Thurby is becoming quite popular and is now a tourist attraction itself. Typically by Thursday,…read moremost of the vendors are set up to welcome visitors and create photo opportunities. The track opens at 10a and the races start at 12:45pm. I encourage an early arrival to have the easiest experience with parking, shuttles, roaming the track, snapping pictures and checking out the program for your first bet. We use the Twinspires app, but they have several wager windows open. Races run every 30 minutes and it's a quick day. Our visit was in the Skye Terrace, which connects to Millionaires Row. Outside balconies allow outside viewing while still being covered for bad weather. Our ticket also included food and drinks. Based on cocktail prices, I love the set pricing. Food is average. I love Derby Week! Don't hesitate coming to Thurby or any day during this time.

Once upon a time, this truly was the day for the locals…read more Once upon a time, before it was branded with a very silly name and rolled in to the Derby week hubbub, it was fun but kinda chill and manageable. But that was once upon a time....and now we are here and it is called Thurby, and it is almost as big a deal as Oaks (give it a couple more years....and locals will be priced out of it soon enough). This year, I was invited as a plus one to a catered, open-bar, indoor-outdoor area group event. I don't know what it cost, as that was covered by the group she was going with. So I primarily attended because I could go for free AND have my food and drink for the day be included. The most affordable Derby-week activity! Parking was more obnoxious than we had hoped and expected, but after weighing all options...we discovered that parking at the Expo Center and a shuttle to and from the Downs from there was included with our tickets so we opted to do it that way. There was still PLENTY (too much) walking to be done, but less than if we parked at the on-the-day pay lot/rideshare pick up and drop off area. So that was a win. I was grateful to discover that regular, not-see-through-able purses are still allowed in here because I didn't want to have to try to get one on crazy short notice....and while I would have preferred to travel light...I wanted to have a change of shoes to inevitably become more comfortable and switch my heels to flats. It was a good choice, btw. Or...I might could have just done flats for the whole day. But I also won't pass up a chance to get fancied up! The food was fine. Better than expected and better than it looked. The drinks were pretty decent, and at least one bartender was fabulous! (the other, we discovered halfway through the day, had a hidden earpiece and was communicating with someone else where...we thiiiiink about stock needs. This explained a lot about his unfriendliness and apparent nonsensical words anytime he did speak). The lines for betting were totally manageable in our area, and the employees working were patient and helpful. I had a great day! It was a fantastic time, primarily thanks to the company I kept...

I attended an alumni event hosted by my school at this venue, and it was a great experience…read moreoverall. The venue itself is very large, but thankfully there was plenty of signage directing guests to the correct event. Since there are multiple entrances and parking areas, the signs made it easy to find where we needed to go. There was also plenty of parking available near our event. Once we arrived, there were several staff members greeting guests and directing everyone where to go, which made check in easy. Outside, they had several games set up for families, making it a very kid friendly event. Walking inside, I was impressed by how spacious the venue was. There were tables set up throughout the room, designated food areas, and numerous booths representing different parts of the school. The event was well attended, but there was plenty of space for everyone. They also had a DJ with a lit up dance floor that created a fun, energetic atmosphere. One of my favorite parts was the outdoor area overlooking the horse racing track. They had graduation signs to sign, several photo opportunities, and stations where they printed your pictures on the spot, which made for a fun keepsake. The food consisted mostly of finger foods. Some items were good, while others were just average, but there was enough variety for everyone. The staff worked hard throughout the event to keep everything running smoothly and make sure guests were taken care of. Some employees were very friendly, while others seemed like they were bothered and overwhelmed. The bar was also a nice addition. I ordered a Woodford Reserve Whiskey Sour, and it came with a souvenir cup, which was a nice touch. This was a well organized event in a spacious venue with plenty of activities for guests of all ages. I'm glad I had the opportunity to attend and experience everything my school put together.

Service... 5/10 Food... 7/10…read moreExperience... 10/10 Downs After Dark was a thrilling event, and was a very beginner friendly event. For my first time horse racing, the handy guides provided clear directions on the steps to place a bet with a human or one of the electronic machines. If you worry about the heat or the noise of the crowd, millionaires row tickets are worth the price. Reserved seats and a dinner buffet were well worth the $100 per person. The homestyle dinner buffet featured green beans, Mac and cheese, potato salad, salad, baked beans, BBQ pork, BBQ chicken, cookies, and brownies. The food was on the bland side but good quality, and there was plenty of everything. The service of Churchill Downs was the low part of my experience. Sitting in Millionaire's Row, we were assigned a server who did not frequently appear, and other servers had to track her down for us. I was also not thrilled with how IDs under 30 were handled. When you approach the ID tent, workers were dismissive and not helpful as people under 30 had to have their ID scanned in a separate location. When I arrived at the second ID location, we found a lengthy line and only one scanner in use. Plus that scanner was having difficulties with certain IDs.

The Homestretch Club at Churchill Downs is open daily for every meet not just during Derby week…read more The Homestretch Club is a membership that includes seating along with food and beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It is a beautiful venue with its own bathrooms, expansive bars and well appointed buffet. There are refrigerators with water, beer and colas. The Homestretch Club has many seating options both inside and outside. Horseshoe booths line the rail. The first floor features standing height tables along with couches and access to outdoor stadium seating. The upstairs features two levels of covered tables and swanky private suites. It is a very nice, climate-controlled area that adds a new level of fun at Churchill Downs.

Had the best time last night year can't wait till I go back again this year in a couple of weeks…read more Food and the drinks were the best!!!!

We have been to Keeneland numerous times but today was different. We purchased tickets for 4 to…read moreenjoy a day at the 1936 Room. It was fantastic and I wish we would have gotten here at 11am instead of 1pm. Admission price includes a ticket, heavy appetizers and selected drinks from 11am-4pm. It was well worth it. You also have access to the outdoor area at one end of the Paddock and there is an outside bar and betting machines steps away. We didn't have to wait on drinks at the bar and the apps were well stocked and servers were walking around with apps that were not on the stocked area. The atmosphere and service were outstanding. As a plus to the experience you get to see the jockeys walk into and out of the Paddock after each race within a few steps of you. My suggestion is to grab a high top where the jockeys walk by. It was a great day.

Took the official Keeneland Tour with tour guide Liane. Amazing. Such a nice facility, she was…read moresuper knowledgeable and saw some great amenities on the property

Anytime I have an opportunity to visit Ashford, I'm there. The farm continues to enthrall. But for…read moreall it's beauty, it is Triple Crown winner American Pharoah that brings me back over and over. 54

The tour we had was awesome! Our tour guide was very informative and answered many of our questions…read morewith enthusiasm. As a uninformed tourist, I learned a lot about the studs and their lineage, the breeding process, and about the Coolmore farms. They showed us the barns and told us interesting facts about the horses that stayed there. They also showed American Pharaoh and Epicenter out of their stalls, which was a great photo opportunity.

I can't say enough about Old Friends. It's just wonder how the Founder, Michael Blowen, President,…read moreJohn Nicholson, and their entire staff have dedicated their lives to taking care of these fabulous Thoroughbred's. The staff is very informative and friendly. They take their time providing detailed history of each horse you see. We were able to pet a couple and feed all of them. Remember, put the carrot on an open/flat palm. We met Silver Charm, the oldest Living Kentucky Derby winner. We met Preakness Stakes Winners, I'll Have Another and Big Brown. We also met Hall of Fame, Lava Man. Over $150 equine athletes in the facility. I will return someday soon to do the Founders Tour!! Thank you for a memorable day with one of my favorite animals that God created.

This place made for a great time seeing all the horses, feeding them, hearing stories about their…read moreprofessional lives. A really enjoyable tour - even for a guy that is t really into horses. I would HIGHLY recommend. This group is doing some great things for these retired horses!!