All the People You'll See at the Kentucky Derby

The greatest day of the year here in Louisville is nearly upon us : Derby Day ! When it comes to being a Kentuckian , nothing quite compare . An incredible number of visitors take over the city in early May to catch a glimpse of the most exciting two min in sports . And while the race itself is something to see , it ’s the people - check that really makes this result a spectacle . From the unity who pay top dollar to sip that$1,000 mint julep , to the infield looker-on in search of a crummy beer and a $ 5 winnings , you ’re sure to happen a wide motley of masses attending this tradition . These citizenry :

The Infield Goer

Any Louisvillian worth their salt has pass at least one first Saturday in May traipsing amongst the rowdy debauchery that defines the baseball diamond at Churchill Downs . Accessible with a General Admission ticket ( which time in at $ 40 for Oaks and $ 60 for Derby this twelvemonth ) , the baseball diamond is the everyman ’s style to watch the Derby … from a massive 4 K video control board , that is . You ’ll see pretty much everyone from college coeds who ’ve imbibe far too many cheap beers , to the sept of five who packs up aChurchill Downs O.K. picnicevery yr .

Little of the infield experience is in reality about the horse race ; rather , it ’s the people - observance . This is where you will regain homemade chapeau of larger-than-life proportions , reliable Kentucky redneck , and a damn fine group of over 60,000 people all crowded together to crispen the greatest two minutes in sport ( even if they never see a single knight ) .

The Millionaires Row Attendee

The name of this legendary nook of Churchill Downs say it all . This is where the rich and beautiful amount to play on Derby weekend . posture high above the insanity of the infield , Millionaires Row stretch across the 4th and 6th floors of the track and offer an unprecedented view of the slipstream . Here you ’ll find women in Manolos and matching fascinators and men knock down out in Armani with pastel ties and aureate cufflinks . Do a large number of them know anything about horse racing ? in all probability not . Will they be place a hot dog from one of the hundreds of vendors or a mass - made mint julep ? HA ! Yeah , right .

The Millionaires Row attendee are ordinarily date lounging on a spread over terrace , nonchalantly ascertain the airstream while dining on gourmet fare and sipping on one of those illustrious $ 1,000 ( ! ! ) mint juleps . To be good , the below infield attender always front to have more fun . But dammit that zephyr conditioner must be nice .

The Celebrity

Even the famous ca n’t escape the lure of the Kentucky Derby . Whether we ’re peach A- or D - list , one does n’t have to look far to see a intimate face from telly or sports . While many are cajoled by party promoters looking to take their shindig to the next spirit level , there are unnumerable stars who have fallen for the Derby ’s charm : anyone from Kate Upton and Aaron Rodgers , to Kid Rock and Taylor Kinney . It ’s well deserving keeping your eyes peeled during the consequence ( and that night ’s celebration ) because you just never have sex who you might function into when the cosmos turns its eye to Louisville on Derby weekend .

The Bucket List Crosser-Offer

Attending this event is high on many out - of - towners ' list of things they need to do before they meet their Godhead . This person can be found anywhere and everywhere and is best identified by the“Oh my gosh , I ca n’t believe I ’m at the Derby!”expression on their face . They often drop a small fortune to see this dream come lawful . From sky - eminent hotel rates to near insufferable - to - secure eating house reservations , the bucket list crosser - offer is pull out all of the stops ( and enfeeble their bank account while at it ) in the sideline of taking part in a custom approaching its 142nd year . They will count on every wash , drink one too many mass julep , and will rent nothing stop them from having the time of their life story .

The Grandstand Goer

So . Much . Seersucker . The Grandstand Goers are a mix of locals and out - of - towners ; some have reserved bleacher seats and some are winging it , felicitous to jumble amongst the masses . They ’re the type of people ecstatic just at the estimate of dress up and wearing a hat for the Clarence Day . You may spy one creep a peep at the baseball diamond insanity , but you ’ll definitely see a few female Grandstand Goers hold their heels at the terminal of the daylight ( because their foot will undoubtedly give out from the unvarying walk ) . These people experience they ’re stuck in the middle and are utterly glad with that : they ’re over the infield antics but not quite ready to trade in their life saving for a spot on Millionaires Row .

The Serious Better

Forget the amateur “ $ 2 to gain ground on No . 6 ” bets . That ’s child ’s play for those who come to the Derby looking to make some serious bank . These individuals will be found hunched over racing sort with a pencil in one hand and a cigar in the other . belittled cup of Bourbon dynasty on the rocks surround them , and they could not give care less that one of the Real Housewives of Whatever just waltz around by . These guys know you have to bet big to win big , and that ’s what they intend to do .

Churchill Downs paid out a whopping $ 154,300,000 to bettors on Derby Day alone last class . It ’s just another sidereal day in the office for these seasoned gamblers who have every purpose of return home a winner this Derby Day .

The Julep and Lily Vendor

There were 127,000 mess juleps sell during Derby weekend last class and 72,000 glasses of the Lily ( the official drink of the Oaks ) pour . That ’s a spate of hard drink sold by tireless vendors schlepping large trays of pre - poured cocktails all over Churchill Downs , ensuring attender do n’t have to look long or look far for their next drinkable . sure as shooting , these signature intermixture come with a high price tag , but the Derby is all about tradition . These vendors are working firmly to ensure that custom is preserve . So please , verify to slant them well . After all , you ’ll be cashing in gobs of winning tickets anyhow , correct ?

The Churchill Downs Employee/Volunteer

There ’s always someone prepping for Derby weekend here in Louisville . Whether it ’s the massive volunteer community - wide cleanup spot to secure the city is bright and lustrous for the downpour of visitant , or the eight stately person who put in over 30,000 plants at Churchill Downs within the three week leading up to Derby , there is no question that it take a village to pull off an event of this magnitude . These volunteers and Churchill Down ’s employees will be out in full violence over Derby weekend and are the rightful heros of the solar day . So tip those hat to the hard work Kentuckians who make it potential each and every twelvemonth .

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