rssTHE KENTUCKY DERBY GUIDE’S TICKET HANDBOOK

Buying tickets for the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby is not difficult, but it can be expensive. That is because the Kentucky Derby is a perennial sell out and the most reliable means of buying tickets is through the secondary ticket market, where the demand drives up the ticket prices well above face value. This page will tell you what you need to know.

If you want to secure the right to the same seat year after year, you must secure a Personal Seat License (PSL). However, there is a waiting list to acquire a PSL and you are not likely to be granted a right to buy in any time soon. So if you are interested in that option, read and follow the directions set out under PERSONAL SEAT LICENSE below.

In the mean time, if you want to go to the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby this year, you must obtain your tickets through the secondary ticket market. There a number of reliable online ticket sellers including TicketMaster, TicketsNow, Stubhub, and RazorGator, just to name a few. As your guide to the Kentucky Derby, we recommend you secure your tickets through TicketsNow.

WE ENDORSE TicketsNow.com Here’s why:
• TicketsNow.com is the wholly owned subsidiary of TicketMaster, the largest seller of tickets in the world. TicketMaster only sells original tickets. TicketMaster’s subsidiary, TicketsNow.com, is a reseller of tickets, which means they acquire tickets from other ticket holders and resell them to other ticket purchasers. TicketsNow.com takes possession of tickets and verifies them in-house before listing for resale. StubHub and RazorGator hold seller's credit-card numbers – if they sell fake tickets, they get charged for the replacements.

• TicketsNow.com offers a money back guarantee. They guarantee you will receive authentic tickets as advertised, that they will arrive on time, or they will refund your money.

• Gigantic inventory, low prices, and responsive customer service. TicketsNow.com is founding member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB) and a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) OnLine Reliability Program. TicketsNow is owned by Ticketmaster, one of the world's largest ticketing companies. Fully bonded and licensed by the office of the Illinois Secretary of State.

Spectator Guides LLC. d/b/a TheKentuckyDerbyGuide.com is an affiliate of TicketsNow.com.

TOP TEN TICKET BROKERS (Use one of them!)

This list is supplied by Ticketnews.com. TicketNews provides comprehensive news coverage and market analysis for and about the ticketing industry. As the only national news source that reports exclusively on the ticketing sector, TicketNews features breaking news in the ticket industry in addition to the latest concert tour dates, recent ticket resale legislation and exclusive, independent industry rankings.

Click here for the current TicketNews.com listings before you buy.

PERSONAL SEATING LICENSE:

The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are "invitation" events at Churchill Downs. Only customers with Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs) are guaranteed the exact same reserved seating location each year. If you haven't purchased a PSL, you're not guaranteed a seat. Others who have the opportunity to purchase available reserved seats include customers involved in our Season Box and Turf Club membership programs, as well as eligible Twin Spires Club members.

To register for Kentucky Derby 2012 tickets please visit www.tickets.churchilldowns.com. Demand for Kentucky Oaks & Derby seats exceeds seating capacity. If Churchill Downs is able to accommodate your request, you will receive an e-mail alerting you to the time and date of when the sale will go “LIVE”. Tickets will be available online on a first come first served basis. All Oaks and Derby Day tickets are mailed via certified mail from Churchill Downs the first week of April.

All customers who complete the online request form at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com are notified of select online sales, which give customers an opportunity to purchase remaining available seating inventory.

If you are interested in General Admission tickets only, it is important to know that they never sell out and are always available at the gate on the day of the event. General Admission for Derby 2012 is $40 and $25 for Kentucky Oaks. Tickets are available online as a print at home ticket. General admission is a standing room only ticket and includes entry to the Infield and the Paddock. For a complete list of items allowed for entry to the infield on Oaks and Derby Days, please see our Kentucky Derby Security Guide Page.

For parking and shuttle information please go to www.millertransportation.com.

WHERE TO SIT:

Tickets in the secondary market sell for well above face value. Prepare to pay anywhere from $250.00 to $7,000.00 per ticket, depending upon where you want to sit.

GRANDSTAND: The grandstand seating includes the first 3 floors furthest away from turn one. The best views are found on the third floor, and none of these seating selections come with any type of wait service, private restrooms, buffets or bars. However, food, beverages, and restrooms are accessible a short distance away. Look for seats in 322 thru 325, 221 thru 225, and 119 thru 128.

MAIN CLUBHOUSE FLOORS 1 THRU 3: These seats offer great views of the track all along the main stretch of the track. The best views are found on the third floor and the views diminish the closer you get to trackside. These seats do not include buffets, wait service, open bars or other VIP amenities, but they are among the more affordable seats found in the clubhouse. Look for clubhouse sections 312 through 320, 212, 218, 220, 110 thru 118.

FIRST TURN TRACKSIDE VILLAGE: This seating option is located high in the first turn. From these seats you can expect an amazing view as the field thunders toward you while they make their way down the front stretch. Your seat determines whether you have access to the 2nd floor balcony or the roof deck.

JOCKEY CLUB SUITS: These seats include the fourth, fifth and sixth floor suites adjacent to the start/finish line. The guests in these suites enjoy fully catering, which includes an open bar and buffet. You can watch the race from your private tables or move out for a view from the balcony. Also included within these suites are the Triple Crown Room (6th floor), Oaks Room (4th floor) and Derby Room (4th floor) where wait staff will serve you at your table.

MATT WINN ROOM: Great seats for dining, not so good for viewing. In fact you won’t have a live view of the tract at all, unless you get out of your reserved seat and move to the 3rd floor clubhouse seating. This is probably not your best bang for the buck, unless you are just there for the party.

INTERRIOR PREMIUM BOXES: These box seats include complete bar and food service to your seat, which is located behind a wall of glass with an amazing view of the start/finish line.

TURF CLUB AND TURF TERRACE: The reserved seating in these sections attract some of the biggest stars. Guests in these sections are treated to an amazing food buffet. Wait service is also available. Seating in this area grants you access to Millionaire’s Row. Stadium suite style seating is available right outside the door.

ARISTIDES AND STAKES ROOM: Located on the fourth floor of the clubhouse between the start/finish line and the first turn these seats include complete wait service including a bar and food menu.

THE SKYE TERRACE: These seats include the top two or three sections nearest the first turn in rows four, five and six. Wait service is provided along with a full bar and food menu. These seats offer a great view.

THE GOLD ROOM: This section of the clubhouse is designed to cater to the serious gambler. Each private booth is equipped with a live television monitor and other technology to enable you to place your bets without leaving your booth. A view of the live actions is right outside the door in the suite style stadium seating.

MILLIONAIRE’S ROW: There is a sixth floor and 4th floor to Millionaire’s Row. They are substantially similar except that the view from the 6th floor is better. Otherwise, they both offer a top shelf experience in food and bar service. Large banquet tables are arranged throughout the floor as the action on the track is displayed on wall to wall television monitors. Right outside the catering room, you will find several rows of stadium seating, which is perfectly suited for those who want to see the action live. These seats attract the rich and famous and it is always a great place to see and be seen.

THE INFIELD: A unlimited number of tickets are sold as general admission to the infield each year. There are no seats in the infield that offer viewing of the track itself. The infield attracts a great variety of people and is typically the scene of excessive drunkenness and uninhibited festivities. For infield fans who want to actually watch the race, they may purchase tickets to the Infield Club, which provides reserved seating in the VIP lounge and large screen televisions with live feeds of the track action.