Buddy since we were yutes in elementary school is getting married. He's the 1st in circle childhood or college buddies getting hitched. So this is 1st go-around in bachelor party planning. Participants will be 6 guys one year out of school so money is pretty tight.

We wanted to take a weekend road trip somewhere. After kicking around ideas the favorite choice became an RV trip to Kentucky Derby. So has anyone ever been to the Derby? Is going just one of the "gotta try it once" trips or legitimately a fun experience? Any help would be much appreciated.

My friends, who are not much for horse racing, go every few years and love it.

The area between Indianapolis and Louisville is filled with people who could have stood in with no makeup or costume at the Creature Cantina.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I think Mac said the infield was insane in a good perverted way. Maybe the Indy 500?

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Go, it's a blast.....about 10 of us went back in 2009, we were all about 23-24 year's old and it was good times...

Some tips:
-Drive down early on Friday, the rides not bad....
-Hit up the Infield, best talent around and just partying all over the joint.
-For at LEAST one of the races, stand right along the fence to feel the speed and fury of the actual horses racing, pretty impressive...
-Come nighttime, 4TH STREET LIVE is where you'll want to be....it's like giant complex of bars and restaurants in an open air mall...don't buy any table/bottle service, not necessary and overpriced (no way bottles at Louisville should be the same prices as Vegas/Chicago)....lots of action and pretty easy to find girls looking to party.
-There are a good number of strip joints short cab distance from the track, just try to avoid the ones on the outskirts of town. We saw Rodman at a club one of the nights admiring the ladies....
-MAKE SURE you watch the idiots running across the top of the porta potties get pelted with everything from chairs to full beer cans rifled at their heads. Pure entertainment....

Overall, a relatively cheap trip that's a good time, more relaxed and college feeling than going to Vegas or something more high end.....enjoy man

_________________
GOB: "My God, what is this feeling?"
Michael: "Could it be love?"
GOB: "I know what an erection feels like, Michael. No, it's the opposite. It's... it's like my heart is getting hard."

_________________
1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Thanks cluv8484, very very helpful. Did your group drive down there and stay at a hotel? Tent camping? RV down there?

I'm guessing getting a hotel room would be expensive and make RV rental cost easier to swallow.

The tip about avoiding strip clubs on the outskirts of LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY sure could come in handy.

_________________
I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

It will be difficult to find a room unless you book it very early. I've stayed in Scottsburg, Indiana and driven in Saturday morning.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

That is true -- they also will often make you book multiple nights. It is similar to a NASCAR track... the hotel costs $70 a night until it is race day and then it is $325.

I've been twice.. 2003 and 2004. Done the infield both times, which if you aren't a big racing fan is definitely the place to be. You don't need to get tickets ahead of time, it won't fill up. It is an interesting mix of families and drunkards. Mostly drunkards. A big party atmosphere in there.

I think that was the first place I ever saw the aluminum Bud Light bottle.

_________________
"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Glad to help, we stayed in a couple hotel rooms in a Holiday Inn Express right across the river, like 10 min cab ride from downtown. I had hotel.com reward nights, so we were able to minimize the hotel cost big time....just checked out of curiosity, looks like your gonna pay a minimum of $150-200/night. Figure maybe a couple dudes land a night in a girls bed, you may be able to squeeze into 1 spot with airmatresses, etc....

_________________
GOB: "My God, what is this feeling?"
Michael: "Could it be love?"
GOB: "I know what an erection feels like, Michael. No, it's the opposite. It's... it's like my heart is getting hard."

I got friends in the 'ville.

I think one year, we put up a tent next to a swimming pool on someone's lawn. The Derby is a real shitshow all over town, in the best way...

_________________
1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

You should see the area between Louisville and Bowling Green. Yikes.

_________________

We want to go, but HRH needs to be older. We have done the back lot tour, thinking that is a no go that weekend. But if you can ever get down there on a non race day it is worth it

_________________

Derby vets, a group of 6 are RV-ing down Friday morning and grabbing a camping spots across the river. So we'll have a lot of free time until Saturday. Have a few questions:

-Friday they are selling a Kentucky Oaks General Admission ticket? We're not big horse racing guys by any means but for $25 is this worth going to see?
-How would you navigate Derby weekend itself as in:
-How early should we head over to the infield?
-Can we tailgate the Derby?
-How long do you actually stay at the track? Is it an all-day affair?
-Should we avoid the food there and eat before and bring in our own stuff?
-What are alcohol prices like inside the park?

Tattle Tales?

_________________

I've not been to the Oaks, but it is probably worth going if you are interested in seeing what the track is like without so many people in attendance. Since you all aren't that into racing, I'd probably say skip it and do some other stuff in town



http://www.kentuckyderby.com/visit/security-information
Gates open at 8, but the infield never truly fills up per se. It gets pretty packed out along the rail early though, so if you really want to be on the rail, you probably need to get over as one of the first people. If not, you'll still have plenty of room to create a base.


Sort of. You can bring food items in clear ziploc baggies, but you can't bring in any cans or bottles. Good news is that there is some awesome food in the infield... they let other companies come in that day and there'll be like BBQ stands, some burgers and dogs, etc. Jack Daniels and those other bourbon guys come in and have a bunch of drinks, and there's always Bud and such. The line for the mint juleps is usually pretty short because they taste so god awful, but if you want a souvenir glass, you should grab one before you leave.

Yes... it goes basically the whole day. If you get there at 9:30, you'll be there until at least the end of the Derby which is 6:30ish. Definitely a smart move to put on some sunscreen because there are no shadows to hide behind in the infield. Basically, you determine how long you'll be there by planning on being there until at least 6:30 because you aren't going to leave before the actual Derby, I'd imagine.
I thought their food was pretty good... this is a once a year thing, so you might as well splurge.

Normal crazy prices... I think they are a bit cheaper than a ballpark, but I'd guess $6 or so a beer. You can always sneak in whiskey packets.

_________________
"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

I didn't know this was an old thread. I was about to post the same thing I posted back in January. I don't know if that's sad or pathetic. #OldJokesNeverDieTheyJustGetRetoldOverAndOver

Been to the track a few times to see it, but not the race. We want to take HRH once for either that or the Breeders cup.

_________________

Thanks newper, your answers are much appreciated.