How much does it cost to sit in the infield of the Kentucky Derby?

Question

How much does it cost to sit in the infield of the Kentucky Derby?

Answer 1

I don't know how much it costs, but I can tell you that you won't be sitting, that is for sure. There is too much activity going on there to allow for that. The infield at Churchill is notorious as a party place- there is a LOT of drinking, drug use, and lewd behavior that goes on there every year on Derby Day and during the week that precedes the race. The place has also become known as a hotspot for drug dealing activities in recent years as well. There have been some arrests made there, but that never seems to stop the nonsense that happens each spring. It's worth noting that Churchill Downs is the only major track in the country that allows this kind of thing- the infields at most of the other tracks are normally closed and off-limits to the public most of the time. Pimlico racecourse in Baltimore, MD, is an exception to this- their paddock ( the enclosed area where horses are saddled before they race) is located in the infield of that track, which means that the kind of nonsense that happens at Churchill isn't possible on Preakness Day. Hieleah Park, located in Florida, even keeps a flock of rare tropical flamingoes in their infield. These birds are protected by federal law, and because they require privacy to nest and breed, people are kept out of the infield.  It is sort of neat to see these birds on TV during the coverage of the Florida Derby and races like it each spring. I know of at least one other track that has a similar arrangement- Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco has a lake in its infield as well, for local waterfowl. If you go to the Derby, my advice would be to avoid the infield if you can. You won't be able to see much anyway, and if the race is important to you, you will waste a lot of your time just trying to get a spot to see from. Tickets for the Derby are very expensive- and they can be very hard to get, unless you make your reservations at least a year in advance. The exception to this is if you have a horse that is running, or you are related to someone who does ( and this applies to families of trainers and jockeys as well as owners) then tickets are usually free or provided at low cost. The grandstand is a better place to see the race from, and the conditions in it are a lot better than they are in the infield.

Answer 2

It costs $40.00 to sit in the infield, and you have to buy them at the gates on Derby day. Hope I helped!!!