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Bad Weather for the 139th Kentucky Derby?

Published On May 4, 2013

Bad Derby Weather Trying to figure out which horse will win the 2013 Kentucky Derby can be difficult because of the surface conditions of the track at Churchill Downs. Unlike other racecourses, the Kentucky Derby is raced on turf. This means that the weather can seriously affect the outcome of the race. Now that the Kentucky Derby is less than 24 hours away, the real question for bettors is whether or not rain is going to affect the way the horses run on May 4, 2013.

Weather in Louisville, Kentucky on May 3, 2013

DerbyBetting.org is proud to have writers living next to Churchill Downs. Despite what the meteorologists online may say, our writers can record the weather by looking out their window. At 10pm, the day before the 2013 Kentucky Derby, the weather was a stormy. There was a light rain with lightning and thunder starting at around 6:30pm and lasting until 8pm. While this storm is predicted to clear up over the next 12 hours, it does mean that the track will be muddy at Churchill Downs.

Will bad weather cancel the 2013 Kentucky Derby?

While it is certainly not advise to stand in the middle of the Infield during a lightning storm, bad weather has never canceled a Kentucky Derby in the past 14 decades. The post time is in the early evening at 6:24pm. Naturally, the time for the Kentucky Derby can change if they suspect that there will be bad weather later on.

Will the Churchill Downs track be too wet to run on?

No one wants to see the horses suffer, and a wet turf track can seem scary to new horse racing fans. Thankfully, Churchill Downs works rapidly to get the track in working condition before horses are allowed to run on it. Over the years, they have developed several techniques that drain water away from a muddy track and have extra dirt to throw down on top of any wet spots. While any extra moisture on the track might affect the way a horse runs, clearing up the water will certainly hinder any serious injuries.

Will Kentucky Derby cancellations be announced?

Despite the fact that it has never happened before, there is always a chance that the Kentucky Derby will need to be canceled. If this is the case, you can save yourself some stress by checking in with the @DerbyMedia Twitter account. You will not learn of all of the important betting updates at this Twitter address, but you will know if the weather is going to affect your 2013 Kentucky Derby bet.

139th Kentucky Derby Festival Videos and Pictures

Published On May 3, 2013

The Kentucky Derby Festival provides an exciting array of events, entertainment, and activities for the people of Louisville – all for the low cost of a simple Pegasus Pin. This horse racing focused organization is actually a separate entity from Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, but no one represents the spirit of the race quite like the Kentucky Derby Festival. Listed below are the best videos taken of the 2013 celebration.

2013 Pegasus Parade pictures and videos

While the Pegasus Parade occurs a couple of days before the Kentucky Derby, fans of this event are quick to upload their experiences online. Within 24 hours of the 2013 Pegasus Parade, photos and videos have emerged that highlight a lot of local entertainers.

Good weather for the Great Balloon Race

It can be a little bit tricky for amateurs to capture good video and photographs of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Balloon events. However, fans were lucky this year because the weather permitted great media coverage from the 2013 event. Here are some uploads that highlight amateurs using professional filming techniques with music or commentary.

Everyone’s favorite food photos at the Chow Wagon

More Derby Food Louisville represents a wide array of fine taste buds, and festival food takes on a lot of meanings during the Kentucky Derby. In addition to food truck gourmet and local five-star restaurant talent, there are also once-a-year BBQ booths that show up at the Chow Wagon on the Riverfront during Derby. Pictures of this event are always rather hard to find, but food fans and major news sources in Louisville are definitely representing their 2013 favorites this year.

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Kroger’s 2013 Fest-a-Ville music highlights

The week before the Kentucky Derby, music is performed live for free at Louisville’s Waterfront Park. The event is one that most locals make a point of attending, and it is sponsored by Kroger groceries. The 2013 headliners at this event included the Velcro Pygmies, Jefferson Tarc Bus, Jacob Dylan and his father Bob Dylan.

2013 Kentucky Derby for Kids

Published On May 3, 2013

There is a lot of focus on betting during the Kentucky Derby, but this does not mean that this is solely an adult-oriented event. Instead, kids are at the heart of Kentucky Derby celebrations all over America. To get an idea of how Kentucky annually incorporates horse racing with festivities for kids, take a look at the May 4, 2013 Kentucky Derby events below.

Kids welcome at the racetrack for the 2013 Derby

Kentucky Derby for Kids Do you live outside of Kentucky and want to take your kids to celebrate the 2013 Derby? Your city may not have an organized celebration that focuses on this event, but it is highly likely that your local racetrack does. Interestingly, Portland Meadows and Golden Gate Fields are hosting a 2013 Kentucky Derby party and children are welcome to attend. In addition to hanging out in the lounge and eating from the buffet, kids can also visit the stables and participate in child-oriented organized activities.

Frankfort Kentucky’s Derby Celebration

Locals in Frankfort, Kentucky’s capitol want to ensure that kids have a safe space to celebrate the Derby in 2013. For this reason, the Historic Society will host an event during The (Kentucky) Governor’s Downtown Derby Celebration that will have several exhibits for kids on display. One is a mobile exhibit sponsored by Toyota called “A Kentucky Journey.” This celebration will also host Hobbyhorse Races at the Old State Capitol, derby hat making for kids, carriage rides, pony rides, and give kids a chance to visit retired racing Thoroughbreds.

Louisville’s pre-Derby festival events for kids

Kids in Louisville enjoy three weeks of Derby events each year that welcome them at every turn. With the exception of the marathon, all of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s events have a place set aside for children. However, some of this entertainment features children as performers. For example, the Louisville Youth Orchestra performed at the Iroquois Amphitheater and children signed up to run in the Children’s Marathon. Other kid-centric activities in Louisville are the “Children’s Tea with the Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses” and the Great Bed Races.

Kids Zone in the Kentucky Derby Infield on Derby Day

The Kentucky Derby is well-known for the wild party that happens in the center of the track at Churchill Downs. If you watch videos recorded in the infield on Derby Day, you might feel that it is not very child-friendly. Interestingly, recent headlines confirm the fact that someone at Churchill Downs has decided to take charge of the situation and create a child-friendly Infield area.

According to the Kentucky Derby’s website blog, the Infield is being divided into three parts. In one area, it will be the “Young At Heart Party” where adults can get a little buck wild without kids around. In a third area, the grassy first turn of the infield will have a picnic environment for well-supervised children and their parents.

2013 Kentucky Derby: Fun Tours of Louisville

Published On May 2, 2013

City Concierge Louisville Tours Signs Are you planning on traveling to the 2013 Kentucky Derby and are looking for fun things to do besides visiting Churchill Downs? Thousands of tourists come to Louisville each year to watch the Kentucky Derby, but their time spent actually watching the race is only two minutes. Obviously, if you are going to spend more than one day in Louisville, finding someone to show you a tour is a good idea. This way, you get the most out of your visit to the Bluegrass State and a taste of horse racing culture.

Touring on a bus with your friends

City Taste Tours of Louisville 2 In Louisville, there are a variety of prepackaged bus-oriented tours. This means that a driver picks up you and your friends from a centralized location and takes you somewhere for a predetermined activity. For example, it is common in Louisville to go on a bourbon tour. This means that you will go to all of the distilleries within 100 miles of Louisville. While some are very basic, others bus tours in Louisville that use this model are very elaborate. One company that caught our writer’s eye at DerbyBetting.org is City Taste Tours of Louisville. They definitely offer all of the glamorous foodie touches that tourists expect out of the gourmet Kentucky Derby experience.

Custom tours and luxury concierge

Prepackaged tours are good for groups, but what if you want to personalize your experience and you have the money to do it? In order to get some professional guidance, services in Louisville, Kentucky such as Laura Wallace’s City Concierge provide options that are not regularly found in Louisville’s top hotels. Instead of having your five star hotel refer her, you can call City Concierge directly and request customized tours or a personal assistant during Derby weekend. City Concierge Tours Louisville

Ghost Tours of Louisville?

A popular tour in Louisville, Kentucky that features its dark past is guided by Mr. Ghost Walker. However, according to his website, he will not be having any scheduled tours in 2013 until the week after Derby. If you are only in town for Kentucky Derby weekend, there is always a chance that he can be persuaded if the right amount of money is offered. Otherwise, you will need to schedule a visit with him the next time you are in Louisville.

Fly over tours of Louisville

Some people like to look at museums while others are more drawn to the overview option. If you want to fly over the city of Louisville, Classic Biplane Tours of Louisville is a specific tour designed especially for you. Using a biplane, you can experience the sensation of flying all while your tour guide shows you the famous sights of Kentucky from the air.

The other in-depth tours of Louisville

City Concierge 1 Truthfully, there are at least 15 excellent tour companies that are based in Louisville. You will get great service from each of them, and the only choices you will need to make is which price is right. The exception to that rule is that some are based around one location. The following list gives you an idea of tour companies that are specific to Louisville neighborhoods where you may be spending your time during the Kentucky Derby.

Downtown Louisville: There are a few hotel locations next to Churchill Downs, but a majority of Kentucky Derby tourists are in Downtown Louisville for the weekend. For this reason, do not forget to check out the Louisville Segway Tours or the Belle of Louisville Steamboat Ohio River tours.

East of Churchill Downs: Five miles east of Churchill Downs is the Louisville Zoo. Behind it is a tour facility that is worth mentioning if you enjoy caves. Kentucky is an interesting place because it has a large cave system that runs throughout most of the state. However, Mega Cave Louisville is a specific tourist attraction that has a unique history tied to nuclear war preparation and more. In addition to learning about the importance of this cave in Louisville, there are also a variety of activities based around cave exploration.

Old Louisville: On the day of the Kentucky Derby, there are 13 races in total. If you decide that you want to walk around the neighborhood during the Kentucky Derby instead of hanging out at Churchill Downs, you will be about a half a mile away from Old Louisville. This gives you a chance to use your Smartphone to access the Do It Yourself Walking Tours Of Old Louisville webpage. It is a relaxing way to enjoy history that helped shape Churchill Downs and it is completely free.

Can the Kentucky Derby Be Canceled?

Published On May 2, 2013

Run For The Roses Buying tickets to the Kentucky Derby and planning to spend your day at Churchill Downs is an investment of time and money. For bettors, a great deal of reading and video watching is done in order to pick the horses that are most likely to win. Adding to the anxiety of the anticipating which horse will cross the finish line, some are worried that they will have no chance at all because the Kentucky Derby might be canceled. However, with some insight about the history of the past 138 Kentucky Derby’s, these fears will be quelled.

The tumultuous weather at last year’s Kentucky Derby

In the week before the 2012 Kentucky Derby, our website’s writers were living less than two miles from Churchill Downs. During that time, egg-sized hail rained down upon the neighborhood, and many feared that there would be a tornado. Another problem is that the classic Churchill Downs tulip landscaping was still not blooming. It seemed like there was a lot of signs pointing to the fact that the Kentucky Derby might need to be canceled because the weather was terrible. Interestingly, the races were not canceled – and it did not rain on the day of the 138 Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby does not always have such sunny weather.

The history of Kentucky Derby weather

The United States National Weather Service recently published a handy online guide that shows the weather history of the Kentucky Derby for the past 138 years. Without a doubt, there is a 50/50 chance that it will rain on the day of the Kentucky Derby. If the Kentucky Derby has run each year regardless of the weather, do they make horses run in the rain?

What happens if it rains on Derby Day?

In recent Kentucky Derby races, the start time is 6:24pm. Of course, if the weather is terrible, they can always delay the race and use overhead lights. Churchill Downs also has special equipment to drain the track and make it less muddy. This is not a surprise to our website writers that have lived in Louisville for the past two decades. Generally speaking, the weather in Louisville tends to clear up after 7pm during May. Although it is certainly tornado season during the first weeks of May, there has never been a tornado that has touched down during the Kentucky Derby over the past 140 years.

The one year that the Kentucky Derby was canceled?

Trivia fanatics take note! Compared to other racetracks, the Kentucky Derby has a perfect track record. The race started in 1875 and has been run each year since. This is surprising considering that, during World War II, some racetracks throughout the United States, closed down. For example, Santa Anita Park in California had racing suspended from 1942 to 1944 so that the facility could be used by the military.

Naturally, all of the examples in this article affirm that you should keep your faith alive that the 2013 Kentucky Derby will not be canceled. You are also highly unlikely to have your bet scratched. So kick back, get ready to enjoy the race. If you need some help getting started with Kentucky Derby betting, check out some posts from our updated blog.

Healthy Kentucky Derby Food Recipes and Tips

Published On May 1, 2013

Do you love Kentucky Derby food classics like Hot Browns, Burgoo and pulled pork? The Kentucky Derby is known for its decadence, and this often flies in the face of a health-conscious America. If you are looking for a way to eat healthy while still enjoying all of your Derby party favorites, you are in luck. Over the years, several recipes and tips have been developed that have the all of the goodness of the Kentucky Derby food, but with a fit kick.

Less bread and more fresh produce

There are so many variations online in regards to Kentucky Derby menus that it can be difficult to know how to make it authentic. It can also be nerve-wracking to figure out how to take a traditional menu and make it into something healthier. Of course, traditional Kentucky Derby menus include a lot of starch, but this is changing. If you look at the menus for the 2013 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, you will notice that there are a lot of raw veggies and fruits. To make your Kentucky Derby food more health-conscious, limit your carbohydrate-based menu items and add three times as many non-carbohydrate choices.

Classic full-fat Kentucky Derby menu items include:

Macaroni and cheese
Benedictine sandwiches
Pulled pork sandwiches
Burgoo
Country ham and biscuits
Grits and cheese
Hot Browns
Grilled corn
Spicy pecans

Taking the cholesterol out of pulled pork

Most people that enjoy barbecued pulled pork have no idea how it is cooked. Worse, they buy pulled pork in the freezer aisle of a grocery store in a prepackaged tub. Sadly, restaurants and grocery stores rarely have a variation of pulled pork that is geared toward someone with high cholesterol. Thankfully, as the old saying goes, this secret is in the sauce. In order to avoid the hidden fat found in pulled pork sandwiches, switch to barbecued chicken instead. If you are craving the authentic Churchill Downs taste, invest extra time in finding the perfect barbecue sauce recipe.

Making a healthier Burgoo?

Outside of Kentucky, few people have heard of the spicy stew called Burgoo. This soup has a history that revolves around the upper-class farming style that Kentucky is famous for. Tradition has it that Burgoo should contain several different types of vegetables and barbecued meat such as pork or mutton. Although it is delicious, it often has a layer of grease swimming at the top. Interestingly, our writers at DerbyBetting.org have lived in the Bluegrass State for almost three decades and have a healthy Burgoo tip. Mainly, it is well known that Burgoo tastes better the day after it is cooked. For this reason, when the Burgoo is cooled, it is easy to remove the orange fat layer that collects at the top. Doing this reduces the overall fat content of this stew significantly.

What about a healthy Hot Brown?

The Hot Brown is an open face sandwich that is covered in a cheese sauce. Ordering a Hot Brown sandwich over the past century has included many strange toppings such as canned peaches. Nevertheless, it is basically a turkey sandwich with cheese sauce and does not need to be high fat. While there are many healthy recipes for the Hot Brown, the low-fat parmesan cheese sauce developed by Southern Living Magazine is the most recommended in Louisville.

Do not forget the Derby Pie

When you have a Kentucky Derby party in Louisville, it is made complete with a special dessert like bourbon balls. One other option is to buy the trademarked Derby Pie that is available from sellers such as Taste of Kentucky. This pie is certainly rich, and you cannot buy it in a sugar-free option. On a humorous note, it has been observed by writers at DerbyBetting.org that the most sugar-conscious people in Louisville avoid eating too much of this rich pie by implementing a two-bite policy instead of serving a whole slice.

Last Minute 2013 Kentucky Derby Tickets?

Published On Apr 30, 2013

Kentucky Derby Floor Grandstand The day of the Kentucky Derby, you make sure to take your sunscreen, hat, and betting money to the big race. However, you soon discover that you have left your tickets at home in another city. Before you panic and abandon the race altogether, keep in mind that every person that wants to go to the Kentucky Derby is admitted. If you are curious about how this works, keep reading.

How do my fraudulent tickets still work?

Some people are so excited to get tickets to the Kentucky Derby that they end up getting scammed. This often happens when someone uses a third party to purchase tickets. For example, purchasing Kentucky Derby tickets from a website with a credit card buys you some insurance. On the other hand, purchasing a 2013 Kentucky Derby ticket from Craigslist can help you end up with a fake ticket. Regardless, if you show up to the gates of Churchill Downs and they throw away your ticket, there is still hope.

Churchill Downs still has tickets with seats?

A week before the 2013 Kentucky Derby, the official Churchill Downs website stated they had tickets for sale. While you may not see celebrities in Section 110, you will have a chance to sit down. If you buy their $550 ticket package, you will get food, drinks, and a little bit of shade. Nonetheless, there is a chance that you will miss out on tickets to this area, but it does not mean you are out of options yet.

An unlimited supply of Kentucky Derby tickets

This year, you gathered all of your friends together to go see the Kentucky Derby. Before leaving the hotel, you put the tickets in your bag and start to walk all the way to Churchill Downs. Unfortunately, when you get to the gate, you notice that you have been pick-pocketed. Without your tickets, is there a chance that you can get inside and still enjoy the festivities? While you may not have your tickets instantly replaced, you can still pay to get in to the Infield. It only costs $50 for admission, and they have plenty of room for thousands of people. Moreover, this area is a unique party space in and of itself that you will not regret being a part of.

When all else fails, you can still place a bet

Sometimes, it is difficult to admit defeat and still have a good time. If you made it all the way to Louisville but do not get good tickets, you can still show up at Churchill Downs to take a few tourist pictures. In addition to placing a bet there, you can take advantage of all of the online Kentucky Derby betting bonuses from the comfort of your smartphone.

Unique 2013 Kentucky Derby Events Outside of Louisville

Published On Apr 27, 2013

Louisville, Kentucky and Churchill Downs are the center points of the Kentucky Derby. However, this is not the only places that Kentucky Derby parties are held. Throughout the world, there are several unique ways that the Kentucky Derby is being incorporated into a party. Interestingly, there are about five distinct takes on a 2013 Kentucky Derby party listed as events on the internet. While you may need to RSVP to be invited, most of these Kentucky Derby parties are open to the public and benefit a good cause.

Fundraising Derby Day at your local racetrack

If you want to experience the excitement of the Kentucky Derby with other horse racing fans, check with your local racetrack. For instance, Finger Lakes Casino and Racetrack in Farmington, New York will be hosting a four-course buffet with live music and contests for the best Derby hats. It is a ticketed event and all of the proceeds go to a local nonprofit called the Thompson Guild.

Glitz and glamour Derby party tickets

Instead of waiting for one of your friends to throw a Kentucky Derby party, you can pay to attend a lavish event far outside of Louisville. While there is a Churchill Downs theme at all of these events hosted by Shindigz, the real focus is betting and watching the race in the lap of luxury. Shindigz will be hosting parties with southern cuisine, mint juleps, and contests in Louisville, Denver, Lexington, New Orleans, Reno, and other US cities.

Throw a Derby party for charity

Having a Churchill Downs-themed party is a magnificent way to gather people together to raise money for a charity. The Naugatuck Woman’s Club is using the 2013 Kentucky Derby to do exactly that. Based in Connecticut, this group is a good example of how you can create an event for charity based upon the Kentucky Derby in your own community. The club is charging a fee for a Kentucky Derby-themed luncheon that will fund local charity projects such as the food bank and scholarships for high school seniors. To draw in a crowd, club members are dressed as jockeys for a funny mock horse race. They also have a raffle and give prizes for the best Kentucky Derby hats.

Kentucky Derby party food at a historic farm

The Kentucky Derby is about the horses that run in the race. With that in mind, a grand place to have a party for the first Saturday in May is at a farm. Located in Boone County Kentucky, the Dinsmore farm mansion will be hosting a party for Kentucky Derby fans. It will feature popular food served at Churchill Downs and live music from Ricky Nye. As a 19th to 20th century historically preserved homestead, it will create unique memories for horse racing fans that they will always treasure.

First Annual BBQ Kentucky Derby solidarity

For many outsiders, the first thing they think of when someone says Churchill Downs is barbecue. If you attend a race in person or visit Churchill Downs, you will likely be served an array of dishes that include Kentucky-style barbecue. Sometimes called pulled pork, the sauce that is used with Churchill Downs barbecue is also a Kentucky classic. Showing some solidarity, the Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas will have the First Annual Smokelawn BBQ Championship in honor of the 139 Kentucky Derby.

Top 10 Worst and Best Places To See Thunder over Louisville

Published On Apr 17, 2013

Locals always know the best places, but tourists might want to know where the best (and worst) places to watch Thunder over Louisville. Thankfully, our writers have lived within a couple of miles of Churchill Downs for the past two decades. With that in mind, here is their personal list for the top places to go to watch Thunder and the areas you should avoid.

Waterfront Park

The likelihood that you can see the Kentucky Derby from Waterfront Park is excellent considering that the fireworks go off on the edge of the river. The only problem you will have with watching Thunder over Louisville from this location is the crowd and the traffic. This is why many people will come to Waterfront Park long before the event begins. It is popular for entire families to start waiting at 9AM. Despite the long wait, there will be plenty of activities going on during the day while everyone anticipates Thunder.

Downtown towers and hotels

You do not need to know residents of a high-rise apartment building in order to watch Thunder over Louisville from a rooftop. Regardless, you cannot simply show up at a skyscraper in Downtown Louisville and expect access to the roof. You can also forget about that magical parking garage that will be empty and ready for Thunder viewing. What you will find are plenty of offers online to watch Thunder over Louisville from a hotel or high-rise rooftop ticketed event. Included in the ticket prices are often deals for free food and beverages to enjoy during the fireworks.

Private Old Louisville parties

Louisville is a friendly city, and it is not uncommon for tourists to return home and tell the tale of locals that took them in and showed them the sights. Some of the best places to view Thunder over Louisville are private homes in the neighborhood south of Downtown. In many cases, businesses in Old Louisville will have semi private parties for Thunder that are open to the public as long as they RSVP.

Do not forget about Indiana

When you are a tourist, you can easily forget that Indiana is literally across the river from Louisville. This means that it is just as easy to watch Thunder over Louisville in Indiana. What is not easy is getting from Indiana to Louisville after the fireworks concludes. In other words, if you decide to take advantage of this viewpoint, do not forget to book your hotel in Indiana. One other point worth mentioning is that many of the public after parties will not be taking place in Southern Indiana after Thunder. There is also some controversy over whether or not the pedestrian bridge will be open after the 2013 Thunder over Louisville.

Certain types of Thunder boat parties are better

Some of the best pictures of fireworks come from people that are on a boat during Thunder over Louisville. Nevertheless, this method of viewing the big show is a little bit tricky. First of all, you will need to plan in advance to get a spot on a boat. Secondly, it can be difficult for the boats to get an exact position and this means that you may end up with a better view. There are many regulating patrols during this time on the Ohio River, and they may not work with the people operating your boat that are trying to get close to the action. For this reason, many people will opt for a boat that is parked in a marina for viewing Thunder over Louisville.

The five worst places to watch Thunder over Louisville

No one wants to travel all the way to Louisville and pick the worst spot to watch Thunder over Louisville. One of the main issues that you will deal with in a bad Thunder experience is the weather. Unfortunately, too many Thunder events of the past have included cloud coverage. This means that the view is not clear enough to watch from more than a mile away.

Because Mother Nature is unpredictable, you will want to avoid watching Thunder over Louisville from the Highlands, the East End or Churchill Downs. You may also deal with some disappointment if you try to watch the fireworks from one of the one-story homes in the surrounding area. Finally, if you pay a lot of money to rent an airplane to see Thunder, you may be sorely disappointed when lightning or cloud coverage cancels your flight.

Closest Un-Booked Louisville Hotels: Kentucky Derby 2013

Published On Apr 16, 2013

Are you scrambling to find a hotel near Louisville for the 2013 Kentucky Derby? Even if you book your hotel rooms in advance, there can still be a need to have an extra room. Unfortunately, most hotel rooms close to downtown and Churchill Downs will not be available during the month before the race. However, there are still plenty of lodging options within proximity to the city of Louisville.

Areas most likely to be booked

Traveling by car to the Kentucky Derby is an excellent way for extra friends or relatives to invite themselves. If your travel party has last minute additions, you will need to find a place for them to stay overnight. Since Downtown Louisville is only a little over a mile from Churchill Downs, it is unlikely that you will find any hotel rooms in the area. You will also want to avoid the airport because it is also close to the Kentucky Derby location. Other areas likely to be crowded are neighborhoods adjacent to Downtown including the Highlands, Clifton, Saint Matthews, and most of the East End.

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Hotel clusters outside of Louisville

If you look at an online map of Louisville, you soon notice that there are hotel clusters to the south of Louisville. For tourists coming from destinations far away from Kentucky, it can be difficult to figure out if hotels in Bardstown or Shepherdsville are too far away. In particular, there are hotels located in clusters at the Brooks/Hillview exit off of 65 South. While you may need to do a little bit of extra car travel, it is perfectly reasonable for Kentucky Derby tourists to stay at hotels that are between 10 to 30 miles from Louisville’s city limits.

Pros and cons of Southern Indiana hotels

Southern Indiana is literally across the river from Downtown Louisville, and it can seem logical to book a hotel in Southern Indiana because of the proximity. Despite this, New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Clarksville have a few drawbacks during the Kentucky Derby. Mainly, there are only two bridges going to these locations and this means that traffic is fierce. Nevertheless, if you like to walk, a new pedestrian bridge has opened in the past year. Tourists walking from a hotel in Clarksville can expect to walk at least four miles to get to Churchill Downs using the new walkway bridge.

Hotel plan for Kentucky Derby tourists with kids

The Kentucky Derby is considered to be an adult-oriented event. Nonetheless, thousands of people bring their children to watch the momentous race each year. More often than not, parents arrive with their children several days before the race and take them to see the sights. If you are traveling with your family, you are most likely avoiding alcohol, and this gives you a chance to get a cheaper hotel outside of the bar-hopping zones of Downtown Louisville. By staying at hotels in Bardstown and Elizabethtown, you will be able to take the kids to museums, zoos, and horse farms without the extra expense of staying next to the Kentucky Derby action.

A Kentucky Derby hotel warning

When you travel to the region for the first time, you may want to extend your travel to cities surrounding Louisville. For example, in order to see the Kentucky Derby, you book a hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio. The two cities are only 90 miles apart, and driving for a couple of hours seems like a great idea for you and your family. On the other hand, keep in mind that traffic will be extreme for the duration of Kentucky Derby weekend. This means that your two-hour travel time can easily be expanded to four or more hours each way. While it may make a lot of sense to fly into the Cincinnati airport and stay a few days, your weekend hotel bookings for the Kentucky Derby should be closer to Louisville.

Alternatives to a traditional hotel

When all else fails with your attempts to get a hotel room for the Kentucky Derby, there is still one more option. Hotels are the standard for tourists, but they often do not give you the taste of home that you may need. Although there are many ads in classifieds for renting someone’s home for the Kentucky Derby, this is also a good way to not get what you paid for. Instead of risking being swindled and homeless during the 2013 Kentucky Derby, a better option is Airbnb. They have several levels of verification that ensure that you get what is advertised at reasonable prices — and their housing offers are often still available the day before the Kentucky Derby.

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