Tis summer, the people are gay;

The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom

While the birds make music all the day.

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor

All merry, all happy and bright;

By 'n by hard times comes a knocking at the door

Then my old Kentucky home, Good-night!

Chorus:

Weep no more my lady.

Oh! Weep no more today!