​Kentucky Derby – Parties, Pageantry, Music and Racing

The Kentucky Derby is America’s most extravagant springtime sports party, and one of her most celebrated events. While there is a horse race at the heart of this spectacle, there are many other intriguing aspects within this Louisville tradition. It is a Festival and Fashion Show, it’s a Parade and a Race, it’s Mint Juleps and Riverboats; it’s about Horses and it’s about time you see it and experience Louisville, too.​

Since you want to go to Louisville, Kentucky – you may as well attend the Kentucky Derby.  But don’t forget about the thriving, bustling city of Louisville..there are museums, and sight-seeing tours to famous places, great dining, and a lot of people watching to be done during the festivities.

Tour Features

• Pegasus Parade – Preferred Seats
• Picnic Basket Dinner – Day 1
• Thoroughbred Trail Tour – narrated – Day 2
• Visit to a Thoroughbred Horse Farm – Day 2
• Bourbon Distillery Tour – Day 2
• “Off to the Races” Dinner Party with Kentucky Derby Museum – Day 2
• Churchill Downs VIP Fast Access
• Derby Day Riverboat Race – Day 3 Belle of Louisville vs Spirit of Jefferson
• The Kentucky Derby – Reserved Seat – Day 3
• Three Night’s Lodgings
• Two Dinners / All Taxes & Tips
• Derby Luxury Motorcoach Parking Pass

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Thursday – Arrival – Pegasus Parade
We provide First Class suburban hotels surrounding Louisville to our groups in order to keep prices down. Hotels in Louisville are available and pricey. Regardless of where you stay this will be the most exciting Derby Weekend available to tour & travel groups. This evening you’ll have Reserved Preferred Seating in Downtown Louisville for the Pegasus Parade. It’s a 5:00 o’clock kick-off to three full days of great Derby fun. You’ll have a Pegasus Picnic Dinner tonight.

Day 2 – Friday – Horses & Bourbon
It’s a full day with a local guide where you learn about Kentucky’s most famous products: Thoroughbred Horses and Bourbon; complete with a tour of a working thoroughbred horse farm. Another highlight will be touring a real Kentucky Bourbon Distillery. There are many near the horse farms.
This evening we partner with the Kentucky Derby Museum. The dinner meal is a special “Taste of Kentucky” menu; ending with Derby Pie for dessert. While dining, listen to live music, suitable for a special evening, Then the Derby Museum’s Master of Ceremonies takes over with Derby Racing fun. We have pre-recorded horse races that will be projected on a big screen. Each of your group members will have a race program and a stack of play money with which to wager at the row of Betting Windows in the back of the room. Consider this a warm up to the big race tomorrow. A practice session. Your will be rolling in the aisles with fun.

Day 3 – Saturday – Riverboat Races & The Kentucky Derby
Today’s first event is the Derby Day Riverboat Race. We have chartered both the Spirit of Jefferson and the Belle of Louisville. It doesn’t get any better than this! Once onboard there is complimentary coffee and tea, or start the festivities with a Bloody Mary or Champagne Mimosa from the cash bar.   Once underway we have experts providing a few insider tips on the Derby Race including how to place a real bet at Churchill Downs. At the end of the “How to Bet” lesson, our two private Sternwheelers will turn downstream and with those big red paddlewheels kicking up a feather trail of whitewater they race each other back to Louisville.

At Churchill Downs, you have a VIP Fast Access Pass and 1st floor Grandstand Seats near the Starting Line. Groups can upgrade tickets for 2nd and 3rd floor seating but prices are slightly higher. You will be at The Derby for the rest of the day; enjoy people watching and sample mint juleps. This is one of the world’s greatest and most celebrated sporting events, “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” and you are on hand to experience it all.
While there is a horse race at the heart of this spectacle, there are many other intriguing aspects within this Louisville tradition. It’s a festival and a fashion show, a Parade and a Race, Mint Juleps and Riverboats; it’s about Horses and it’s about time you see it!

Also included is premium luxury motorcoach parking, but it is still a long walk. Depending on where your seats are inside Churchill Downs you may walk close to a mile. Be advised: you must be capable of walking to enjoy this trip.

Day 4 – Sunday – Departure Day
This morning, with hat boxes and suitcases loaded, your group departs for home.

THE Kentucky Derby is the most fantastic horse race in the world…witness this event first hand.  Call TravelKatz at 352-277-7300 to make your vacation to Louisville a reality.