Planning ahead - Ky Derby 2007

[philcski]

Originally Posted by oracle80

You don't wanna stay all the way out there. Piss on that. You'll spend the whole day driving. On the outskirts of the Lousiville metro area on Hurstbourne Road you can get a room at a reasonable price without having to commute that far each day.
Skip Lexington, its as boring in that town as watching paint dry or watching grass grow. Used to stay there years ago and its a drag.
Lots of things to do in Louisville Derby week. If you like baseball head on down to Slugger Field and check out the reds Triple AAA farm club take on the Yankees triple AAA farm club(they always schedule the yanks farm team to be in town that week knowing it draws in visiting northeasterners), its a spectacular ball park.
Hit Jeff Ruby's for drinks and dinner one night, its on West Main Street downtown.
Head on out to works in the morning, which will be hard if you are all the way out in Frankfort, grab a room on Hurstbourne instead.

This may change now that columbus is no longer the yankee's farm club. i think scranton is now their AAA club?

Lexington is not cheaper/nicer than Louisville
in fact, I find the opposite to be true
if you stay in Lexington you'll never forgive yourself
and why waste time at a horse farm that week
when there's so much going on in Louisville
no one has addressed tickets
be prepared to drop some $$ there
If I find a deal I'll let you know

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I've watched those "sessions" at Ashford. The first stallion that I saw was King of Kings (about three years ago). Damn!

Since watching him do his thing, I have referred to him as the "Aptly named King of Kings."

As for the plunger guy, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

one of the funniest days of my life was when the guys @ Ashford took my mom up in the video booth to watch with them while Grand Slam covered a mare...they explained everything to her...so funny, she nearly died. She just couldn't believe how matter of fact everyone is about such a brutal looking act.

[DerbyCat]

Thanks for the input so far everyone, I appreciate it. I started looking at hotels, car rentals, ticket brokers, major sights I need to see and I've got to be honest - it's overwhelming! I'm contemplating doing a travel package deal that provides tickets, hotel, transportation, and farm tours - it costs more but it may be worth it to have someone else take care of the logistics... I know a lot of you have done the Derby for many years and you've got your itinerary down cold but for a newbie like me I think a package might be best... any thoughts?

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

Thanks for the input so far everyone, I appreciate it. I started looking at hotels, car rentals, ticket brokers, major sights I need to see and I've got to be honest - it's overwhelming! I'm contemplating doing a travel package deal that provides tickets, hotel, transportation, and farm tours - it costs more but it may be worth it to have someone else take care of the logistics... I know a lot of you have done the Derby for many years and you've got your itinerary down cold but for a newbie like me I think a package might be best... any thoughts?

might be the best way to go...wow Spokane! have fun!

[Revolution]

[quote=oracle80]Skip Lexington, its as boring in that town as watching paint dry or watching grass grow. QUOTE]

Are you talking about Saratoga Springs or Lexington, KY? There is plenty to do in Lexington, way more than you can do in the sticks up in NY. Must be real exciting up in Saratoga Springs. Atleast in Lexington their in UK basketball and horse farms.

What are you guys doing in Saratoga Springs? Watching Skidmore basketball.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Definitely try and get down there for the Post Position draw. It was pretty cool how they had it this year in the open air on 4th Street.

Elizabethtown is definitely a good option if you are looking to keep the price down. It is a wicked easy commute into Louisville, 30-40 minutes, all highway driving. Also E-town is already half way to Mammoth Cave if that sort of thing interests you on the Sunday after.

Don't sweat it if you can't get tickets. You don't have to go to the infield. We went general admission last year and there is a section of lawn around the first turn that is nothing like the infield and you can actually see things. They also bring all the horses past you before and after the race so you wind up getting a much better view of them there than you get in the crowded paddock. Here are some of my pictures from last year to give you an idea of how close you can get down there:

http://www.finalturngallery.com/Sniper-s-Pictures

Agree that the post draw party is a great idea to catch.

Disagree with a lot of what is being posted here. Derby is a party in Louisville, so if you don't like Louisville and you don't like good times, choose another time to visit the farms in Lexington, Mammoth Cave, and the Derby museum. Those are all nice, but not what my group of 20 goes for (mostly 30 somethings). Lighten up and spend a few late nights on the town.

Shepherdsville, KY is only about 10 miles south from the track and there are a couple of reasonable lodging options there. Taxi ride only $30 or so from there.

We bought tickets for $125 outside the gates last year, and there were numerous ones floating around.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

Agree that the post draw party is a great idea to catch.

Disagree with a lot of what is being posted here. Derby is a party in Louisville, so if you don't like Louisville and you don't like good times, choose another time to visit the farms in Lexington, Mammoth Cave, and the Derby museum. Those are all nice, but not what my group of 20 goes for (mostly 30 somethings). Lighten up and spend a few late nights on the town.

Shepherdsville, KY is only about 10 miles south from the track and there are a couple of reasonable lodging options there. Taxi ride only $30 or so from there.

We bought tickets for $125 outside the gates last year, and there were numerous ones floating around.

It all depends on whether or not you have a driver. If you have someone to drive or aren't planning on drinking too much that you can drive then being 30 minutes away isn't a big issue. You can certainly go out in Louisville and stay 30 minutes away.

Is the party in Louisville really that raging on Sunday afternoon?

[pdrift1]

lol i wonder if some of you even read the posts

[pdrift1]

Originally Posted by BellamyRd.

Lexington is not cheaper/nicer than Louisville
in fact, I find the opposite to be true
if you stay in Lexington you'll never forgive yourself
and why waste time at a horse farm that week
when there's so much going on in Louisville
no one has addressed tickets
be prepared to drop some $$ there
If I find a deal I'll let you know

sry but lexington is cheaper . alot of hotels require 3 night min stay at outrageous prices in louisville. he already said notta on the hard partying and thats what most of it is. and lexington is far better then louisville. if you want to drink and party stay in louisville if you want to see horses head to lexington

Originally Posted by pdrift1

sry but lexington is cheaper . alot of hotels require 3 night min stay at outrageous prices in louisville. he already said notta on the hard partying and thats what most of it is. and lexington is far better then louisville. if you want to drink and party stay in louisville if you want to see horses head to lexington

you want to pet horses, go to Lexington
you want to bet horses, stay in Louisville
I don't care what you're into you'll have a better time in L'ville

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Louisville is awesome! If you love the party scene, you'll love that city. I went out drinking every night. I love 4th Street Live, and the Galt House (which is very close to 4th Street Live) is a beautiful place. I was trying to talk my parents into going to the Derby and staying in the Galt House in 2007, but they won't bite. My mom doesn't like the big crowds. They'll hit up Louisville when there isn't a lot going on. Oh well, it looks like I'll be taking off to the Derby by myself next year. I wouldn't want them to know how I REALLY am anyway. In Louisville, they would see the angels wings and halo come off, and be replaced with horns and a tail. LOL

I already have my outfit picked out for the Derby next year! I know, I know...I'm obsessed.

If you wanted to spend some money, then I would definitely recommend staying in the Galt House.

[DerbyCat]

Thanks for all your help... with so many options, it may take me a while to get this trip planned... I appreciate everyone's input - I know for certain that I will see the derby museum, go to the pp draw, show up at morning works (which means no wild nights of partying for me), see any farms that will let me take a tour, stay as close to the track as I can (so long as it is safe and not more than $500 a night) and hopefully meet several of you folks from here at DT... and I'll have to buy a drink for Steve, GPK, Oracle, Mermaid and anyone else who's handicapping has help me win a few bucks over the past year (I hope GPK will collect on that - if we have more good Balmoral Sunday nights I may owe him a six pack! )

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I agree with Euro that you will probably have better luck and better pricing if you stay in Frankfort...and the drive isn't bad. Farm tours are an absolute must...I don't know if they are open to the public but try to get into Winstar...place is great, both the stallion barns and the training section and the foaling barns. Hands down my favorite farm in the area. Three chimneys, Ashford, Juddmonte, Gainsway, are Lane's End are also must sees. And make sure you check out keeneland even thought they won't be running. The library there is incredible.

Yeah...my folks stayed behind after the BC and went to Winstar, Ashford and Lane's end and got to see: Tiznow, Rock hard ten, Ap Indy, Giant's Causeway, Mine shaft, Blue grass cat, Distorted Humor and even Aragorn.

They said it was an awsome experience.

Don't get me wrong, Lexington has it's place
just not during derby week

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by BellamyRd.

Don't get me wrong, Lexington has it's place
just not during derby week

EXACTLY what I'm saying