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Kentucky Derby Museum

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Built in April 1985, the Kentucky Derby Museum houses a permanent collection that consists of more than 20,000 items documenting the history and tradition of the Kentucky Derby and thoroughbred racing. There are all forms of media contained in the Kentucky Derby Museum, some of the pieces being racing trophies, sculptures, prints, paintings, and racing attire (saddles, saddlecloths, halters, silks). The Kentucky Derby Museum also possesses Kentucky Derby souvenir memorabilia including Kentucky Derby glasses, programs, and tickets.

Personal collections from H.A. ‘Jimmy’ Jones and Woodford C. ‘Woody’ Stephens reside inside the Kentucky Derby Museum, along with archival collections of sportswriter Jim Blous, such as newspaper articles, handwritten notes, and audio interviews chronicling all facets of the Kentucky Derby from 1875-1999.

A $10 million renovation in 2000 to the 60,000 sq ft. Kentucky Derby Museum added high-tech, interactive exhibits like the “Place Your Bets” exhibit. The “Warner L. Jones, Jr. Time Machine” lets visitors select footage of Kentucky Derbys as far back as 1918. The “African-Americans in Thoroughbred Racing” exhibit is one of the many permanent Kentucky Derby Museum exhibits. There are also high definition Kentucky Derby films, “The Greatest Race” and “The Run for the Roses” that are on a 360 degree screen, another high tech upgrade.

Since the Kentucky Derby Museum’s opening day, 1,500,000 visitors from across the world have been through that hallowed museum. The Kentucky Derby Museum averages about 154,200 Kentucky Derby Museum goers a day, and the busiest day is the day after the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby Museum’s mission statement is “To expand public awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of the evolution and history of the Kentucky Derby”.

The Kentucky Derby Museum also features special tours throughout Churchill Downs. One such tour is the “Insiders’ Tour”, for 20 guests. This Kentucky Derby Museum tour is a 1 ½ hour behind the scenes tour of Jockeys’ Quarters, Millionaires Row, the Press Box, and other areas of Churchill Downs’ newly renovated clubhouse. The “Backside Tour” is a 1 hour tour of the Churchill Down stable area and infield, and the “Walking Tour” is a close look at the Grandstand, Finish Line, and Winners Circle. Kentucky Derby Museum tour-takers also visit a resident thoroughbred and companion, a miniature horse.

The Kentucky Derby Museum is not expensive at all. For adults, senior citizens, children 5-11, and children under 5, the cost is $10, $9, $5, and free, respectively. Since the Kentucky Derby occurs during the Kentucky Derby Museum’s summer hours (March 15-November 30; the Kentucky Derby occurs the first weekend in May), the Kentucky Derby Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.