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Kentucky Derby Insiders Guide

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Dress Code

Being one of the more stylish sporting events of the year, it is important to know what attire is acceptable when attending the Kentucky Derby.

Business casual is required for the Jockey Club and Finish Line suites, Aristides & Stakes rooms, and the Turf Club.

Business casual is best described as the following:

• Jackets and Blazers
• Vests, collard shirts, and sweaters
• Dresses
• Pantsuits
• Slacks

Denim, jeans, shorts and tennis shoes are not allowed

Millionaires Row, Matt Winn Dining Room and premium indoor box seats require Casual Attire:

• Jackets optional, Blazers
• Vests, collard shirts, and sweaters
• Dresses, Pantsuits
• Slack, golf shorts, dress shorts, dress jeans, and capris

Twin Spires Gold Rooms require casual clothing that includes:

• Collard shirts and golf shirts
• Slacks
• Dress jeans and dress shorts

Torn or frayed clothing is inappropriate and not allowed.

Race Day Times

Gates open at 8:00 a.m. for the celebrated races. The first race takes place at 11:00 a.m. The Kentucky Derby begins at 6:04 p.m. and the last race is at 7:27 p.m.

Derby Do's and Dont's

As you prepare for your race day trip to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, security only allows certain items to be carried inside of the race track.  Please note all items are subject for search by authorities.

Items permitted by Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby include:

• Baby Bags
• Binoculars, cameras and camcorders
• Blankets
• Cellular Phones
• Chairs
• Packed lunches and food items in clear plastic bags or containers (18” X 18”)
• Purses
• Strollers (one child per stroller)
• Small Radios, TV’s, CD players (none of large size)
• Tarpaulins (for infield use only)

Items not permitted by Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Briefcases, backpacks, luggage pieces, or duffel bags
• Bottles and cans (beverages and lotion containers)
• Coolers
• Grills
• Thermoses
• Umbrellas
• Weapons (of any kind, including scissors and knives)
• Wagons
• Sunscreen

How to wager

Ever been to a horse race and wondered what a Box Trifecta was?  What about a Wheel?  Well look no further, On Point has prepared you a betting guide to help you win your Kentucky Derby fortune! 

Before you wager it is beneficial to be familiar with terms associated with betting options.

Win- You only collect if your horse finishes first

Place- You collect the place payout if your horse finishes first or second

Show- You collect the show payout if your horse finishes first, second, or third

Across the Board- Equal bets to win, place and show on a single horse

Exacta- Pick the horses that come in first and second in a race in exact order

Trifecta- Pick the first three finishers in the race in exact order

Superfecta- Pick the first four finishers in the race in exact order

Daily Double- Pick the winners of two consecutive races

Pick 3- Pick the winners of three races in a row

Pick 4 -Pick the winners of four races in a row

Pick 6- Pick the winner of six races in a row

Parlay- Pick horses to win, place or show from consecutive or non-consecutive races. If your first selection wins, your winning amount automatically is bet on your next selection. Parlay is allowed up to six races. You collect when your entire selections win.

If you are interested in increasing your number of outcomes and chances of collecting, you can box, wheel or key a horse as opposed to making individual wagers. 

When you Box a bet, you collect if your selected horses finish in any order. In an Exacta Box, you combine your picks to finish first or second in every possible combination For example a 1-2-3 Exacta Box covers the following combinations: 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2.

Trifecta wagers can also be boxed. You pay per combination. To calculate how much you will pay, use this formula: Your cost= $ Amount of wager x #of bets. Example: $1 Trifecta Box with 4 Horses = $24.

A Wheel combines one horse with all the other horses in the race. An “Exacta Wheel #7 with all” covers the following combinations (in an 8 horse field): 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 7-8. If this was a $2 bet, the total would be $14.

A Partial Wheel allows you to pick only some of the possible combinations. For example: “Exacta Partial Wheel #7 with 1, 2, 3” wins and 1, 2, or 3 place.

It is important to look at the betting options before a race, which can be found on the top of a program. Guest Service Centers at the Churchill Downs can also provide wagering information for free.

IRS Regulations

The IRS requires reporting of payouts on wagers that exceed odds of more than 300 to 1 and pay in excess of $600. Regulations also require automatic withholding on IRS payouts that exceed $5,000. There is no withholding on payouts less than $5,000. IRS tickets can not be cashed for those who do not provide proof of SS# and picture ID.

On Point is an independent Kentucky Derby Package and ticket broker that specializes in sports travel packages and tickets to high demand events worldwide.  The sports travel packages we offer can be catered to your individual desires and are sure to be an unforgettable experience.  Though we offer pre-planned Kentucky Derby Travel Packages, with the many options we have available, On Point can arrange customized Kentucky Derby Packages that no one else in the industry can provide.

To request a quote for a Kentucky Derby package or to discover more of what On Point can do for you and your private party, contact us today at 713-227-8888 to speak with one of our executive travel consultants.  You can also call our Travel Agent Hotline at 800-809-1277 or e-mail us at info@onpointevents.com.