With the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) only two months away,
Churchill Downs, the legendary racetrack that hosts the annual “Run for the
Roses,” announced Friday that online advance ticket sales for general admission
and select reserved seats to the Kentucky Derby and its companion event, the
Kentucky Oaks (G1), are now available at
www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/tickets/buy.
Selected levels of ticketing, including $40 general admission Kentucky Derby
infield tickets and premium Infield Suites and Marquee Village locations, will
be available at face value via the new online purchase platform offered by
Churchill Downs and TicketReturn. General admission tickets provide the same
access that patrons may enjoy by purchasing admission on the morning of the
Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks, which includes first-level access to the public
areas behind the grandstand and clubhouse, as well as infield access. Tickets to
the premium Infield Suites and Marquee Village locations offer seats and
hospitality, which includes food and beverage service.
“We wanted to make buying tickets to the Derby easier for everyone,” said
Mike Mossholder, vice president of sales for Churchill Downs Inc. “The new
purchasing platform will allow any individual or group to find available ticket
packages that perfectly suit their interests and budget. It’s the same concept
that’s used to buy concert tickets and many other entertainment event tickets.
With minimal effort, Derby-goers can instantaneously select their package and
complete the transaction online from the comfort of anywhere they have Internet
access.”
“We’re proud to partner with Churchill Downs for this offering of online
tickets to the Kentucky Derby,” said Gordon Hirsch, vice president of marketing
for TicketReturn. “This is the premier sports entertainment event of the
Thoroughbred racing world and a testament to TicketReturn’s fast-growing
popularity nationwide.”
The ability to buy tickets online enables Derby-goers to secure available
reserved seats or general admission tickets weeks in advance of the Oaks and
Derby, and plan ahead for a truly special visit to the Derby’s host city,
Louisville, Kentucky. Over the years, the Kentucky Derby experience has evolved
into much more than a horse race. The weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby now
encompass a whirlwind of special events with a little something for everyone.
The Kentucky Derby Festival, a two-week long, community-wide celebration, is
a tremendous draw for tourists from around the country and offers more than 70
family-friendly events, many of them free of charge with Pegasus Pin admission
(visit the Kentucky Derby Festival at www.kdf.org
for more). Meanwhile, Churchill Downs offers live racing in the days leading up
to the Derby with a variety of on-track entertainment options, as well as “Dawn
at the Downs,” a chance for race fans to enjoy breakfast under the Twin Spires
while watching Derby and Oaks contenders on the track, preparing for their
moment in the spotlight.
For more information on the Kentucky Derby and how to purchase ticket
packages, please visit
www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/tickets/buy.