Derby Tickets

[engbloomj]

Derby day this year is my 40th birthday. Spending this speicial day at a place and event, for the first timet, that I have always dreamed of would be ideal.
Any suggestions on how to get tickets for around 200-300 each (not in the in-field)?

Thanks John

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by engbloomj

Derby day this year is my 40th birthday. Spending this speicial day at a place and event, for the first timet, that I have always dreamed of would be ideal.
Any suggestions on how to get tickets for around 200-300 each (not in the in-field)?

Thanks John

Face value for most decent seats is more than that. I noticed that LeeAnn Shellman whose main duty was Derby tickets is suddenly no longer with CDI. Who the hell knows what this years ticket fiasco will be like.

[engbloomj]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Face value for most decent seats is more than that. I noticed that LeeAnn Shellman whose main duty was Derby tickets is suddenly no longer with CDI. Who the hell knows what this years ticket fiasco will be like.

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by engbloomj

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How many do you need?

[engbloomj]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

How many do you need?

Just two. Any help would be greatly appreciate. I have not been more excited about a birthday since 16 getting my driver's license. Get older does not bother me if I get to the derby. Thanks again.

[smuthg]

I just called Churchill Downs and was able to get 4 tickets in the Infield Club. I think its $175 total for Oaks and Derby Days. The guy on the phone seemed pretty fired up about the whole thing and indicated they still have a number of tickets remaining.

[engbloomj]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

How many do you need?

Cannon, I called Churchhill Downs a few times over the last couple days to find out about any PSL tickets they may be available due to lack of payment. It sounds like they have some. But, there is some list or you need to know someone to get them. Know anyone?

[slotdirt]

That sounds odd. Seriously, I've never once heard of Churchill Downs turning away Derby money.

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by engbloomj

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I like the 2nd Floor Grandstand (Sections 221-225) since they are elevated compared to the 1st Floor Grandstand and have their own betting lines (need a wristband for access), which are not as long as the betting lines in the first floor grandstand. However, I prefer the first 10 rows or so of the 2nd Floor Grandstand since the back rows have a ceiling over them (which is only good for shelter from the rain) which prevent you from seeing the track when the people in front of you stand up.

Note that the 1st and 2nd Floor Grandstands are bleacher seats with no seat backs.

But you would probably have to look hard (eBay, Stub Hub, Craig's List) to find 2nd Floor Grandstand seats under $300 each. However, I project weaker demand for Derby tickets this year due to the poor state of the economy and the Derby being what I would call a discretionary expenditure for most people. The last 2 years, the track has sold about 1,500 nicer seats at face value on a Saturday morning in April, where people have to line up at the track the night before to buy (the maximum that can be purchased is 2 per person)

For hotels near Churchill Downs, I am staying the next 2 weeks at the new Holiday Inn off of Crittenden Drive -- a very nice hotel and my room has a very comfortable king size bed and comes with a refrigerator and microwave. The only drawback is no free breakfast (but Cracker Barrel is just down the street).

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by engbloomj

What is a decent seat? And, how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

It can't hurt to call Churchill Downs Premium Seating at 502-636-4447 and see if they have any Section 122-128 PSLs still available for the 2009 Derby. Per the PSL brochure on the kentuckyderby.com website, the Section 122-128 seats with the PSL fee are under $300 each and they include the Oaks. If someone who had a PSL for the 2008 Derby did not renew their PSL, I would assume they would sell a 2009 PSL for the seats to someone else. I attached the link to the PSL brochure below.

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/si...l_brochure.pdf

[Scav]

Originally Posted by engbloomj

Derby day this year is my 40th birthday. Spending this speicial day at a place and event, for the first timet, that I have always dreamed of would be ideal.
Any suggestions on how to get tickets for around 200-300 each (not in the in-field)?

Thanks John

It is possible I will have tickets available, I have to wait until they send out the application. Since I am a gold member for Twin Spires Club, I get first dibs on tickets so when I get the ticket application in the mail, we can talk.

Note that this year, Churchill Downs is making you purchase grandstand seats for BOTH the Oaks and the Derby, years past they allowed you to just get one of the days.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

im doing the new infield barrier tix..with infield titty vision!!

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

im doing the new infield barrier tix..with infield titty vision!!

Blackjacks Elgin

http://www.blackjacks.com/

They got a guy. A taste of the old world OTB BC.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Blackjacks Elgin

http://www.blackjacks.com/

They got a guy. A taste of the old world OTB BC.

When I was a young pup and going to Harper, I dated a girl that was working at Blackjacks, pretty comedy

[Habersham000]

Originally Posted by Scav

When I was a young pup and going to Harper, I dated a girl that was working at Blackjacks, pretty comedy

Was she the bouncer?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Scav

When I was a young pup and going to Harper, I dated a girl that was working at Blackjacks, pretty comedy

when I was a pup, like 12 I remember chicken man getting chased out of Sylvia's (Jimmy D's) at gun point. That was comedy.

[engbloomj]

Can you see the track from the new infield club seats (without looking at the jumbotron)? Are there actaul seats in this sports club?

[jwkniska]

Originally Posted by Scav

Note that this year, Churchill Downs is making you purchase grandstand seats for BOTH the Oaks and the Derby, years past they allowed you to just get one of the days.

I had to buy both last year.

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by engbloomj

Derby day this year is my 40th birthday. Spending this speicial day at a place and event, for the first timet, that I have always dreamed of would be ideal.
Any suggestions on how to get tickets for around 200-300 each (not in the in-field)?

Thanks John

You can check eBay and Stub Hub starting in early April. With the economy in the tubes this year, I bet you can get Section 124-128 tickets on eBay for under $300 each.

I assume you are not interested in their new Infield Club, in which you can get Derby/Oaks tickets for $175 each (click on link below).
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/tickets/infield-club

[engbloomj]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

You can check eBay and Stub Hub starting in early April. With the economy in the tubes this year, I bet you can get Section 124-128 tickets on eBay for under $300 each.

I assume you are not interested in their new Infield Club, in which you can get Derby/Oaks tickets for $175 each (click on link below).
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/tickets/infield-club

I would be interested in these tickets if I can see the track and there is some barrier from all the craziness. But, I don't know. I am a rookie. I don't know the trade-offs between all the ticket types. Any information would be greatly appreciated.