Oh, but you get an "infield club" pass for you $500! That's certainly worth the extra $300 per seat or so over last year's prices.

I called the Premium Seating office last week and they mentioned an on-line sale this week but did not mention when. I must have missed the announcement -- the website now says they are sold out. Last year, they would sell you Derby/Oaks tickets over the phone -- I got the impression they might not do this for 2011. However, I will keep calling them (persistence does not hurt).

An on-line sale is a poor way for loyal Derby fans to have a chance at Derby tickets -- I have to believe that the ticket brokers jump all over these sales. I think the surprise element was meant to keep the ticket brokers out but I wonder how successful it was.

I am out of town and just checked my home e-mail. I got an e-mail at 12:10pm that tickets were ALREADY on sale. I wonder how many "insider" people knew prior to 12:10 that tickets were on sale.

Absolute mess of a sale. I received an email at 12:11 that the sale had already begun. I got into the "purchase section" several different times only to have the site freeze, kick me back to the waiting screen, or tell me that tickets were unavailable.

I have had the same amazing seats for the last 3 years (due to my PSL and then being able to get them again when calling premium seating last year). I have callled premium seating several times this year and have been informed that ALL seats will be available online only. I asked the lady how people were selling their tickets on ebay in August for Derby 2011 and she had no reply. I wrote an email to customer service stating that the site was a mess. I received an apology and a "good luck" to received tickets in future sales. Thanks Churchill.

I called Churchill Downs again today. The only Derby tickets available that you can buy over the phone require:

(1) expensive PSL for box seats.
(2) Turf Club membership
(3) or Section 122-125 1st Floor Grandstand seats for both the Derby and Oaks with access to the Infield Club and a free lunch for $550 per ticket.

I am not paying $550 to sit in the 1st Floor Grandstand. They did mention that there should be another on-line sale shortly (where they announce the sale, with no advance warning, after it has begun).

There is an on-line sale going on right now. I got the below email 2 hours ago.

We would like to invite you to purchase 2011 Kentucky Derby & Oaks reserved seats on a first-come, first-serve opportunity before this inventory is made available to the general public on Saturday, February 26.

Inventory on the first floor (Sections 110, 111, 122, 125 & 126), second floor (Section 225) and third floor (Section 314 & 323) is being made available at a premium price NOW at http://tickets.churchilldowns.com/premium or you can wait to purchase on February 26 if any inventory is left in these sections. Below are some of the other sections that will be available beginning February 26 at noon (Eastern) at http://tickets.churchilldowns.com in case you wish to wait and take your chances on a first-come, first-serve opportunity with the general public.

Sections 123-125 which includes access to on-site hospitality in the Bacardi Infield Club
Sections 312-313 which includes access to on-site hospitality in the Secretariat Lounge
All seats are sold as a two-day package and there is a purchase limit of six seats per household while supplies last. Minimal ticket processing charges will apply.

This offer is exclusive to http://tickets.churchilldowns.com/premium; no sales will be made in person or by submitting letters, e-mail or telephone calls to Churchill Downs. This inventory at these prices will be available now until 6:00 p.m. EST February 25 or until inventory is sold out, whichever comes first.

Good luck!

Not working, figures....

Way overpriced!!

I'm trying to find 6 and it has been impossible. They usually send the option to at least one of the three TS players I have sign up (1 plat and 2 golds) and they, like the great Churchill tends to do, forgot that some players do want to go to this comedy event.

I wouldn't put it past them to have a scheme to keep all big players from coming figuring they would play online anyways and give the tickets to all the fish.

Id buy that section 111 box right now if I had the f'n option...argh

When I talked to the Premium Seating office yesterday, they said to keep calling them and trying to get tickets. These on-line sales are a joke by the time you find out about them. And the prices are higher than what they sell for on E-Bay!!

Agreed what a mess. where are all the 200 level seats

The tickets I wanted were $600 for the two of us. Way, way too much!!
Just bought two airline tickets to Las Vegas for Derby weekend for $365 total.
Six nights comp at Flamingo---meals free off points on the Harrah's card.
And horse racing execs wonder why casinos have taken their business. I love live horseracing---been to the last seven Derbies----but six days in Vegas including airfare and meals costs less than going to the Derby. Something is wrong with that picture. Wow!!

111 are pretty bad seats

I just realized that, was about to take back the 'buy now' tout.

You should see the prices on Ebay. Some guy is selling Oaks and Derby, plus rental of his house for the 4 days, 18k....LOL

Scav,
I need four tickets too. Let me know if you find 10. LOL.

have you tried stub hub? i have no idea if they have any derby tickets worth looking at, but i've bought hockey and football tix from them before.

Yesterday's sale was a joke. Face value on some of these seats are like $100, yet they're asking people to spend $600 on a two day package that includes "lunch?" Really?

They must be trying to attract the "suckers" who will pay this $600 by doing these on-line sales. Ticket brokers would even have a hard time reselling these tickets at a profit.

They will have another more public sale on Saturday but I am expecting the same ripoff prices and very little seats available on a very poor web interface.

I am wondering what Churchill has done with all the 2nd Floor Grandstand seats a number of us here at DerbyTrail used to purchase. There were very few second floor seats included in these on-line sales.

I'm going to be at CD for opening day the prior weekend, so this might be the year I bail on the Derby itself. I don't see how $600 for first floor grandstand seats for two days is worth it.